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.