Plight of widows among the oldest old
WIDOWHOOD is on the rise in Singapore. The total number of widows has risen by almost 30% from 1980 to 2000 and eight out of ten married women aged 80 and above are widowed.
In 2000, there were 106,000 widows in Singapore, compared to only 82,000 in 1980.
With the feminization of ageing, widowhood has become more prevalent among women in the oldest age groups. Only 9% of women in their 50s were widowed but the number increased sharply to 58.7% among women in their 70s. At age 80-89, nearly 80% of women were widowed.
The incidence of widowhood by age groups in 2000
Age group |
Widowed (%) |
Married (%) |
| 40-49 |
2.1 |
79.7 |
| 50-59 |
9.2 |
76.6 |
| 60-69 |
29.2 |
62.9 |
| 70-79 |
58.7 |
37.4 |
| 80-89 |
79.5 |
17.5 |
(source: AWARE-TSAO Foundation report on Income Security for Older Women in Singapore)
The income security of widows in these older ages (70 and above) is a cause of concern as many would have been outside formal employment, and previously dependent on their spouses. Without spousal support and sufficient personal savings, they would become totally dependent on their children who may be constrained by work, time and financial resources to provide them with sufficient care.
As families shrink in size, migrate or relocate overseas for work, older people can no longer assume that they will get full traditional family support in their old age.
Most vulnerable will be widows in the oldest age group (aged 80+) who live alone and whose needs should be considered in any eldercare policy review.
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