Many of our senior citizens who have fulfilled their responsibilities in the past should be able to look forward to a better quality of life in their twilight years. As Singapore enters an era where the presence of the elderly will be felt more – one in four will be 65-years old and above come 2030 – it is important that we introduce measures which will make their lives a little more bearable.Here are some of my thoughts on how this can be achieved.
Studio apartments for the elderly
A Straits Times (ST) reader, Mr Douglas Lee, wrote in to the ST Forum Page on 21 January and felt that the studio apartments built by the HDB were not as elderly friendly as it ought to be.
He spoke of the limited space in the bedroom measuring 100 square feet that made it impossible for 2 single beds to be fitted in and yet leave room for a wheelchair to be manoeuvred.
HDB needs to understand that many of our elderly citizens who apply to stay in studio apartments could be disabled and sick, and need the relevant accessibility and facilities.
Caring for the elderly
There have been many reports of our elderly citizens who have died all alone. And nobody knows until a foul stench leaks out.
In the United Kingdom, the government recognizes this problem and has decided to get teenage students, between the ages of 16- 20 years, to do community work as part of character building. So every day, they knock on the doors of these elderly citizens to see if all is well.
“Good morning, Mrs Brown. How are you today?” the students would ask. This is a unique way to ensure that if there is no reply, the students can alert the authorities.
Singapore should try this as a means, of not only reaching out to the elderly, but to also inculcate in our students a sense of caring for our elderly folks.
How the media can help
MediaCorp TV and radio have a role to play in supporting our elderly. Certainly a trip down memory lane will help to revive the beautiful memories that our seniors have of what they once enjoyed.
Westerns such as The Rifleman, Rin Tin Tin and The Lone Ranger had viewers glued to the small screen.
Our seniors will definitely appreciate a revival of such TV shows along with comedies like The Jack Benny Show and I love Lucy. I remember Jack Benny would easily secure a laugh just by his body language.
I remember veteran broadcaster Mildred Appadurai hosting a radio show dedicated to the sick. Listeners could write in and request songs and send get-well wishes for their loved ones who are hospitalised, for example.
Such a programme could be brought back as part of a community project to support the sick in hospitals and nursing homes.
Build an extra floor at the top of schools dedicated to the elderly
Perhaps some might view this as a radical idea, but I fervently believe that it is worthwhile investing in given that by 2030, our fast ageing population will see many more Singaporeans hitting past 60 or more.
Have an extra floor in school buildings that can allocate space for our elderly citizens - it can be a day care centre for old folks, where qigong can be practiced and activities organized by students and teachers for our seniors. End the day’s activities with a meal served by the students and the teachers.
Put on sale, ready-to-cook food for the convenience of the elderly
Have ready-to-cook food sold at NTUC supermarkets that can allow for a meal to be prepared in less than 10 minutes. These cleaned packed meat & veggies can be purchased every 5-6 days and will reduce the physical demands of making unnecessary trips to the wet market.
By Raymond Anthony Fernando
