Support for Senior Citizens

4.37 pm

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Nee Soon): Mr Speaker, I beg to move*, "That this House recognises that seniors are a gift to our society, contributing to a wise and resilient Singapore, and calls on the Government to continue strengthening support for seniors to age with dignity and spearhead community efforts to create a society where they can thrive."

*The Motion also stood in the names of Miss Cheng Li Hui, Dr Lily Neo, Ms Joan Pereira, Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Ms Tin Pei Ling.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am moving this Motion on behalf of a group of Parliamentarians called the People's Action Party (PAP) Senior Group or PAP.SG. I would like to start my chat today by talking about two seniors in my constituency, Kebun Baru.

Saraj, aged 72, spent his entire life keeping Singapore safe. He was one of our chief hostage negotiators for both Singapore Airlines (SQ) highjacks. After he retired, he continues to volunteer to pass down his wisdom. Today, he is a cornerstone of Kebun Baru’s Yellow Ribbon outreach.

Alice, aged 70, spent her entire life as a nurse. From 1986 to 2000, she built the modern ambulance service that we know. She then served for 30 more years. Today, she still leads our community emergency responders.

All of us here within this Chamber have met incredible seniors, their stories etched in our minds. Some have done great things; some have lead simple but meaningful lives. Their wisdom and resilience had built Singapore.

Our Pioneers, soon to be followed by our Baby Boomers, are now growing old. They have been described as the coming Silver Tsunami. Last December, a United Overseas Bank (UOB) analyst even declared that Singapore’s demographic time bomb will start ticking, right this year.

An ageing population presents major challenges to an unprepared society: less economic vitality, higher tax burden on the young, and an intergenerational fight for resources between the young and old.

[Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair]

But we, at PAP.SG, believe that we must and we will meet these serious challenges and then go beyond. Besides the challenges, we should also focus on the positives. More and more of our seniors are highly-skilled and experienced, with a stronger ability to retire productively and to contribute to society. And this is what we believe to be the Silver Dividend.

But creating this Silver Dividend requires a lot of work. We need to stretch our minds, stretch our hearts and stretch our hands. If we are successful, our seniors can shine brightly in their autumn years. They can reflect on their lifelong experiences, in comfort and dignity. They can pass down their very special spark to the next generation. And that is how we can build a wise and resilient Singapore ‒ through values and experiences passed down by each generation.

On what basis does PAP.SG have this confidence? Well, Singapore is not the first or the only society dealing with the challenge of ageing. Successful preparations require decisive actions and long-term planning. And these are precisely our strengths. Our long-term planning has already borne fruit. Before this Silver Tsunami has hit Singapore, we have assembled the major policy pieces. Let me give a few examples.

One, in five short years, we have tripled our healthcare spending. In percentages, I believe we have undergone the most aggressive healthcare expansion in recent memory in any developed country.

Two, we have set aside many billions for our Pioneer Generation Package and are spending a lot more for our Silver Support Scheme.

Three, we have strengthened MediShield Life and are reviewing ElderShield Life.

Four, we have improved retirement adequacy through higher Central Provident Fund (CPF) payouts.

Five, we have introduced lease buy-back for seniors living in many Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats through the enhanced Silver Housing Bonus.

Six, we have set aside $3 billion for the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, a remarkable plan, which called for Singapore to be a kampung and city for all ages, with vast opportunities for our seniors.

But as we frequently say in this Chamber, we are not done building Singapore. Much has been done, but there is much more to do. It is in this spirit that my fellow PAP.SG Members and I would like to put forward additional ideas for consideration.

Today, we will talk about retirement adequacy, retirement housing, seniors’ employability, volunteerism, the digital divide, digital medicine and caregiver support.

We are fully aware that meeting the challenge of ageing is expensive. In fact, some of us worry deeply about how to pay for meeting our promises to our seniors while still creating a bright future for our children. So, whatever we do today or put in place tomorrow must be prudent and sustainable. Otherwise, we will be loading an unfair burden on future generations.

Fortunately, the key to success requires more than Government dollars. It requires society to come together to create community initiatives to support our seniors. As such, my fellow PAP.SG Members and I will speak about our community initiatives for seniors. We believe in these initiatives and we want them to spread across Singapore.

Mr Deputy Speaker, for my speech today, I will focus on maintaining the dignity of our elderly. We will all grow old one day. Even now, many of us are seeing our parents age. When I speak to my peers, a common theme emerges. Dad once carried us on his shoulders, but he is looking so frail recently. Mum used to nag us not to forget this or that, but now she is also forgetting things. And we start wondering what we would do when they can no longer take care of themselves. We would all like to take care of them at home. But sometimes it is not possible for medical, financial or family reasons.

A friend told me that he looked into some nursing homes, but the seniors there looked so sad that he could not bear to. They were given basic care but could not pursue their own interests or social life. Nobody cared about what they wanted or what makes them unique and what gets them out of bed every day. In other words, they are okay but they have lost their dignity.

This is not the only way seniors have lost their dignity. Seniors lose their dignity when they cannot pay for their retirement years; when they have to move to somewhere more affordable and leave their social circles. Seniors lose dignity when they are viewed as burdens to society.

Our seniors deserve their dignity. Many seniors feel that if they lose dignity, a longer life is not a blessing. Mother Teresa said, "Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."

I am sure none of us want our parents and our nation's Pioneers to be in this state, and we certainly do not want to be in this state one day. With that in mind, I would like to propose three policy changes.

(a) Changing regulations to enable affordable, dignified living options for all seniors;

(b) introducing regulations to help our seniors, especially our private estate residents, to monetise their housing assets; and

(c) introducing caregiver leave.

My first proposal is to strengthen affordable, dignified living options for our seniors. Some nursing homes that are built long ago still have many seniors sharing a room. At some homes, overworked staff do not have time to say "Hi" or chat.

The lack of autonomy, meaning and privacy in many nursing and retirement homes is a huge factor why eight in 10 Singaporeans worry about getting old, and why many of us still view these homes as "dumping" our parents there. But when Singaporeans genuinely cannot take care of their parents at home, they should not have to feel that they are unfilial. We should have better options.

Fortunately, we are beginning to see new types of nursing homes and seniors housing. So, with regard to nursing homes, I believe that we are making an important transition and there had been some solid success. For example, we have created the new Kampung Admiralty for HDB dwellers who want a comfortable assisted living home option. Kampung Admiralty has senior housing built on top of a common community plaza with a hawker centre and medical facilities. The designers also wisely put the senior activity centre next to the kindergarten.

I visited Kampung Admiralty with some of my architect friends to study the layout. We went away very impressed. I hope that we can build many more Kampung Admiraltys. They can serve as our mothership to surrounding blocks of conventional flats and be the anchor to our Kampung for All Ages. I am also glad to hear that Minister Gan Kim Yong is looking into various assisted living options for more Singaporeans, just like the options offered at Kampung Admiralty.

Today, we also have many more choices in nursing homes, which I consider a partial success. There are homes where seniors have more autonomy, privacy and activities. But they cost from nearly $4,000 to $15,000 a month, obviously not affordable for the vast majority of retirees, even those staying in private estates. We must make more of such options more affordable.

We also had experiments on private retirement homes or assisted living arrangements, although I feel that we have not yet discovered the right model. I have been following a site at Jurong Kechil that has been billed as a potential retirement home. But because the developer had to bid against conventional residential developments, some have questioned whether it will turn out to be more a condominium than a retirement home.

