By fostering a Kampung spirit, can the elderly in Singapore numbering close to one million strong in 20 years time be taken care off ? If it is so simple, JAPAN and today's first world country could have shakes legs and solve elderly problems easily. Today if you are in your 40's, in 20 years time, you will belong to this special classification. Time flies
What is being discussed to tackle the problem by those experts in parliament.
1. Follow the Japanese, hang a yellow flag at your door steps daily, to let neighbours know you are fine.
I would rather think my immediate neighbours are mad. ( need to call an ambulance and send all of them to IMH ( institute of mental health ). Shockingly, this sugestion was by a minister.
2. Running of Senior activity centre, to enable elderly to look out for one another. Make them as our eyes and ears,
maybe to gather information. ( don't know for what leh ! ) Why kapo kapo
3. Help neighbours to run errands, example buy groceries, help to bring them to polyclinics or hospitals for medical checkups. ( is this necessary ? ) I don't know ! sounds a bit childish.
4. Join the gardening club organised by the Wellness Programme. A minister cited an example of a diabetic man join the programme, spent 2 hours per visit, 5 days a week, tending a herb garden and he is happier and making a lot of friends.
5. Health screening, social and physical activities, some 77 million are expected to be pump in. ( sounds great )
6. Introducing taiji and qigong exercise. ( I thought this has be carried out for donkey years )
What to do ? I suggest , think out of the box. At age 55, take out our CPF, buy Cpf life, remain in the workforce for as long as possible, keep fit and healthy, live happily. At age 65, do something you like best, learn something new whilst you work and look forward. ( MM is still working anyway ).
What they are talking in parliament is just simple exercise which do us no good. We have plenty friends, no need make new friend, why do gardening, we might as well be PRODUCTIVE , ( productivity campaign is hot topic today ) make life more meaningful, do something more meaningful, most important to have some money in our pockets.