Looking after the Aged

Sir, ably led by Minister Lim Boon Heng, the national Wellness Programme aims to promote active ageing.  Excellent toolkits such as this [indicating] were developed to encourage seniors take part in health screenings and physical exercises such as tai-chi, line dancing and even belly-dancing.

Sir, to add more meaning to ageing, I propose that the Active Ageing Framework formally includes the components of work and contribution into the current physical, mental and social dimensions.

Sir, there are seniors who wish to and can afford to work less, at their own pace and their own time.  I ask for a Jobs-for-Seniors Clearing House to be set up to help identify, assess and place seniors in part-time work suitable for elderly beyond the usual blanket-sewing, handicraft type of work.

Next, on ageing more meaningfully, Sir, more popular programmes such as Youths for Causes and Young Change-Makers support young people to contribute to people or causes beyond themselves.  Similar programmes such as a Seniors for Causes or Senior Change-Makers should also be funded throughout Singapore so that ageing Singaporeans can make greater impact on other people, beyond themselves and their families.

Let us fund People's Association more to help all our senior Singaporeans to finish well in life.  Do not let them just count their days.  Let us help to make their days count.