Good evening.
Introduction: Issues Surrounding Ageing Population
1 In today’s developed countries, many are talking about the fast ageing population. What is the impact on the country’s labour force? What are the implications on health care costs? What needs to be done to care for the elderly? Is there a way to slow down the process? Very clearly, there are many questions and just no simple answer or solution.
2 Japan is said to have one of the fastest ageing population. The Japanese have an average life expectancy of 90 years. As far as I know they have been preparing for the ageing population since the 1980s. They have put in place various schemes to help the elderly stay healthy and remain in the workforce for as long as possible. This year a law came into force, requiring employers to offer re-employment to workers reaching 60 years of age.
3 In Tokyo, you will be able to find a nursing home with dozens of old people learning traditional dance. There, they bend and stretch their frail bodies to the music. Japan is trying to find ways to make the lives of these elderly purposeful in community living with meaningful social interactions.
4 Singapore just celebrated its 41st birthday. We are also facing an ageing population. We have to ask ourselves the same question: Do we have what it takes to care for the elderly and support families who are taking care of them? One such way is to help the elderly maintain an active and healthy lifestyle that stimulates their physical, social and mental faculties.
One Aspect of Elderly Care: Day Care Centres and its Benefits
5 The existing 3 daycare centres under NTUC ElderCare Co-operative aim to do just that. The elderly come to the centres in the morning and leave for their homes after the day’s programme. There, the elderly could learn qigong exercises, play interactive games, take up hobbies such as singing, dancing and doing some art and crafts. Through these activities, they make friends readily.
6 Regularly, they will also go for excursions. Most of them welcomed these excursions as a number of them do not have many opportunities to go out, as their children are busy with work and other commitments. Many of them enjoy going to the centres. Though at times, one or two would bicker with one another but it is all part and parcel of life!
7 When the 1st daycare centre at Marsiling was set up, it took some time before people know of its benefits and decided to enrol their elderly parents. Now the centre is full with more than 50 elderly. Our second centre at Taman Jurong also took some time to fill. Now it is full.
8 I got to know the experience of one elderly, Mdm Wan Yan Quan, at the Taman Jurong centre. Mdm Wan suffered from a minor stroke in June 2004. Upon her discharge from the hospital, Mdm Wan moved from her own home to stay with her son and daughter-in-law in Taman Jurong. When her family suggested her to go to the daycare centre for some rehabilitation exercises and interaction with fellow elderly, she was very apprehensive at first and was not keen. However, after some persuasion and trying out at the centre, she is now enjoying herself and has taken up a new hobby in singing with the other elderly, trained by one of the centre’s volunteers. She is now one of our more active seniors, participating in performance and social outings.
9 Another elderly that I wish to mention is Mdm Choi Boon Lin. She is 74 years old and came to the centre in May this year. Prior to that, she and her family did not know much about daycare services. It was only after she had a fall and began to feel afraid staying alone at home. Through a recommendation, her family arranged for her to go to the daycare centre. She is now regularly attending daycare and enjoying the activities.
10 For elderly daycare centres (unlike childcare centres or social community clubs), it takes a while for people to know the value, the benefits where the elderly could get engaged in a community and are being taken care of. Very often, it is the physical and mental deterioration of an elderly that made it difficult for interaction with the others, causing them to feel lonely and depressed. Thus, sending the classic message of “Prevention is Better Than Cure” is also what these ageing-in-place facilities aim to do.
Need For A More Comprehensive, Integrated and Affordable Care
11 There are several other categories of care for different elderly depending on their health conditions and needs. They include home care, assisted living, home nursing, nursing home etc. Perhaps to some of us, they all mean the same thing but really as I begin to find out what each covers, they are all very different.
12 One common scenario is when an elderly falls and has to be hospitalised. Often, when he returns back home, he will need some rehabilitation or day care to help him recuperate as well as family support to regain his confidence. If his condition requires him to be assisted in his daily living such as bathing, walking, toileting etc, the family will need a wider range of services according to what they can pay.
13 Just like in childcare, those who can afford to pay can choose to place their kids in high-end places like Pat’s School House, while most Singaporean heartlanders will choose to place their kids in with NTUC Childcare and PCF. Right now, services such as home rehabilitation, home care, even the assistive devices such as hearing aid, specialized cutlery, household items are not as easily accessible and costly. This is because the demand for such services has not yet reached the critical mass necessary for optimal operations. Average Singapore households will not be able to afford them. Besides the cost factor, many are unaware of their existence or where to get them. I wish that these services would be easily accessible for the elderly in future, as this will greatly improve the quality of life for both the elderly and the caregiver.
14 NTUC ElderCare Co-operative started with the operation of daycare centres as a learning base. Some valuable lessons were learnt and will put them into current practice. At this moment, our costs are roughly double what we can charge. But we expect to bring the costs down in future through better economies of scale. Though the growth for such facilities is slow and gradual but I would say rising relatively steadily. The Co-operative hopes to have a base of 5 centres. 1 new centre in Jurong West area is currently under renovation with sponsorship from NTUC Fairprice. It is targeting to be operational by early next year.
15 A couple of other initiatives that NTUC ElderCare will be introducing over the next half year include Centre for Seniors and non-medical home care service. It is currently fine-tuning the details and will be releasing more information about them soon. Your generous support has helped the co-operative in building up its resources to move forward.
16 On this note, I would like to thank you all for your generous support towards this Charity Dinner and also the Organising Committee, Nora and her committee members, for their time and effort in putting this whole charity event together. Thank you for sharing the vision of the NTUC ElderCare Co-operative in caring for the elderly.
Have an enjoyable evening!
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Chung Sang Pok
Principal Executive
Corporate Communications Department
National Trades Union Congress
DID 6213 8189
HP 9672 4112
Email chungsp@ntuc.org.sg
