Publication Type
Report
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
5-2026
Abstract
Findings from a survey with 7910 Singapore Life Panel members reveal that awareness of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) was relatively high, but actual uptake remained low, with only one in three having made an LPA and pronounced gaps among lower socioeconomic groups. Despite this, attitudes towards LPA were generally positive, with perceived benefits centered on peace of mind and reducing burdens on family members. A major barrier to adoption is the misconception that children automatically have the legal authority to make decisions if parents lose mental capacity. Structural and psychological barriers, including cost, complexity, and limited guidance, further hinder uptake, especially among the less educated and lower-income individuals. Based on these findings, we recommend targeted community-based outreach, clearer and simpler application support, cost subsidies for low-income groups, and sustained public education to dispel misconceptions and normalise LPA planning earlier in life.
Discipline
Gerontology | Public Policy
Research Areas
Sociology
Areas of Excellence
Sustainability
First Page
1
Last Page
43
Publisher
Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA), Singapore Management University
City or Country
Singapore
Citation
STRAUGHAN, Paulin Tay; LOH, Emi; NG, Shu Fang; TAN, Yi Wen (CHEN Yiwen); and LIM, Wensi, "Patterns in awareness and uptake of the LPA among older adults in Singapore" (2026). Research Collection School of Social Sciences. Paper 4496.
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/4496
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/4496
Copyright Owner and License
Singapore Management University
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Comments
Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA)