Elderly Challenge - Observation 4

Elderly having problem remembering things.

I have observed that many elderly have problem remembering things efficiently. I have interviewed an elderly and she said to me that she forgets things frequently and that is a major problem to her lifestyle. She also says that she will forget her interview with me in 2 to 3 days. Thats why, when I ask her about lots of things that happened when she was younger, she could not remember them clearly and sometimes could not answer my questions. So I think elderly should write down things into a small notebook frequently so that they do not forget things so frequently as most elderly do not.

-Christopher Nah

Elderly Challenge - Observation 3

Elderly going to the toilet.

Some elderly have difficulty going to the toilet as the toilet bowl and the basin's level is not adjusted to the elderly's height. Thus, the elderly would have to spent extra effort to use that basin or toilet bowl and may fall or slip over. I think that the elderly's toilet should be redesigned after measuring the elderly's height and moving the toilet bowl and basin such that it is proportional to the elderly's height. Also, the designers should add anti-slip mats, bars for the elderly to hold onto so as to ensure that he or she does not easily slip or fall over and also use as a guide for the elderly to stand up and move around after he or she has finished his or her's business. The elderly should also wear a device that allows his or her's children to know if she has fallen down or any other things that went wrong in the toilet.

-Christopher Nah

Elderly Challenge - Observation 2

Elderly having to do all the household chores.

Quite an amount of elderly stay at home normally to complete all the household chores and does not experience freedom and keeping in touch with the community. Some elderly also have children but they are either busy at work or does not even bother or care to help her with household chores or maybe just hiring a maid to help her with the household chores. By doing so, the elderly will have some free time to interact with other elderly and also keep in touch with the community. Some elderly have a worse scenario of not even able to contact their children at all and they are quite depressed. Their children should at least give them their contact number so that they do not feel lonely and can tell their children their problems or difficulties or just have someone to chat with.

-Christopher Nah

Elderly Challenge - Observation 1

Elderly going up the escalator.

I have been to some Shopping Centre during the June Holidays and noticed that the elderly are having problems going up the escalator as the speed of the escalator moving is way to fast for some elderly to catch up with. They may also fall or slip if they accidentally did not manage to grip onto the rail of the escalator. However, I also notice that the chances of them falling is way higher when they are trying to go up the escalator and there are lots of other peoples behind him or her. The elderly thus rushed to go up the escalator as to not delay other shoppers from going up.

To resolve this problem, I think the shopping centre should have more lifts or maybe slow down the speed of some escalators until the elderly are able to go on it. In my opinion, I also think that more people including the elderly's children, should help the elderly go up the escalator or maybe just simply saying "Slowly, don`t rush". Her children should also go with the elderly to the shopping centre together and assist in whatever the elderly is having problem in. If the elderly just went to the shopping centre to get some groceries, the elderly's children can also ask her to stay at home and they will go and get the groceries for the elderly.

-Christopher Nah

Holiday work - Part 1: Understanding the ‘The Elderly Challenge’

1.Explain in your own words, the FOUR key recommendations of the report.

1.Housing for Seniors: Elder-Friendly Housing
2.Accessibility for Seniors: Barrier-Free Society
3.Caring for Seniors: Holistic and Affordable Healthcare and Eldercare
4.Opportunities for Seniors: Active Lifestyles and Well-being

The report focuses on the above 4 key recommendations. The first key recommendation “Housing for Seniors: Elder-Friendly Housing”, is about Singapore having a wide range of housing types for the elderly to choose from to suit their needs. The second key recommendation “Accessibility for Seniors: Barrier-Free Society”, is about Singapore having a user-friendly system for the elderly to travel about which includes Singapore having accessible lifts, walkways, transportation etc. to meet the needs of the elderly. The third key recommendation “Caring for Seniors: Holistic and Affordable Healthcare and Eldercare” is about Singapore having a very affordable healthcare while ensuring that it meets the needs of the elderly and improves their life quality. The forth key recommendation “Opportunities for Seniors: Active Lifestyles and Well-being” is about Singapore bringing the community together as one, ensuring that the relationships of the seniors towards their family members and friends is strong and to make sure that their family members are the one they will look for first when they encounter problems or challengers. Furthermore, Singapore will ensure that the elderly here leads a healthy and active lifestyle.



2.State ONE way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly

One way that the report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly is that HDB should provide more rental housing options for seniors, by exploring the lease of its vacant flats to voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), to cater to seniors who may prefer to rent rather than buy, or who need to downgrade from their existing flats.

State TWO ways on how we can ensure that the quality of elderly care here in Singapore is affordable
Two ways the the report is recommending to ensure that the quality of elderly care is Singapore is affordable is that the Government should top-up Medisave accounts of less well off Singaporeans when there are budgetary surpluses to ensure that seniors have the means to afford healthcare services and that MOH and MCYS should enhance the role of Community Case Management Service (CCMS) through closer integration with the hospital system and the community, to ensure that caregivers are guided closely and linked to proper follow-up care in the community.



3.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

I can visit my grandparents and other elderly and talk with them often so that the relationship between us is maintained and my grandparents does not feel left out.

I can call my grandparents and other elderly that I know frequently to check with them their health and also bring them to the hospital to do check-ups, so that I ensure that their healthcare and life quality is at its highest.

I can donate money or goods that the home for the aged needs so that I ensure that the homes for the aged always have enough budget and supplies to take good care of the elderly.