SINGAPORE, May 1 -- More older people in Singapore are signing up for strength and balance training to stay independent as they age, but the long waitlists are making access harder.

Popular community gym schemes now have thousands waiting, with some seniors facing delays of up to nine months for a place, Singapore-based news outlet CNA reported today.

"You want to go faster, but it's a bit more difficult," Miranda Hsieh, 63, was quoted as saying as she described how age-related weakness first became noticeable in daily life.

She joined a senior gym programme at Heartbeat@Bedok in May 2022 together with her husband and mother after finding road crossings, bending and standing more difficult.

Three years later, she said the sessions imp...