In short, there are still gaps. We need to quickly assemble a full range of good options, at different price points, for our seniors. Both our seniors living in HDB and private estates must have choices to either age-in-place, right-size to a right place, live in an assisted living environment or a retirement village, or move into a nursing home.

Just as important as the choices is the affordability. We must change regulations and laws to help our seniors monetise their assets to pay for them, and we must create these options now.

A senior lecturer in the National University of Singapore (NUS), who was part of the group advising me on senior housing, shared this with me, "Please tell the Government that this is urgent. We are getting older and older every day. There is no time for us to wait for more reviews and more studies. We need these choices now."

After studying the existing gaps and options, I would like to propose four ways for the Government to create a broader range of choices.

One, the Government can have a separate land use category for retirement or assisted living homes. We can design it so that only properly regulated players can bid. These players, as an industry, must offer various price points. How do we make sure that there is no race to the bottom? Simple. The Government can charge property tax based on the revenue intensity of their operations, which depends on the price point of their offering. With a separate land use category, land sales could fetch a lower amount. But today we already ascribe different values to industrial parks, schools and public housing because they are important to our society. So, why not for retirement homes?

We can experiment with a few projects and then finetune along the way. There are also ways to further ringfence the cost to the rest of the society through creative land use, such as allowing for usage in certain religious lands – I know a particular church that is very keen to explore doing so. We can also look at spaces on top of car parks, spaces between HDB blocks.

Two, the Government can put in watertight regulations on what constitutes a retirement home, even without a separate land use category. The Government must get developers to clearly spell out what assisted services, service standards and pricing to offer. But it will be a partial solution because the existing land use category is unlikely to rule out non-seniors from buying. And there is always the temptation from speculators or shoebox apartment buyers to price genuine senior buyers out.

Three, the Government can embrace legislation similar to the Australian Retirement Village Act, which governs the relationship between retirement homes and the seniors staying in them. Specifically, we can look at the Retirement Village Acts in both Queensland and Victoria states.

Four, the Government can provide a gross floor area (GFA) bonus to selected older condominiums that want to be partially or fully transformed into a retirement village.

Pearl Bank is an excellent example. Pearl Bank is a condominium with a deep sense of community and unique architecture value. It is also very near Singapore General Hospital. There has been talk about En bloc and conservation. Many residents want to En bloc, which requires land intensification, which will allow residents of Pearl Bank to top-up their lease. And one exciting option is to intensify by building an additional 150 units of senior housing on top of their existing car park, and also building more facilities catered to seniors, while keeping the unique architectural makeup of the rest of the development. Yet, they are constrained from doing so, at least through the En bloc route, because they have maximised their GFA under the current regulations. If the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) can view them as potential retirement residential development, can these regulations be relaxed?

Beyond Pearl Bank, I am sure there are other private estates that could voluntarily work with the Government to be converted into a full or partial retirement residential development.

My second proposal is to help our seniors, especially those living in private estates, monetise their housing assets. Seniors lose dignity when they cannot afford to pay for their retirement years.

For many Singaporeans, our most major asset is our home. Monetisation options are in place for seniors living in 4-room HDB or smaller flats but not for seniors in other housing types.

In my constituency, there is a private estate called Teachers’ Estate. As the name tells you, the seniors there are mostly retired teachers. But now, some of them are asset-rich and cash-poor. They do not qualify for most assistance schemes because they live in private estates. They tell me that they do have the option of downsizing but it is hard to find affordable options nearby which can also free up enough money for retirement. When they move, they are cut off from their social circles. So, we need to look into more options that enable them to age-in-place.

Again, why has the market not provided such an option? Two reasons. For many retirees living in private housing, they live frugally, so they might only need tens of thousands of dollars each year in retirement. But banks are not interested in lending them secured loans in such quantum. This is because, given the razor-thin margin of reverse mortgages, the banks have limited interest in secured loans for less than $200,000-$300,000.

Talking to the private and people sector, I see at least two solutions. The first is to get the Government to encourage and regulate social enterprises or co-operatives (co-ops) to undertake such reverse mortgages. Let me get this straight, I believe the numbers can work out and there is no need for the Government to co-fund or co-share the risk.

The social enterprises and co-ops can also securitise their assets in the financial markets, and this can be done, given Singapore’s status as a centre for real estate investment trusts (REITS). Government regulations can also ensure that the social enterprises or co-ops are properly capitalised, the reverse mortgage valuation process is proper, the fees are transparent and appropriate, and we can also push the social enterprises or co-ops to go for transparency and accountability, perhaps by getting them to declare a socially acceptable and transparent cost-plus financing model.

The second solution is for the Government to encourage and regularise specialised funds for seniors to monetise their assets. We can look at the innovation happening in France. Retirees sell their assets to a fund that is based on the French concept of "Viager" property contracts. Seniors sell their asset to a fund which owns a portfolio of properties. While the property deed goes to the fund, the seniors have the right to stay in the property until they pass on one day. Based on market valuation, actuarial studies and the fund’s desired returns, the fund pays the senior an upfront payment, followed by a lifelong annuity. We can even consider adding life insurance payoffs into the housing equity to increase the amount of assets that seniors can monetise.

The Government can also consider regulating how the funds are capitalised, to make sure that the funds are not over-leveraged, the transparency of the returns and the actuarial basis of the fund payoff.

My third proposal is to introduce senior caregiver leave. Seniors lose dignity when their loved ones are not with them in times of need. Ageing, falling sick and one day departing from the world are a fate we all share. As we depart quietly into the night, our loved ones' presence will comfort us through that inevitable journey. Senior caregiver leave can help. I propose starting with four days of Senior Care Leave for a selected group of Singaporeans who are already caregivers for their parents. This would come with costs to the companies but there are ways to limit the costs to deserving situations.

One, we can limit it to Singaporeans with parents aged above 70.

Two, we can limit it to eligible Singaporeans who have less than 14 days of annual leave, because these Singaporeans have even less time to care for their parents compared to others.

Three, at the start, focus on companies with more than 100 employees. These companies have the means to adapt.

Four, adopt a tripartite process to deliberate on this.

As mentioned earlier, Government programmes are only part of the equation. Our community must also step up. There are many excellent programmes throughout Singapore. There is much opportunity to share best practices. PAP.SG hopes to spur such conversations. For example, in my constituency, I have started something called The Hope Collective. It brings the do-gooders of Kebun Baru together, whether they are Government agencies, voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), grassroots committees or even new groups of volunteers.

We are already seeing synergies. For example, we have an elderly befriending programme called Project Starfish. Through Hope Collective, they have partnered another group called Mummy Yummy that delivers vegetarian meals to the needy. So, they have brought their strengths together and brought seniors to our Community Centre for regular meals. The seniors loved the food and the meals broke their social isolation. Now, Project Starfish and Mummy Yummy are bringing in more student volunteers through Hope Collective so that they can expand their outreach. They are also working with the Police to share the workload.

Through the Hope Collective, we can also take a comprehensive view and plug in the gaps. For example, we have a pool of lawyers who can educate and advise on legal matters for the seniors, such as Limited Powers of Attorney (LPAs). We also want to move towards dementia readiness. Overall, our vision is to build a culture of respect, love and care for our seniors. We want to build "a Kampung for All Ages". I am looking forward to learning more ideas from my colleagues in this session.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me wrap up my opening speech. Some medical professionals say our elder care has to catch up with First World standards. I say we should and then go beyond that.

