The Gen XY Lifestyle
Ipoh to Become ASEAN’s First City-Scale Living Lab for Ageing and Care
In a landmark cross-border collaboration, Ipoh, Malaysia is set to pioneer a Living Lab for Integrated Ageing and Care, transforming into a real-world testbed for how cities can support ageing communities.
This first-of-its-kind initiative—led by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), and Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR)—seeks to redefine ageing, healthcare integration, and community-based care models across ASEAN.
Unlike traditional pilot programmes confined to small-scale settings, Ipoh’s Living Lab will embed innovation directly into the city’s social fabric. By combining interoperable care frameworks, inclusive tech platforms, intergenerational engagement, and grassroots participation, the initiative will prototype integrated systems in a real-world environment, positioning Ipoh as a blueprint for age-friendly urban living.
Why Ipoh? A Model City for Ageing Innovation
As the capital of Perak—the Malaysian state with the highest proportion of residents aged 60 and above—Ipoh offers a unique urban-rural mix, socioeconomic diversity, and lived experiences that make it an ideal setting for testing scalable solutions.
The initiative aims to develop and refine care models that can be adapted across ASEAN.
“Ageing is no longer just a health issue – it’s a systems challenge,” said Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS. “By turning an entire city into a living lab, we’re showing how integration can work at the ground level, for real people. This is what applied research should look like—bold, rooted in reality, and transformative.”
A Three-Phase Plan for Real-World Change
The initiative will roll out across three key phases, ensuring holistic, scalable impact:
- Baseline Research & Systems Mapping – Conducting a city-wide needs analysis to identify care gaps and opportunities.
- Co-Designed Pilot Implementations – Developing community-led, tech-enabled care prototypes based on real needs.
- Scaling & Institutionalisation – Integrating successful models into city systems and policies, positioning Ipoh as a regional hub for training and knowledge exchange.
Who Stands to Benefit?
The Ipoh Living Lab will directly enhance local health and social outcomes while providing long-term value to diverse stakeholders:
- Older adults will experience more coordinated, community-driven care, supporting ageing in place.
- Local service providers will gain capacity-building opportunities and access to new digital tools for integrated care.
- Policymakers will receive data-driven insights to refine health and social policies in Perak.
- Academics and students will benefit from joint research, training, and applied learning.
- ASEAN cities will eventually scale successful models, adapting them to their own ageing populations.
The initiative will bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, grassroots organisations, tech developers, and local residents to co-create and implement innovative solutions, such as shared care frameworks, digital ecosystems, and intergenerational initiatives.
A Future Built on Collaboration & Innovation
The Ipoh Living Lab strengthens SUSS’ broader commitment to applied research, complementing ongoing efforts such as Singapore’s Age+ Living Lab and the Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care (IAIC).
By blending research with real-world implementation, Ipoh’s transformation into a city-scale ageing testbed will reimagine integrated care across ASEAN—setting a new precedent for age-friendly urban development worldwide.
Photos by Syazani Nizam, by Wan San Yip and by Mega Caesaria on Unsplash
