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SINGAPORE: Minister-in-Charge of Aging Issues, Lim Boon Heng, said Singapore's policies on active ageing are long term, so he does not see the current downturn affecting the planning process.
Speaking to reporters after opening the Ulu Pandan Wellness Centre on Saturday, Mr Lim said he is now paying close attention to healthcare and long-term care for the aged.
He said there are several things Singapore must do on a long-term basis, when planning its active ageing policies.
In the past year, the focus was on financial security and enhancing CPF Life. The next area of attention is healthcare and long-term care.
Mr Lim said: "Long-term care not just on the medical side, but a person may be physically incapacitated at some stage and needs to be assisted and that kind of care can be expensive. We have to find a way that this person is adequately provided for in terms of financing for that kind of care, if needed.
"We don't want to run into the same kinds of problems that other countries have done because they do not anticipate the ballooning of costs."
For this, Singapore needs a system that is robust and viable, and studies will be carried out in this area.
As part of Singapore's active ageing policy, the People's Association has plans to set up 12 wellness centres all over the country.
The fourth wellness centre was set up in Ulu Pandan CC on Saturday. One of the key aims of such wellness centres is to provide a focal point for senior citizens to gather to keep themselves occupied.
Mr Lim also had this advice for employers who may think of retrenching seniors first during a downturn.
He said: "If the employers need to shed workers, what we would like to see... (is for) them not renewing the contracts of foreign workers and instead retain the Singaporean workers. As I said before, when you face a downturn, companies will realise that you need steady hands and steady hands comes with experience."
Separately, Mr Lim - who is also the Deputy Chairman of the People's Association - said there has been an increase in the number of people seeking financial assistance, and it varies in each constituency. However, he said the situation is quite alright. - CNA/vm
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