Just as our seniors have built a world-beating economy for us, we can be the world leader in building a senior-friendly society for them. It seems like a tall order, until we remember that everybody has parents and everybody will grow old. So, everybody has a vested interest in getting this sorted out. If the Government can provide the right structure, it will unleash the society’s energy to do so. In fact, the three ideas I have laid out today will do precisely that.

Of course, ageing presents serious challenges, even for a nation as united and organised as Singapore. But we should not shy away from meeting these challenges. As Prime Minister Lee said in his 2014 National Day Rally speech, "At the heart of the Singapore Story is our belief in Singapore; a belief that we can turn vulnerability and despair into confidence and hope; belief that out of the trauma of Separation, we can build a modern metropolis and a beautiful home."

What I would like to ask this Chamber today is, "What is a beautiful home?" It is a place where we can live with dignity, no matter our age; where we can rest assured that we can take care of our families; where the community does right by those who sacrificed their best years for us. Because only when we have done that, can we say this is home, truly.

Question proposed.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Dr Lily Neo.

5.01 pm

Dr Lily Neo (Jalan Besar): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the title of my speech today is "Golden Opportunities in Silver Years". It is about a change of policies and communities willing to assist seniors live meaningfully and independently and be assets to society and country throughout their silver years.

I would like to propose that we plan and maximise the potential of the silver population so that they can have better opportunities and, at the same time, allow society to reap the benefits of the Silver Dividend.

The strategy is a call for affirmative concepts of people of all ages, a society for all ages that celebrates and prepares properly for the whole population so that everyone can be healthy, active, positive and productive individuals throughout life. Every citizen can contribute to the public good, helping themselves and others, as well as striving for positive fulfilment through meaningful engagement.

In our population demography, there are many positive opportunities that we can tap on, from the large numbers of healthy and active seniors in our society, to be workers, mentors, caregivers, child minders, consumers and volunteers.

To successfully manage the economics of our ageing population, we need good forward planning and strategic policy choices that have the cooperation from all sectors of our society.

People are capable of living self-reliant lives with new possibilities that make living exciting and productive through the right policies in labour market participation, social inclusion as well as healthcare in place. We need policies that can enable and support all ages to enjoy physical, social and mental well-being.

As a start, we need to change the prevalent negative discriminatory attitudes towards our seniors as useless, as a ticking demographic time bomb and as a burden that society can ill-afford. Senior citizens should be viewed as assets who can be tapped on for their wisdom, experience, values and expertise.

Labour market participation. There is evidence that longer working lives have beneficial effects on an individual’s physical and psychological well-being. Some evidence also show that a worker’s productivity does not necessarily decline with age; any decline in physical capacity is often compensated by qualities and skills acquired through experience. In essence, it is health status rather than age that is a key factor in determining productivity levels.

The 2014 results from the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) indicate a large proportion of Singaporean seniors have expressed interest to continue working after the age of retirement. Ninety percent of the respondents have indicated that working is a good way to stay financially independent, connect with society and retain their sense of self-worth.

The latest report by Oxford Economics said that Singapore's labour supply will shrink by 1.7% in the 10 years through 2026, and by 2.5% in the following decade after accounting for changes to the participation rate. This will make the country the worst hit of a dozen economies in the report even though it was Japan that has recorded the biggest workforce decline over the past 10 years. Given our shrinking workforce, it will be good if we can increase the labour participation of seniors.

Active labour market participation may be enhanced by establishing flexible retirement arrangements: through forming a working environment that is suitable to the needs of all generations, continuous education, promoting positive images of senior employees and anti-discrimination policies, and recognising and lowering barriers of entry into the workforce so as to include the seniors in our economy. The barriers of entry would include stereo-mindset of employers, skills mismatch, lack of job flexibility, technological barrier and lack of incentives for businesses and so on.

I agree with many parts of the 2016 blueprint report on Action Plan for Successful Ageing by the Ministry of Health (MOH), especially on employability with ageless workplaces and lifelong employability. In this report, it says that many seniors want to work beyond the official retirement age to remain financially independent and to keep themselves active. Seniors hope to have meaningful job opportunities to fulfil their aspirations at their stage of life.

Suggestions from seniors and employers in this blueprint report include the following: redesign jobs to offer older workers greater flexibility, make training accessible and effective for older workers, set up a dedicated seniors-only national job bank to lifelong learning, review or extend the retirement age as some think it should be extended to 70 while some others feel it should be abolished entirely, provide good career guidance and transition programmes a few years ahead of the re-employment age, promote mindset change among employers on the value of older workers, allow older workers to try out jobs via internships or job trials, recognise employers who treat older workers well, and promote intergenerational workplace harmony. These are all good recommendations and I hope that our Government can consider them and make them available soonest.

Volunteerism. There are health and social benefits in volunteering. It offers seniors significant physical, emotional and cognitive or brain health benefits. It also enhances social support and social inclusion. The brain is involved in feeling as well as thinking, and this means that finding meaningful and purposeful activity is particularly important. This can be accomplished through volunteering by finding roles that are personally meaningful. Matching and placing volunteers in the best role for each individual is worth the effort.

Many studies have found that engaging in voluntary work in later life is a strong predictor of better self-rated health, daily functioning, physical activity and life satisfaction. Voluntary work in later life is also associated with a decrease in depression, hypertension and mortality among seniors. In addition to health benefits, volunteering can enhance social support networks, increase social status and reinforce knowledge and skills. Volunteering also provides a role identity and sense of purpose for those retired from paid work.

Seniors can better integrate socially when they find structures for volunteering. There is a need to increase awareness of opportunities and community needs and to facilitate opportunities for engagement. People are looking for a range of options where they can see the value and impact of their contributions in their community. More people are interested in group volunteering, short-term assignments, as well as virtual volunteering, and they view volunteering as a way of transferring or gaining skills. Some of our SkillsFuture Credit courses can be tailored for this purpose.

May I urge our Government to set up policies and programmes aimed at promoting volunteering among seniors and strengthening the capacity of organisations to involve seniors with a broader spectrum of engagements. Let us promote and provide avenues for volunteering as a meaningful occupation that provides direction as well as purpose and passion, just like the fulfilment that comes from meaningful paid work where individuals find fulfilment, meaning and personal identity. This form of volunteering can be viewed as "serious leisure", "career volunteering" or "career redirection". I would like to suggest the following areas to further broaden the spectrum of volunteering.

(a) Retirement planning typically focuses on financial planning; modules on volunteering should be part of all Retirement Planning programmes.

(b) Recreation can be made more meaningful with volunteering roles, such as being a swimming buddy with someone with a physical disability, being a singing coach in nursing homes, being a volunteer playing chess with youths in a drop-in centre and so on.

(c) Lifelong learning volunteering is a way to transfer skills gained or to learn new skills, in this context, volunteering prepares one for a new career.

(d) HDB and private condominium volunteering is a great way to get more connected to the neighbours, especially in door-to-door canvassing, in collecting information about their environment or in patrolling their estates.

(e) Skills-based volunteering, where many adults who have indicated an interest in using their skills and experiences for volunteering is a good approach.

(f) Environmental volunteering may be ideal for adults who are interested in environmental issues, collecting information about the environment. The National Environment Agency (NEA), Town Councils and Community Centres may recruit such volunteers and even for just one-day events.

