THE Ministerial Committee on Ageing (MCA) said good progress has been made in preparing Singapore for an ageing population, with 39 recommendations being implemented.

Releasing its report card on the work achieved in 2007 on Tuesday, the committee said that it will be pushing for greater efforts by the Government, the private and people sectors this year to explore new initiatives in promoting active ageing.

The major achievements in 2007 include measures to enhance the employability and financial security of seniors, improving the affordability of healthcare, enhancing a barrier-free and accessible environment for our seniors, and facilitating seniors to be well-connected and active in society.

Singapore has one of the world's fastest ageing populations. By 2030, one in five residents will be 65 and above, from one in 12 today. By 2050, Singapore is projected to be the fourth oldest country in the world.

'Population ageing undeniably brings challenges. But it also provides us opportunities to transform our socio-economic infrastructure to help Singaporeans enjoy healthy and happy lives in their golden years,' said a statement from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, which released the committee's report.

'As a country, Singapore is well-positioned to take a coordinated and proactive approach to deal with this demographic shift.'

With health being the key to well-being at old age, the government strongly feels that it is vital that services for seniors to help them remain healthy and prevent illness are established for their use.

Wellness Programme

Among the key initiatives are a pilot Wellness Programme, announced in September 2007, which aims to offer older Singaporeans with information and opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles and remain socially engaged within the community, and the Council for Third Age, which was also established last May to promote active ageing in Singapore.

Taking the perspective of ageing as both a challenge and opportunity, the MCA has also encouraged the development of commercially viable products and services for seniors in Singapore. The most recent intiative is the just-ended Silver Industry Conference and Exhibition at the Suntec Convention Centre which showcased the new lifestyle and business opportunities in providing products and services for baby boomers.

Giving an overview of the year's policies and initiatives, the committee said: 'The Government's efforts to prepare Singapore for an ageing population must involve the community. Individual Singaporeans and their families should be empowered to take responsibility for their social, health and financial needs.'

'There is potential for the private sector to expand its role in an ageing population to meet different needs of different population segments.'

'In the nursing home market, the Ministry of Health will look to facilitate the entry of providers which can add value to this sector and introduce measures to encourage market competition.'

Enhancing employability

To enhance employability and financial security, measures were announced to help Singaporeans work longer, improve returns on CPF savings, and make savings last for the lifetime of CPF members.

These include the introduction of legislative changes within five years to facilitate opportunities for older workers to continue working beyond the age of 62, the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Scheme for older low-wage workers, giving CPF members an extra 1% interest on the first $60,000 in their CPF accounts including up to $20,000 from the Ordinary Account (OA) from Jan 1 this year, and progressively raising the minimum sum draw-down age the current 62 to 65 by 2018. .

MCYS said more will be done to positively shape the mindsets of employers and employees towards employing older workers and to facilitate the re-design of jobs to make them more suited for older workers.

The Government is considering a longevity insurance scheme which will give CPF members a basic income for as long as they live. A committee chaired by Professor Lim Pin is studying the design of a scheme that will provide basic, affordable and flexible plans to ensure long-life income for CPF members.

HDB's Lease Buyback Scheme

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also announced the HDB's Lease Buyback Scheme during his National Day Rally speech on Aug 20 last year.

This is a subsidised scheme targeted at elderly households living in two-room and three-room HDB flats and offers another option for the elderly to monetise their flats.

Under the scheme, HDB will buy back the tail end of the lease, leaving the flat owner with a flat that has a 30-year lease remaining. The cash that is released, including the subsidy provided by Government, will be given progressively to the flat owner to supplement his retirement income.

Affordable healthcare

On providing a holistic, affordable healthcare for the elderly, the committee said more focus should also be given to prevent and better manage diseases, before more expensive institution-based treatment becomes necessary. Older Singaporeans, supported by caregivers and the community, should also be empowered to take care of their own health and wellbeing.

Family physicians, with their close proximity to the community, can help ensure that patients receive the most appropriate level of healthcare services within the community.

MOH's Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) empowers family physicians to adopt a holistic approach in managing the healthcare needs of their patients. Other chronic diseases are being studied to see if they would fit into this programme, said the Committee.

Turning to support for end-of-life care and concerns, the committee said there is a need to improve end-of-life care, especially for patients and their caregivers during the last phase of the patients' lives.

The Health Ministry is currently studying aspects of end-of-life care such as patient preferences on the place of death, as well as making it easier for Singaporeans to sign an Advanced Medical Directive (AMD).

In addition, MOH will increase its support for hospice and palliative care services for those patients with terminal illnesses, by strengthening the healthcare workforce, enhancing career prospects and planning for the long term manpower needs of the sector, said the committee.

MCYS has completed public consultation on the Mental Capacity Bill which would enable individuals to appoint proxy decision makers in advance should they lose their mental capacity due to illnesses such as dementia. The ministry will introduce the Bill in Parliament soon.

Barrier-free accessibility

In the public housing estates, HDB is working closely with the Town Councils (TCs) to ensure that barrier-free accessibility in all HDB estates will be achieved by 2011.

The Committee said the HDB's ongoing Lift Upgrading Programme is progressing well, and it is on target to have full lift access for all eligible HDB blocks by 2014. MCYS is also introducing ways to support active ageing and ageing-in-place in the community, including the pilot Wellness Programme.

As for public transport, most MRT stations have been retrofitted since 2006 and are barrier-free today. The first wheelchair accessible buses were introduced in 2006. By 2010, 40 per cent of the public bus fleet will be wheelchair-accessible.

'The benefits of older Singaporeans leading healthy and happy lives accrue at the level of the individual, community and nation. Research has shown that leading active and purposeful lives, i.e. active ageing, can improve an individual's wellbeing and even reduce the risk of the onset of chronic diseases. In turn, it enables older Singaporeans to continue to contribute to society,' said the committee.

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