The Elderly Challenge

1. Explain in your own words, the FOUR key recommendations of the report.
Ans: First, the government should have more detailed measures to help the development of houses for the retired by the private sector by varying the length of land leases to lower land costs, to help the seniors who like those type of lifestyles.

Second, HDB should work with market players to offer reverse mortgage plans for elderly lessees to commercial terms to give another option for the elderly to get some income from their houses to meet expenses in old age without having to move out of their houses.

Third, To provide more rental housing options for seniors, HDB should explore the lease of its unoccupied flats to VWOs, to help the seniors incase they rather rent than buy or want to downgrade from their existing flats. Lastly, The government should think about bringing in guidelines for the provision of accessibility and safety features in the homes of the seniors to create a more elderly-friendly environment.

Lastly, MYCS and HDB should work together with VWOs and grassroots organizations to provide services to the elderly and provide them some opportunities to lead an active lifestyle.

2. State ONE way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly.
Ans: The government should thinking about bring in guidelines for the provision of accessibility and safety features in homes of seniors, to create a more elderly-friendly environment.

3. State TWO ways on how we can ensure that the quality of elderly care here in Singapore is affordable.
First, the government should top-up the Medisave accounts of people that are less well off when there are budgetary surpluses to make sure seniors can afford healthcare services.

Second, the government should set up a caregiver centre to help families in terms of caregiving through provision of info resources and programs.

4. After reading the CAI report, what do you are the THREE things that you can do, as an SST student, to help overcome these elderly challenges.
First, I could care more for my grandparents, so the government has two less elderly to worry about. We could all do this, to help the government lighten their burden.

Second, we could donate some money each, say about $10 and use that money to buy some daily products for the elderly. Then we could visit the elderly and give those products to them.

Lastly, we could go to an elderly care centre and provide them with some entertainment to cheer them up. some elderly feel sad and depressed, and also lonely, so our performances will cheer them up and maybe give them some hope in life.

Darius Low