(g) Employer-supported volunteering, where corporations support the commitment of their employees for activities through “community day or days” each year. These can be further encouraged in quality and quantity and in having more businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved.

(h) Retired Employee volunteering programme, where workplaces that have alumni or retiree programmes can incorporate volunteer opportunities. Our Ministries can pilot such programmes where employees can continue as mentors, volunteering especially to ease the transition of new employees.

It will be useful to have a volunteer centre with coordinators to offer programmes that appeal to different groups with different interests and to match and place the volunteering services with the community groups and organisations. This will provide a one-stop convenient avenue and will maximise outcome.

Senior adults may experience challenges and barriers to volunteering in relation to transportation, scheduling issues and out-of-pocket expenses. I would like to suggest implementation of reimbursements for costs incurred, similar to that granted to the "Pioneer Generation (PG) Ambassadors” programme, so that volunteers are not overly burdened financially in the course of volunteering.

Health. Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely by the absence of disease and infirmity. Seniors considered the deterioration in their physical or mental health as the biggest threat to their well-being. As life expectancy increases, it becomes more important that the added years to life are accompanied by good health. Good health is a prerequisite for anyone expecting an active and fulfilling life.

Many chronic diseases are largely preventable. Chronic diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension, are considered one of the most significant health challenges in developed countries and represent a major component of service activity and expenditure, as well as a major contributor to disability, ill-health and mortality among the older population in these countries. Many of these are also key risk factors for the development of dementia. It has been reported that the cumulative lifetime disability for those who smoke, are obese and do not exercise is four times greater than those who are of a healthy weight, exercise and do not smoke.

Traditionally, models of care have tended to focus on those with the most medical needs. I would like our Government to ensure subsequent future service provisions reverse this trend so that equal priority is accorded to both medical treatment and the promotion of health and well-being. Shifting the focus towards promotion of lifelong good health would lead to a significant increase not only in life expectancy but also in disability-free life expectancy. So, the emphasis of our healthcare policy should be to prevent and reduce disability and premature mortality by supporting the development and implementation of policies towards this aim.

While there is evidence that it is difficult to change the behaviour patterns of seniors, research has also found that changes in lifestyle, even in later years, can bring health benefits. Research indicates that retirement tends to decrease the level of physical activity needed for a healthy lifestyle. Social isolation may contribute to depression, grief, stress, anxiety, alcoholism and medication misuse, failure to seek help when needed, and an extremely high suicide rate, particularly among older men.

Independent living. In its submission to the Second World Assembly on Ageing 2002, the World Health Organisation observed that age-friendly built environments for people with disabilities facilitate access to the appropriate range of housing and housing-related support services that are delivered in an integrated and sustainable manner.

This promotes equality of opportunity, individual choice and independent living. These can make a difference between independency and dependency for all individuals and is particularly important for those growing older. For instance, older people who live in an unsafe environment or areas with multiple physical barriers are less likely to venture out and are, therefore, more prone to isolation, depression, reduced fitness and increased mobility problems.

It will be good if HDB continues to promote and support universally recognised seniors-oriented housing designs and compositions that allow for an environment that may be easily accessed and used to the greatest possible extent by persons of any age or having any particular physical, sensory, medical ill-health or disability. We must try to design and develop seniors-friendly living spaces and buildings which are suitable for their physical and social needs.

The priority of the Government's policy is to support seniors to live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Planning, designing and building local environments that are safe and accessible to seniors are, therefore, vital to supporting them to live in their own homes and local communities. Seniors-friendly adaptations in design inside HDB flats will enable many to continue living independently despite disability. Common spaces with consideration for a micro-community with, for example, recreation and community areas to enable seniors to lend support to one another and to engage with one another will prevent social isolation. Support services within the same block or close vicinity that are useful are Seniors Activity Centres, clinics, minimarts and food outlets.

There is an increasing recognition that new technologies can offer new ways of supporting people with medical illnesses and disabilities and facilitating them to continue living independently at home. They can play an important role in self-care and prevention of advancing disability. Telecare and telehealth services are also becoming increasingly recognised as effective ways to prevent or manage some health conditions that effectively facilitate independent living.

Mobility. Researches have shown that roles that require physical activity engage the brain and provide social interaction that are especially good for individuals because multiple area stimulation appears to reduce the risk of dementia and promote brain health. Thus, enabling people, as they age, "to get out and about" through the provision of accessible, affordable and flexible transport systems is essential for ease in mobility. Mobility is a key determinant towards an individual’s ability to access social or physical services and to engage in community activities. Seniors who live in inaccessible environments are less likely to go outdoors and are, therefore, more prone to isolation, depression, reduced fitness and mobility problems. Thus, let us continue to enhance a seniors-friendly public transport system.

Let us continue to aim for a community that is inclusive of everyone, including especially our seniors. Let our seniors be welcomed by society, businesses and community alike. Let our seniors be respected, not patronised, and let the wealth of knowledge and experience they have to offer be valued. I hope our Government will consider my suggestions above and implement measures towards achieving an even better society for all.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Chia Yong Yong.

5.19 pm

Ms Chia Yong Yong (Nominated Member): Mr Deputy Speaker, I declare my interest as a lawyer in private practice. I join my colleagues in this hon House in support of the Motion and echo their proposition to recognise that seniors are a gift to us. Indeed, seniors should be respected, even if they cannot contribute anymore.

Sir, the social compact in Singapore is evolving. The success, stability and economic benefits enjoyed by us today have been built upon the sacrifices, sweat and tears of our seniors. They suffered loss so that we might gain. As a country, we owe it to our seniors to enjoy their golden years in dignity.

More fundamentally, as individuals, we owe it to our parents to enjoy their golden years in dignity. Regrettably, it appears there are some among us who do not agree with that statement. We have all seen many, too many, cases of neglect or abuse of seniors by their adult or even middle-aged children. Yes, there might be bad blood between a senior and his or her children. Notwithstanding that, few among us will condone neglect or abuse of such seniors by their adult children.

Accordingly, Mr Deputy Speaker, whilst I firmly believe that filial piety cannot be legislated, I submit that Singapore needs a more robust and coordinated framework towards ensuring that our seniors will be well taken care of.

The hon Member Mr Henry Kwek proposed three policy changes. I propose three complementary actions: education; bolder use of existing legislation, namely, the Maintenance of Parents Act (MPA); and supplementary legislation.

Firstly, education. Caring for a person is not about how lovable a person is, or how fragrant the person is, or how affordable or convenient it is to care for the person. Particularly in the context of a parent and child, it is about love and obligation. And obligation, even if there is no love.

As a community, therefore, we must continue to emphasise the value of filial piety. It should be taught at home. Parents should set the example, and it should be taught in schools and religious institutions.

We should also recognise that with or without filial piety, financial dependence on children can strain and has frequently strained parent-child relationships. So, let us empower seniors to take control of their financial assets in order to reduce financial dependence on their children.

Whilst it is understandable that seniors would like to give properties to their children, the gifts can be made after they have passed on. In principle, they can reduce their financial dependence on the children and still leave legacies to them using two legal instruments: the reverse mortgage and the Will.

First, the reverse mortgage. We should intensify and expand our ground efforts to inform seniors of the advantages of the reverse mortgage to HDB and other financial institutions and encourage a higher greater take-up rate. The payouts from the reverse mortgage will enable the seniors to reduce their dependence on public assistance or their children. The remaining value of the flat can still be gifted to their children after they have passed on.

