Special Guest Lim Biow Chuan, MP for Marine Parade GRC
My Parliamentary colleagues MOS Heng Chee How and Mayor Zainudin
Community Leaders
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning. I am delighted to join you at this official opening of NTUC Eldercare’s 7th Silver Circle Social Day Care Centre.
Live Long, Live Well
长寿是福吗？(chang shou shi fu ma? - Is longevity a blessing?) Mankind has always been searching for ways to live longer. When we became independent in 1965, the average life expectancy of Singaporeans at birth was 65 years. Today, the average life expectancy of a Singaporean born is 81 years. We have certainly made huge strides! The challenge is for us to turn these additional years into better years - physically, mentally and socially – for as many of our seniors as possible.
How do we do that? Well, at the most basic level, we must encourage our seniors to stay physically active. This helps to keep the body and limbs in better shape and working condition longer. The experts call that our functional capability. This is why Government has created 3 mass exercise platforms over the 2 years – briskwalking, taichi and qigong – to encourage many more seniors to step forward into better health and fitness.
Next, it is equally important that seniors have friends. Loneliness is a big problem for some. This is why the People’s Association, through the Wellness Programme and other community partnership initiatives, are promoting interest groups and friendship groups. These groups can fulfil the social and exercise needs of their members concurrently and in fun-loving ways. One example is the gym in this centre, which is collaboration between NTUC Eldercare and Dynaforce International. Its gym workout programme, with guidance of professional gym trainers, will give our seniors yet another avenue to take charge of their health and well-being, make more friends, and look and feel great about themselves.
Living Well is a Personal Choice
Living well is a personal choice and it is possible for many. Take for example, Mdm Lee Ah Kwee, 77yrs old. She was the first person to join the Silver Circle (Dakota Crescent) day care programme. She stays with her daughter and suffers from chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and gout. She used to feel down and troubled by all these sicknesses. Now she says, “I enjoy coming here. Last time, I was very bored at home as my daughter works in the day and I am the only one at home. There was no one to cook a proper meal and my health was deteriorating. But now, I feel a lot healthier and happier as I exercise regularly and there are staff and other seniors to interact with. Time passed very fast when I’m here.”
Silver Circle (Dakota Crescent) will also offer an “active rehabilitation” programme for seniors who face bigger challenges with movement, such as those who suffered strokes. When such a senior joins the Centre, a physiotherapist will develop a personalised care plan for him. This plan will include his restoration goals, and his treatment and discharge plans. Using this customised plan, the Centre will help each member regain or improve his range of motion, physical strength and balance, so that he can perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) more independently. And as the member achieves his restoration goals, he can join the Social Day Care programme, and enjoy life through regular exercise, proper medication and health management, and celebrating happy moments and occasions with friends at the Centre.
This is a simple Choice that many seniors can now make to add sunshine and peace of mind to their many more years. I hope many will do so.
Role of NTUC Eldercare to Enable Seniors to Live Long, Live Well
NTUC Eldercare is committed to bringing to the community an integrated suite of services and activities to meet the needs of our seniors. We believe that doing so will make life easier and better for our seniors and for the increasing numbers of families who have seniors to care for.
Concluding Remarks
The good that NTUC Eldercare has been doing would not be possible if not for the strong and committed support from the Labour Movement. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the U Care Fund and the donors including the Singapore Labour Foundation, NTUC FairPrice Foundation, ComfortDelGro and NTUC Choice Homes.
Together, we shall add life to the years of our seniors, as we add years to their lives.
