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Author Topic: Budget debate : Taking care of the elderly : Fostering a Kampung spirit.  (Read 5473 times)
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tom

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« on: March 05, 2010, 09:37:07 AM »

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  Grin Grin

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.  Roll Eyes 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,  Grin maybe to gather information. ( don't know for what leh ! ) Why kapo kapo  Angry

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.  Cool

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.  blushing

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.



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tom

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« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2010, 08:38:30 AM »

This is what the Govt. plan to do for all the above programmes. The amount of money to be pumped in for the above project amounts to S$ 100 million over a five year period. Purpose ? To tackle problems of an ageing population. ( What for ?  )

According to MCDYS, for those living alone without social connections, 25 % will suffer from depression. For those with family and friend’s support 9 % will suffer from depression.

In year 2000, there are 15,000 aged above 65 lives alone. By 2005, the number goes up to 22,000.

Lets break down the total spending :

( 1 ) Wellness Programme cost S$77 million.

( 2 ) Active lifestyles and lifelong learning cost S$20 million.

( 3 ) The Centre for Enable living aims to enable people to take care of themselves for as long as possible were allocated S$3 million.

Looks like the whole aim is to keep the elderly engaged in gardening, social gatherings, outings, the still active helping the not so active and maybe participate in bonding communities. Huh? Roll Eyes

Personally, I feel, money should be spent on further education for the educated elderly no matter how old they are when they are still healthy and active. Learn a new trade, employed them, pay them a salary and integrate them back to society. thumbs up

It’s no point spending so much money just to keep them socially engaged. chitchat


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tom

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« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2010, 11:15:30 AM »

An American expert on ageing on the sidelines of the recent International Housing Conference suggested to Singapore. She said : 

1.   Forget Johor Nursing Homes.
2.   Forget Fancy Retirement Villages.

She claimed, “ Older residents need not moved out of their flats, instead welfare bodies should be able to track them and deliver medical services door to door.

In Singapore because HDB flats are located close to each other, Professional Caregivers can call at several homes at the same time to cut down travelling cost.

 Grin“ Talk Easy Work hard “. How are you going to take care of almost one million elderly age 65 and above in year 2030 ? If they are spread all over Singapore, how many Professional Caregivers can you find to render medical / care services.

In my humble, simple opinion, Singapore should consider building up self contained Retirement Villages for the elders. The following Amenities should be provided. 

1.   Medical facilities  round the clock for residents.
2.   Cottage industries to provide jobs to keep the elderly gainfully employed.
3.   Breakfast, lunch and dinner  available at minimum cost.
4.   Recreation facilities to keep them fit.
5.   Nursing homes within the village for the sick. Residents to be trained as caregivers. Today, the Govt. is pumping in S$100 million to keep the elderly engaged in social activities. Why not set up infrastructures progressively to meet future targets.

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tom

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« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2010, 09:12:22 AM »

At a recent " Ageing Asia Investment Forum " in Singapore, Singapore is noted to be among the 10 fastest ageing countries in the World.  Grin

Those who are highly dependent are taken care of by Nursing Homes. The big problem is for those who are moderately dependent, cannot tap the services of an assisted living provider. ( Home medical services or Care At Home Medical Services).  Undecided

Assisted living would allow the elderly to remain at home and benefit from regular visits by Health care professionals. Therefore the government may not have to spent  money building more Nursing Homes.

To cater for the above, surely the Government needs to train a large pool of Home Nursing Officers to look after the masses. Probably NTUC Eldercare can take over the responsibilites, or the Voluntarily Welfare Organisations ? Or Public companies ? Whatever it is something needs to be done.

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