Second, the Will. We should encourage seniors to maintain themselves out of their own properties. They should not make gifts to their children in their lifetime. By making a Will, the senior can continue to own and enjoy their property and leave the remainder, after they have passed on, to their children. A Will can be changed at any time by the senior. This means that an unfilial child can be written out of the Will at any time. By using the Will, the senior retains to a large extent the control over his or her assets and finances, and financial independence.

Of course, some children may not be happy to wait so long. If the parent-child relationship deteriorates because the parent had decided to take control of his or her own finances, then all the more the parent would have made the correct decision. Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Generally speaking, parents will express their love for their children by bestowing things to them. As a result, many seniors transfer their properties to their children. Only after they do so, do they come to realise that their children are not filial, and they are even mistreated, abused, neglected or even abandoned.

Even if it does not go to such an extreme extent, parent-child relationship often deteriorates as a result of financial or money issues. In order to avoid conflicts, seniors should be urged to reduce their financial dependence on their children. In their lifetime, they should not transfer or give away their financial assets to their children. They should keep their assets to themselves. They should be encouraged to make a will to allocate their inheritance.

Seniors can take up the reverse mortgage through HDB. Not only will they avoid paying the instalments, but also, they will receive monthly payouts. They should make a will in order to allocate their remaining inheritance.

There is another benefit of making a will. The will can be amended at any time. The filial children can receive more inheritance, whereas the unfilial children can be written out of the will. If the children are unhappy with such arrangements, it proves even more that your decision is correct.

(In English): Secondly, I would like to propose a bolder use of the existing legislation, namely, the Maintenance of Parents Act (MPA).

The MPA empowers the Commissioner to make an application on behalf of seniors or parents and represent them in proceedings or appeal under the Act. This is an important power, considering that family relations could be further aggravated where applications are made by parents against their children. Where the Commissioner has sufficient evidence at hand, the Commissioner should make the application, notwithstanding that the parent may not be willing to adduce any evidence against their children. Could the Minister for Family and Social Development confirm the number of such MPA applications by the Commissioner from 2010 to date?

When an order for maintenance is made and not complied with, the Act provides a further mechanism in which securities can be made and ordered out of existing properties. This is also extremely useful and assists the seniors without having to make another round or commence another round of legal proceedings. Can the Minister for Family and Social Development also share the number of such orders that have been made out of section 6 of the MPA?

I would also urge the Government to make express provisions under the MPA to allow attachment orders to be made against the salaries of children, which leads me to my third point: supplementary legislation.

Whilst we are not in any position to legislate filial piety, and we should not, as Prof Walter Woon pointed out in his speech during the Second Reading of the Maintenance of Parents Bill in 1994, we can provide a safety net if filial piety fails. And we should.

Here, I may add that, in my view, the Vulnerable Adults Bill in the form presented to this House at its First Reading is inadequate in that it fails to legislate financial protection for vulnerable adults, including the elderly. I hope to hear more from the Minister on this issue.

At this point, allow me to share a couple of stories which I constructed from incidents made known to me.

Mr Tan was a manual worker. He and his wife had three children, whom they provided for and raised. Before Mr Tan passed away, he added the name of his eldest son as a joint owner of the flat, expecting that his son would care for his mother, Mr Tan’s wife. After he passed away, Mrs Tan continues to stay in the flat with her son and family, but is treated as non-existent by her son and family as far as they are concerned. She sleeps in the living room and cooks porridge for herself, whilst her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren enjoy sumptuous meals. The other two children meanwhile are estranged from Mrs Tan due to the "unfairness" of the flat having been favoured to their eldest brother.

The second story: Mr and Mrs Lee worked hard to bring up their only daughter. When she was about to be married, they sold their HDB flat, gave the proceeds to their daughter so that she might buy her own flat. The understanding was that they would move in to stay with her. Things did not work out as planned and they are now left homeless.

Stories, such as the above, abound and we may simply change surnames, number of children and permutations. But the result is the same: parents part with their properties, their sale proceeds, their savings, only to be left with nothing, not even provision from their children.

Many of these parents may not wish to initiate any proceedings under the MPA. Some of them may not even be eligible under the MPA. But all of us can see the injustice and inequity in such situations. The children have taken their parents’ property and left them bereft. It is irresponsible, cruel, unthinkable, but it happens, and often, too.

The law as it now stands is against the parent. I speak with particular reference to cases where property is transferred or given by a parent to his or her child. The current situation is that parents do not have much of a recourse. We do not understand as laymen. When we think that we give a property to our children for them to look after us, we think we can have it back. But the legal position is that once we transfer the property, we cannot take it back, especially if we are a parent transferring the property to a son or a daughter. The law presumes that it is meant as a gift and this is known as the presumption of advancement. The burden falls on the parent to rebut the presumption.

Of course, there are exceptions, such as trust, fraud, undue influence. But it is hard to prove. In each case, the evidentiary burden on parents is extremely high. In addition, adducing evidence may involve other family members and widen the family dispute, which is not at all to be encouraged. The law as it stands also does not take into consideration changes in circumstances, such as where a child has a change of heart towards his or her parent after receiving the property.

So, they are left to suffer in silence. But ultimately, someone has to look after them, right? And here is where the state steps in. But that is not right. We can all see the unjustness in the situation. It is not right. And we cannot encourage such reprehensible behaviour. So, I urge the Government to consider reviewing the law to supplement the MPA and to seriously consider the following.

First, abolish the presumption of advancement in circumstances where an elderly parent transfers property to an adult son or daughter. The law is anachronistic. We have got to change that now. We are faced with vulnerable seniors, mostly with only one HDB flat, not landed gentry. These are vulnerable people who give their property to their children, children who then neglect, abuse or abandon them.

Second, we should legislate conditions under which a trust in favour of a parent can arise or must arise by operation of law, such as where an elderly parent transfers a substantial portion of his or her property to an adult son or daughter so that such son or daughter will hold property in trust for the parent.

Thirdly, we should provide for transfers of property to be voidable, at the option of the parent, in the event that the child fails to provide basic amenities or basic physical needs to the parent after the transfer.

We should legislate to place the evidentiary burden on the receiving party to show that he or she had not defrauded, coerced or exerted undue influence on his or her parent, that market consideration had been paid to the parent, and that such money had not been routed back to him or her.

We should provide that the statutory obligation to maintain one’s parents arises immediately upon the transfer of the property from parent to child, by operation of law. This could apply when the transfer cannot be faulted.

Sixthly, we can amend our penal laws to provide harsher sanctions against those who prey on the financially vulnerable, of which the seniors should, by default, form a category.

In addition, the Government could consider a compulsory savings scheme whereby a part of the CPF contribution is channeled into a new sub-account designated for the purchase of annuities for the maintenance of the member’s parents.

I do note that there are areas of overlap and potential conflicts between the above measures that I have suggested. We should not be deterred. We can and should rationalise and implement the measures holistically to form a robust framework to support seniors and reduce familial strain attributable to money matters.

I am also well aware that enforcement will be difficult since we are dealing with family relationships. But we put the cart before the horse if we say enforcement must be achievable before we can set up a framework. Tell that to an elderly person: I will not give you the right to take back your property because you may not be able to take it back anyway. Can we say that to an elderly person? It is as good as a doctor telling his patient "I will not give you any option for a particular treatment unless I am sure it will work 100%". I do not think doctors will say that and I do not think that this House should be swayed by any argument that we should not have a framework unless we can ensure enforcement.

