Singapore has done well in building the infrastructure to support a rapidly ageing society, but mindsets towards ageing have to change so that the elderly do not feel like a burden to their families.
“I’ve seen cars honk impatiently as they wait for the elderly to cross the road. I also find that people can be impatient when younger seniors are unfamiliar with using mobile apps,” said the media professional.
Mr Anthony, a 75-year-old security officer, who lives alone, told CNA TODAY that he prefers to keep to himself. “I see people living longer now, into their eighties and nineties. This means I still have another 20 years... so I think about how I want to spend these two decades,” she said. Getting to grips with ageing has taken on an added urgency, with the country projected to attain “super aged” status in 2026, as more than one in five here is expected to be 65 years old or older. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or above.
Enabling older persons to continue to contribute their knowledge and expertise and remain engaged in societyThe plan also includes key initiatives and targets set by the authorities as they accelerate the pace of building elderly-friendly infrastructure. Dr Ad from Duke-NUS noted: “I think in Singapore’s case, we seem more equipped to tackle challenges related to physical infrastructure. What is harder to address is whether manpower and issues of competency can be ramped up in tandem with the ramping up of services and activities.
This could take the form of simplifying bureaucratic processes and approvals needed to form societies and run events, or encouraging more civic participation, he suggested.Beyond building elderly-friendly facilities, an ageing society needs stronger social support and safety nets for older persons. Over time, industry players expect that the older adults will grow from being care recipients to becoming peer supporters for other elderly in their midst.
But according to a spokesperson for Lions Befrienders, a growing trend it is seeing is that of elderly caregivers providing care to their loved ones while also having to manage their own health issues. As a befriender, she reaches out to other elderly like Mdm Alimah Kassim, 73, who was initially withdrawn from the community, especially after her husband’s death five years ago.
“There are challenges, especially when we are also getting weaker. As we age, we are not as fast or as nimble as we used to be,” said Ms Tong. This includes addressing ageist attitudes and discrimination towards the elderly – whether internalised in how they perceive themselves and ageing, or in how the general population views older persons in their midst.Mr Anthony the security officer said that being sick and in the hospital is a worry for him in his older years, as he does not want to become a “burden to all”.
Dr Ang from NTU noted that the term “successful ageing” – traditionally taken to refer to older persons who are socially engaged, free from illness and who enjoy high physical functioning – first emerged to challenge the assumption that later life is an inevitable process of degeneration. In older adults’ cases, this logic could thus extend to not “being a burden” in light of increasing healthcare costs, added Dr Ang.Dr Ad also noted that Singapore’s model of successful ageing emphasises self-responsibility – urging individuals to take necessary action to maximise good health and avoid disease and disability.
Such “ableist concepts” arguably places pressure on older persons to stay active in spite of their limitations, which can be demoralising and ultimately perpetuate low self-esteem and a sense that one is no longer valued in society, said Dr Ad.
The volunteering opportunity was specially created for Mdm Kamala, who wanted to serve the elderly around her in the best way that she knew. Citing the case of a frail older adult volunteering at one of the organisation’s centres, Mr Ang said that the woman contributes by helping to observe and monitor her peers in the community – flagging when someone has not shown up for a while, so that others at the centre may follow up with them.
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