About the Director
Age Matters is helmed by Normala Manap. She has been involved in social development for more than three decades, particularly in the health and agecare industries. She has worked across countries and cultures and at different levels of service, policy and knowledge development. She has built innovative programmes, managed operations and developed national agecare frameworks. As an age care pioneer in Singapore, she had been involved in building new care models, developing infrastructure for care integration, setting service standards and rolling out competency roadmaps for the sector.
Recommendations
Recommendation from Dr Ad Maulod
"Normala Manap needs no introduction to the age care sector having been a veteran practitioner for over three decades. Over the past six years, I had the opportunity to work with Mala on a number of evaluation projects. Mala draws upon her intuition, expertise and experience to interpret the stories that elders have shared with us. We worked closely to translate these insights into policy and programme recommendations. Her keen ability to highlight care and policy gaps is anchored in her vast knowledge and experience working on the frontlines of elder care.
Mala believes that applied research should respond to changing needs on the ground and provide direct benefit to the individuals and communities she partners with. For Mala, research is more than just data. It is about doing justice to those who have bestowed the generosity of their life stories and struggles upon us. Mala pushes for the extra mile. She’s magnanimous with her expertise– mentoring and nurturing next generations and equipping them with the knowledge and competence to identify problems and seek creative solutions for our ageing futures. I’m grateful for her wisdom in both my professional and personal capacities. "
- Senior Research Fellow Centre for Ageing Research and Education (CARE) Duke-NUS Medical School
Recommendation from M.N. Fatima
" THKMC engaged Normala to conduct a Geriatric Case Management for Community Practitioners in September 2022. The training was attended by Social Workers, Nurses, Home Care Personnel, AAC Centre Managers and staff as well as Therapists working with seniors in our services and conducted over a course of 2 days. Normala was able to curate the training programme to include THKMC's needs such as in the area of working as a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) on the ground as we strive to meet the holistic needs of the elderly. Her training was well-received by the participants who described her as being both knowledgeable and experienced and able to share good insights that were practical and useful for application on the ground.
Following her training, THKMC is working on building an effective multi-disciplinary team for geriatric case management using the MDT framework introduced during the training."
- Divisional Director (Strategy and Innovation) Thye Hwa Kwan Moral Charity (THKMC)
Join the Movement to Redefine Dementia Care and End Stigma
Age Matters Supports Reimagining Dementia: A Creative Coalition for Justice
Age Matters proudly supports Reimagining Dementia: A Creative Coalition for Justice, an international group committed to transforming the narrative around dementia. By uniting people living with dementia, caregivers, activists, health professionals, artists, academics, policymakers, and allies, the coalition reimagines care and support for those impacted by dementia, promoting inclusion, relationships, creativity, joy, and growth. They challenge traditional approaches, aiming to eradicate fear, stigma, and hopelessness associated with dementia, using play, performance, and improvisation to advocate for positive change. Age Matters stands firmly behind the coalition's mission to mobilize thousands, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. Join this movement to create a compassionate world, eliminate stigma, and support those living with dementia. Be part of a global community dedicated to reimagining dementia and ending stigma. Together, let's make a difference in the lives of millions affected by dementia.