We need to set our moral and legal principles right and the rest will follow. I wish to emphasise that I do not advocate that we legislate filial piety or, worse still, replace it. Fundamentally, the responsibility, the privilege, remains with the family.

If I may quote Prof Walter Woon in response to any concern that my proposals could be too interventionist. Are we being too interventionist? Prof Walter Woon, from his speech during the Second Reading of the Maintenance of Parents Bill in 1994, said:

“The Bill is not aimed at the majority of Singaporeans who know their duty, who know where morals point and who support and love their parents without having to be told. The Bill is aimed at that recalcitrant small minority that cannot be counted on to do what is right, and therefore it will not affect the vast majority of Singaporeans.”

So, Mr Deputy Speaker, my proposals are “aimed at that recalcitrant small minority that cannot be counted on to do what is right”. Currently, other Singaporeans have to pay for that failure. It becomes an additional expenditure of public funds which could have been diverted to support those who are truly without family, and for other national purposes. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Not just a matter of public funds expenditure, such cruel and reprehensible behaviour, if left unaddressed, will immunise our people against basic human values. It will immunise our children and set the tone for what our children, and society, will become. It will immunise us against responsibility, suffering, justice and equity. What is now unacceptable will soon be common landscape, the way life is. What is now reprehensible becomes our lifestyle, the way we are. The family unit will be threatened, our social fabric will tear.

We have to do something. We have to do it now. We need to set our moral and legal principles right. Otherwise, we fail miserably as a Government and society. Let us do right by our people. On that note, Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Leon Perera.

5.39 pm

Mr Leon Perera (Non-Constituency Member): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion. We all age. That is an inescapable fact of the human condition. But it is a fact that we, human beings, all too often try to escape or decry or deny or despair of rather than embrace ageing as the doorway to a new different exciting phase of life with its own potential and pitfalls and this goes to the heart of the matter.

Archaeologists have found extremely ancient human skeletal remains where skeletons were obviously people who lived to a very old age, beyond the point when they could meaningfully contribute economically and where they may well have been invalid or immobile due to the kinds of illnesses that were rife in ancient times. And yet they lived till they were very old. The ancient tribes they lived within probably tended to them, helped to move from campsite to campsite, helped feed, clothe and care for them to enable them to live so long.

Embracing ageing and the aged defines a part of what it means to be human. Whether and how we include older people as equal members of our society is a mark of civilisation and humanity. On this barometer, I know that Singapore will never fall short.

In our homes, our workplaces or coffee shops, when Singaporeans speak of seniors who are their relatives, seniors who are their mentors, seniors that they know in their neighbourhoods or communities, it is inevitably in tones of respect, concern and empathy. This gut reaction speaks volumes about the kind of people Singaporeans are. We defend those who are disadvantaged, even if they are frail and economically weak. We have an instinctive sense of social justice and fairness. These ideals are embodied in our pledge which is why our pledge, that short collection of words, deeply resonates with all Singaporeans. We should be proud of these instincts.

But when we speak of our seniors, it should not only be about taking care of the disadvantaged group, it should be about how we can also build a more inclusive society because that advances the cause of Singapore and all Singaporeans, because seniors can contribute and give back, not only consume and receive.

Again, we turn to anthropologists. Ancient human societies greatly valued older people because they had, to use a modern expression from the business world, racked up the air miles. They had experienced many seasons, many cycles, many events and had a repository of memories of our natural conditions, interactions with other societies or tribes and intra-community dynamics that could add value to their communities and maybe even make the difference between life and death. And yet in our modern societies, this logic is often turned on its head. Older people are sometimes stigmatised and stereotyped as stuck in the mud, unable to keep up with the times, incapable of using technology, in short, as irrelevant.

I am reminded of the time when a very old cashier at the shop once started a deep conversation with me. At first, I instinctively got a little impatient. A part of me said, "Oh, no, here comes a rambling senior, how can I extricate myself from this?" And then I thought while I get many calls, emails, visits today, every day as we all do, I think as Members of this House, a day may come when no one wants to talk to me. What will I do then? So, I listened and I listened, and when I opened my mind, my heart, I realised that this lady had many interesting and useful insights, much wisdom to share. After a while, I almost wanted to whip up my mobile device and start taking down notes. My unconscious bias had held me back from learning from, from being inspired by this person.

Yes, older people do have a lot to contribute. We have to build a society that recognises, pools and embraces those contributions but we also have to build a society where older people have the confidence to make those contributions, to master enabling technologies and to speak to make their voice heard.

The rest of my speech, Sir, will touch on some of the broad principles we need to entrench in order to be a truly inclusive non-ageist society for the betterment of our soul. I will speak of these principles each in the form of a question.

Firstly, to work until when? Inevitably, as life expectancy rise, people will need to work in some form till later in life to some extent, depending on productivity growth. Moreover, many seniors will choose to work for intrinsic reasons if they could find the work options suited to their situation. Should we strive to create a rich tapestry of choices for our seniors to decide how they want to work, for how many hours in what ways? Of course, we should, because this means dignity for our seniors. More choices also mean more likelihood that seniors will choose to work in the way that suits them, thus raising labour force participation.

Can we do more to unlock the benefits of technology and automation for seniors? Yes, we can. For example, engaging on-government organisations (NGOs) to raise the technology literacy and usage of mobile apps by seniors, using perhaps a social impact bond to tie results to state spending to ensure maximum impact for our fiscal dollars. The concept of a social impact bond is something I have spoken about in the House previously.

Technology holds up the promise of better enabling seniors to lead productive lives, to contribute to the world of work in the way they feel best abled to and for longer. The march of technology can also mitigate some of the ravages of age that might otherwise impede that.

A second question is how to work. To fully unlock the potential of seniors in the workplace, we need to do more to create options for work. Many seniors have a wealth of knowledge and experience but many may want to work in a part-time advisory or consulting capacity if those capacities existed. Can we do more to create platforms where seniors can contribute in a flexible way towards projects or to employers? I believe we can. For example, there are platforms right now that match potential board members to board openings in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Not every senior, of course, has the background to serve as a board member but many have pools of experience and niche skills to impart. We can create matching platforms for consulting freelance or part-time work. Once again, NGOs will probably serve this role best and the Government can nudge and support these initiatives. Examples of success can be highlighted in marketing campaigns.

Thirdly, can we do more to empower seniors to impart their experience? Yes, we can. We need to do more to nudge seniors to reskill their experience into a form where it can be usefully conveyed as training or consulting.

Experience is nothing if one does not process the experience and convert it into a form that is useful to others and to oneself. One of my favourite quotes is from Aldous Huxley when he said, "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you". We should find ways to nudge our seniors. For example, using the SkillsFuture platform which has courses for trainers like the Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA) to reflect on their experience and be adept at converting this into forms that are useful, such as training videos, knowledge pills, podcasts and so on.

Fourthly, should we strive for non-discriminatory workplaces and social conditions? Of course, we should. We should banish discrimination from the workplace. Right now, almost 10,000 workers are classified as "discouraged", meaning that they have given up looking for a job. Some of them have given up due to what they sense is ageist discrimination in the labour market. Discrimination in all its forms is not just morally wrong. It hurts our labour force participation and hurts the economy, meaning it hurts us all. Let us do more to fight this, perhaps by giving the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) more teeth and perhaps exploring how we can better recognise employers who walk-the-talk by having older workers make up a larger share of their workforce.

