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SINGAPORE: The social sector said authorities need to go beyond just the law when it comes to getting children to look after elderly parents.
They were responding to Prime Minister Lee's National Day Rally speech, where he said the government will study how best to use the Maintenance of Parents Act to act on cases where children abandon their parents in nursing homes.
In an increasingly fast-paced world, elderly parents often lose out on time, attention, care and financial aid, with a few even abandoned in nursing homes.
But sociologists said problems go beyond the issue of filial piety. As parents live longer, chronic illnesses take a toll on their children's finances.
Associate Professor Paulin Straughan, sociologist, National University of Singapore, said: "One hospitalisation, for example, a stroke can set you back at tens of thousands of dollars. Where are you going to get that money?
"Medisave may be exhausted after a week, Medishield may not be sufficient. And many of these aged Singaporeans, sadly are not covered by anything else and these adult children have to look after themselves and their children as well."
For this lost generation of elderly Singaporeans, stop gap measures include more long-term healthcare insurance.
Stepping up home care and creating eldercare leave are other options, while social workers said mediation is available and should be used before resorting to the law - failing which, a neutral third party, like a nursing home, to compel payment may work better.
Sandy Koh, medical social worker, Alexandra Hospital, said: "A lot of parents are worried that if they initiate the process to get money, it will further strain relations. So in these cases, a third party might be helpful."
When it comes to parent maintenance issues, medical social workers at Alexandra Hospital said they face issues with two main groups of people.
One is when the children are overseas and the parents are here in Singapore and there is no one to look after them. And second, when there is a larger family and one child takes the main bulk of caregiving duties and is compelled to go to the tribunal to get more help from his or her siblings.
An announcement on changes to the system is expected later this week. - CNA/vm
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