2nd Wellness Programme launched at Punggol South with strong support from Grassroots Groups
17 February 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
1. Punggol South, the 2nd site for the Wellness Programme, was launched by Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, this morning. The ceremony was jointly organised by Punggol South Elderly Care Committee, Punggol South grassroots organisations and NTUC Eldercare. The launch also signified the groundbreaking for NTUC ElderCare’s 5th Day Care Centre at Block 571, Hougang Street 51.
2. The Wellness Programme is a 2-year pilot initiative managed by NTUC ElderCare to provide one-stop information and services for the total well-being of seniors. The commitments to bring wellness to the senior residents of Punggol South could be seen from the strong partnership among the Punggol South Elderly Care Committee, the grassroots organisations and NTUC Eldercare.
2. The Wellness Programme adopts a holistic approach in its services and activities organised for seniors. It looks at the total well-being of the seniors in terms of their physical, mental and social aspects with the following four components: -
a. Information & Referral
- Seniors will be able to access information and get referrals on relevant health, eldercare and social services within the community.
b. Wellness & Health
- Regular health promotion activities will be organised to encourage seniors to go for regular health checks and follow-ups so as to maintain a healthy lifestyle and overall well-being.
c. Active Ageing
- Seniors will be encouraged to remain socially active. They will be encouraged to take part in senior volunteerism, lifelong learning and financial planning programmes. The programmes will also reach out to those who are socially isolated.
d. Senior-Centric Services
- Seniors who need more care will also benefit from an integrated service that provides day care and lifestyle services under one roof.
3. Families that need support can also tap on the Wellness Programme to seek assistance, information and referrals for better matching of social services and programmes that will benefit their elderly dependents.
4. Wellness @ Punggol South, as it will be known, will focus on Active Ageing. Feedback from the Punggol South Elderly Care Committee showed that the seniors in their division have expressed great interests in participating in a wider variety of activities and events.
5. With a higher population of “young old” (70% of 50 years and above) that falls between the age group of 50 to 65 years old, Wellness @ Punggol South will provide more suitable activities and programmes that meet the needs of this active group of seniors. Besides attracting them to participate in the programmes during their leisure time, it also aims to cultivate new friendships and bonds among this group of active seniors. The programme will also serves as early “intervention” that encourages seniors to take more personal interest and responsibility towards their total wellness and health.
6. Wellness @ Punggol South will also look into other forms of active ageing activities meant for the less active ones. The ultimate objective is to ensure that the seniors lead a good quality and meaningful life as the term “Active Ageing” does not necessary mean “active movement” or “being younger physically”.
7. With Wellness @ Punggol South being housed in NTUC ElderCare’s new Day Care Centre, it will serve as a one-stop centre for seniors to interact and network with their friends. Punggol South grassroots organizations will engage actively with NTUC Eldercare to use its day care centre as a platform to organise periodic activities for the seniors.
8. Targeted to complete in June 08, the NTUC Day Care Centre will boost a gym specially equipped for the seniors. There will also be a new recreation area, a dining room and a multi-purpose area for activities and workshops to take place.
9. Besides engaging the seniors, Punggol South grassroots organisations will also rope in the youths to interact with the seniors actively. This will be done through activities such as sports, outings, joint learning and volunteerism programmes. It hopes to connect and bring about closer bonding between the seniors and the youths.
10. Mr Max Yeow, Chairman of the Punggol Park CC Youth Executive Committee said, “When we were younger, our grandparents and parents played and took care of. Now that they are old and we have all grown up, it is time for us to involve them in our activities together so that we could further strengthen the bond between us!”
11. To mark the occasion, 50 students from Hougang Secondary School rode on 50 tandem-bikes together with the seniors around the neighbourhood vincinity. Symbolically, a key was passed to the Guest-of-Honour to launch the Wellness Programme by a pair of senior and youth who completed the ride, signifying the importance of their connection and bonding in the Wellness Programme. Together, the young and the old in the community will learn to accept and support one other in all areas so that a closely knitted community will be created.
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About NTUC ElderCare Co-operative Ltd
NTUC ElderCare Co-operative Limited was registered in 1997, with the objective of providing affordable and quality care services for the elderly of average dual-income Singaporean families.
It also offers value-add services such as physiotherapy, counselling, loan of home care equipment, basic health checks and provides information & referrals. Besides these, NTUC Eldercare also provides Care@home Service (a non-medical home care), organizes public education workshops and projects to promote the importance of active and responsible ageing.
NTUC Eldercare currently has four centres, manages one wellness programme and a home care service: -
1. NTUC ElderCare Centre (Marsiling) tel: 6368-2591
2. NTUC ElderCare Centre (Taman Jurong) tel: 6268-3108
3. Silver Circle (Pasir Ris) tel: 6581-6033
4. Silver Circle (Jurong Central) tel: 6561-4989
5. Wellness @ Jurong Central tel: 6561-4989
6. Care@home Service tel: 6213-8215
More information is available at www.ntuceldercare.org.sg