The fifth question is how to age with quality of life. Is there more we can do upstream to ensure that the burden of disease, chronic conditions does not erode the quality of life of seniors and harm their potential contribution to the economy and drain state finances? I believe there is.

We are pushing out subsided health screenings to all and this is a step in the right direction as is MOH's action plan for successful ageing and the various programmes associated with it, such as the Active Ageing Centres. Is there more we could do, for example, to offer low-cost or free vaccines to citizens to reduce the risk of disease later in life, a move that would probably more than pay for itself, in terms of fiscal dollars and a subject which MPs have spoken about in the past? Can we do more to experiment with new platforms for delivering preventive healthcare into homes using telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI), for example? I believe so.

A last question is on the living environment. How do we build a good enabling living environment that gives older people the confidence to venture out, work part-time and get more socially engaged, knowing that at home, their basic needs are taken care of? As with persons with disabilities, for older people, they would not be so disadvantaged, were it not for an urban environment not designed primarily with their needs in mind. Can we do more to experiment with different models of living environment for older people beyond living by themselves or with their children, such as what they call assisted living in the United States (US), or what they call Silver Towns in Korea? I believe we can.

Silver Towns in Korea are towns which are comprehensive retirement communities, for example, in some cases, with facilities for young children to encourage frequent family visitations. And there is a variety of these Silver Towns catering to different income levels. At this point, I declare that I am the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an international research consultancy whose Korean arm has undertaken research into this field in Korea.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Singapore today faces a choice. Do we choose a Singapore where seniors are equal citizens, crucially engaged in society and playing a vital role by imparting their experience, their skills and wisdom and their inspiring example? Or will we choose a future where seniors are, at worst, ignored or patronised or, at best, treated as a necessary evil, a politically significant constituency which should be shunted out of the mainstream but which should be mollified for other ends?

The choice needs to be made by us as a society, and it needs to be made by us as individuals, employers, employees, family members, commuters, residents and citizens. On this question, we need a multi-pronged whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach. The difference we will make with this choice is profound and I have no doubt that Singapore and Singaporeans have always stood and will always stand on the right side of this question. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Workers' Party supports this Motion.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Miss Cheryl Chan.

5.52 pm

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling (Fengshan): Mr Deputy Speaker, we often hear people saying they want to live long and live well, to age gracefully and successfully. These are common wishes of many seniors as they age. But the irony of ageing is that everyone wants to live as long as possible, and yet, also do not want to live too long because of the various aches and indignities that old age brings.

Personally, I feel we need to view this in a positive light. Ageing may be inevitable, but the key is to understand the process and identify situations early, thereby enabling us to take preventive actions and decide how we wish to age. It is never too early to ask ourselves what we must do to achieve this.

A person's state of health is by far one of the strongest determinants in our ageing process. I am heartened that MOH has widely promoted the need for basic health screening since September 2017 and heavily subsidised it. While noting that cost and concern about the outcome of health screening are the main deterrents for many seniors, MOH has made the basic health screening free of charge for our Pioneer Generation, and at very low cost for Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) cardholders and other Singaporeans. Also, these screenings can now be done at the polyclinics and regular general practitioner (GP) clinics. This move is an encouraging step for many seniors and has been well-received. Many seniors whom I met in Fengshan have told me that they have since undergone their health screening.

Follow-through actions post-health screening is another key area that is neglected by many seniors. We need to encourage them to understand how to better care or improve their conditions in certain areas. In Fengshan, we are thankful for the support of MOH in establishing the Community Health Post for this purpose. Now, our seniors can have individual coaching sessions from the healthcare professionals to take charge of their health and improve on it. While these efforts are laudable, they are not preventive. The way for preventive action is, of course, to maintain a healthy and active state from young.

Since last July, we have worked with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Active SG to introduce weekly exercises within the neighbourhood. My residents are excited with the variety of exercises that are available every day, from Mondays through Sundays. Our young working adults now can also enjoy and exercise with us. And for the retirees and seniors, there are day exercises for them, too. Seeing our seniors, working adults, children and grandchildren all in tow participating, I am cheered by the overwhelming response.

This is a headstart for our busy, working adults and it is actually a good start for the journey. I remember one of the residents who told me that she is glad to be on this journey with us now. She said, "It is best to do so before one's body becomes stiff and weakens. When a person is affected by illness, even the most willing heart will be demotivated to exercise." And I totally agree with her.

My concern is: will HPB or Active SG continue these in a long run? Are there sufficient trainers to conduct these sessions? I urge MOH to consider supporting and enhancing this great initiative. MOH can consider collaborating with the People's Association (PA), private organisations and freelancers or to train community interest groups in order to sustain a wider pool of trainers for the future. While these sessions are free of charge, the impact it has on the community and country will be lasting. After all, prevention is better than cure. Furthermore, funding such initiatives will come at a small price, compared to the subsidies that are required for the medical bills and also more medical infrastructural expansion.

Apart from health programmes, community involvement is pertinent for broader awareness outreach and having our seniors to be constantly engaged. I trust that we are doing so in different ways on the ground and will further enhance these areas over time. Meanwhile, let me raise four aspects related to ageing that I would like to highlight for the Ministries to review.

First, to increase the MediSave usage limit on outpatient treatment for seniors aged 70 and above, those with chronic illnesses but have met their Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS). I understand the current position is to decide the appeals on usage on a case-by-case basis. However, I would like to ask MOH to reconsider and put in place a rule for a higher utilisation limit for those seniors who fulfil BHS in their MediSave and/or Minimum Sum in their Retirement Account (RA), particularly if they do not use this for their annual scans or diagnostics. During my house visits and dialogue sessions, seniors have expressed the same request to use more of their MediSave funds for the outpatient medical fees instead of using their cash or their spouse's to up their funds as they are also elderly.

Take the example of a 73-year-old resident of mine who is diabetic and has a heart condition. He shared that he needs to be on permanent medication to manage his health condition. With only $400 allowed to be used from his MediSave for outpatient treatment, he needs $800 out-of-pocket cash for his regular medication each year. But he still has over $55,000 in his MediSave account. By simple mathematics, he recounts that his MediSave funds will way outlive him. Instead, the larger risk for him is when he cannot afford the regular medication to manage his conditions and thus result in complications. To him, his MediSave funds will be worthless if he dies from diabetes or heart attack. For chronic patients like him, I think being able to use their funds freely and at ease will be a huge relief as they need not worry about the cash outlay for requisite medications that sustain their lives.

Second, to promote and encourage seniors to make an LPA by age 55. From the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WISE) study in 2015, it showed that by 2030, one in 10 Singaporeans aged 60 and above is likely to suffer from dementia. That is an estimated 80,000 seniors who may have dementia in their golden years. Early protection is beneficial to both the seniors and their caregivers. Everyone would wish to live their lives in their preferred way and be given a choice.

However, many seniors are not aware of the benefits of an LPA and how to go about it. I know that in order to encourage more Singaporeans to pre-plan to protect their interests, the Office of Public Guardian (OPG) has extended the LPA application fee waiver for two years till 31 August 2018, at least for those filing the LPA Form 1. We should maximise this opportunity to bring the LPA certificate issuers together with the community as we are concurrently doing outreach and communicating about elderly programmes or schemes to seniors. This will be useful for many seniors, especially in Singapore, where couples are usually co-owners of their property. It can prevent situations where the elderly wish to downgrade or monetise their property to support expenses but are unable to do so due to the mental state of their spouse. Similarly, an LPA will allow the seniors to decide in advance on their preferred palliative care if they do require it someday.

Third, caregiver support. Respite care today is scarce and relatively high in cost. We would hope that care support begins with the family and each would play their part and make the effort to provide the needful relief for the caregiver. While the thought is good, caregivers, in reality, face different challenges even in their keenest desire of taking a break.

Many say this is where community involvement should begin. I say it is "Yes" and "No". Yes, to the extent that we can find community befrienders and match them to provide relief for caregivers and give them some time off. No, as there are other considerations that need to be in place. One example is how do we protect the befrienders and the beneficiary, as the person to be cared for has a different engagement and mental state? Can the families entrust their loved ones and the home to a stranger for a period of time? What is the basis of understanding on the tasks that a befriender is supposed to undertake or, for that matter, not to be taken advantage of?

As a start, I would ask the Ministry to consider partnering senior day care centres within each neighbourhood. Once a month, make the centres available on a Saturday or Sunday for those caregivers who wish to place their seniors for a few hours at these centres. At the same time, we can introduce community befrienders to these centres. With the presence and support of the centres’ trained professionals, the befrienders can help to care for the seniors. This would be a known, safer environment and provide assurance for all the parties. We can also consider having a caregiver support network at the same location to give caregivers the opportunity to share experiences, talk amongst themselves or even offer free volunteer care services like hair service, massage, healthy meals prepared for these caregivers, who usually have no time for themselves.

Another option is to manage this through a knowledge-based approach and central management system to match the needs, to work with nursing homes or day care centres to provide respite care for a few hours at subsidised rates. I ask that MOH consider the subsidies not only by household means testing, but to include consideration for whether alternative affordable caregiver option is, indeed, available, given today’s smaller family units.

Lastly, conscious planning and integration of housing with senior friendly infrastructure. We often talk about ageing-in-place. This can only happen with conscious planning, both infrastructures and programmes. We need to consider integrating housing for seniors within the community. Back in 2016, together with the PAP Women’s Wing, we made a study trip to Hong Kong. One of the projects we viewed was an area where the public housing flats of seniors’ studio apartments were integrated with the regular public housing of 2- and 3-room flats for the seniors staying on the same floor, within the same building. This makes it less of a retirement village and enables the elderly to be constantly engaged by immediate neighbours with younger families living nearby. HDB could consider if moving forward we can build the 2-room flexi short lease flats within the same building constituting 3- or 4-room flats. This can enable three-generation families to purchase units next to one another and encourage stronger family units or allow better social mix where the younger families can look out for the seniors next door.

I also encourage MND to plan having town audits throughout Singapore to ensure that the basic amenities and designs fulfil the needs to support an ageing population. For the mature estates, to consider giving guidance on how we can better refit the amenities to suit the growing needs. This will be beneficial in the long haul and save substantial spending when the final designs are constantly constructed with a senior-friendly state in mind.

In closing, Mr Deputy Speaker, I want to draw reference to a book titled "The Colours of Ageing" by Prof Kua Ee Heok. The "Colours" in his book’s title represents the hope, will and the imagination of an "undefeated mind", which is, in my view, as crucial, if not more, to living with one’s faculties intact. In order to have an "undefeated mind" and be physically healthy in our golden years requires proactive actions from early on. I think this Motion is timely, from personal prevention to social activeness, senior-friendly townships to social care networks. It is time we begin to work cohesively as a community towards achieving a country of vibrant seniors whom we treasure and, they, who can live their golden years in comfort. I strongly support the emphasis for us to begin doing more as a nation towards this goal and, together, we will and can become sprightly seniors.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Joan Pereira.

6.04 pm

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this topic is very close to my heart. With our rapidly ageing population and longer life expectancies, it is important that we strive to help our seniors live a good quality of life for as long as possible. These should be years in good mental, physical and emotional health during which they will be free to work productively and outside their interests. Sir, in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We all want good health. Our Government has been encouraging Singaporeans to lead healthy lifestyles to build up a strong foundation for their senior years. We help Singaporeans monitor their health through very affordable health screenings. The Enhanced Screen for Life programme is $5 or less for eligible Singaporeans above 40. It is free for the Pioneer Generation.

I would like to ask MOH how many seniors have gone for screening under this programme so far. How can we encourage more to go for screening and follow-up if found to have some unfavourable results?

Good health translates to a better quality of life. The seniors who are in good health will be able to do pretty much everything that they used to when they were younger, to walk, eat, travel, socialise and take part in various activities.

But we can do more. We should have a public education about the appropriate exercises and diets best suited for the seniors. To do this, we need differentiated platforms to engage them effectively. Can we introduce programmes targeting common illnesses among the elderly? For example, for diabetic patients, what exercises are best for them? How can these exercises help to lower blood sugar and weight? These exercises can be illustrated on a chart and distributed to them so that they can do the exercises at home.

The mental health of our seniors is another area of concern. The number of people living with dementia here is expected to double by 2030 and the prevalence of dementia is about 10% among seniors aged 60 and above. We will have to raise public awareness and social acceptance of seniors with mental health issues to enable early detection and treatment. I look forward to seeing the number of dementia-friendly communities like Yishun and MacPherson increase. We can look at how to allow seniors with dementia to age in place as it can reduce the stress on them.

Medical bills are one of the top concerns of the elderly. I urge MOH to include a wider range of mental illnesses for subsidised treatment in our polyclinics and public hospitals. I hope the Government could consider more CHAS benefits for the lower-income groups.

(In English): Back in English, Sir. I support the recommendations by the ElderShield Review Committee. However, the name of the scheme "ElderShield" seems incompatible. This is essentially a disability insurance scheme. I would like to suggest the Government consider updating its name to reflect the intended benefits and coverage more effectively.

Work and employment. If our seniors desire, they can and should continue to work. We should not always think that our elderly cannot catch up. While there will be individuals who experience greater challenges, we must also see them as progressive and willing to embrace lifelong learning. There are many shining examples in every sector and industry. With the latter mindset, we will realise that our seniors are people who can still contribute to our economy and make their mark in society. For example, there was an 81-year-old nurse who was featured in the Straits Times last year. There are many like her in my constituency in Henderson-Dawson still going very strong. It is good to see them progress, too. Such seniors should be lauded for their care towards others, and the Government should work out a scheme to help them advance in their passions and careers.

I am happy that the re-employment age had been raised. I hope that, eventually, age will no longer be a consideration and we focus on an employee’s capability.

The digital gap. Many seniors had told me that they feel left behind in our environment of rapid digitalisation. They are especially uncomfortable with the initiatives to go cashless. Even in e-banking, they expressed reservations. Many are so used to the passbook to monitor their debit and credit that the electronic bank statement, to them, is a problem.

Communications via applications, such as WhatsApp and emails, going online to obtain information and perform transactions, are not easily grasped by a significant portion of our seniors. Part of the reason is the language gap. Many of our seniors are not literate or fluent in English. If there are applications and websites in mother tongues, such as Chinese and Malay, I believe it would help tremendously.

There are physiological problems when they use smartphones. The font sizes are small and it is not easy for elderly persons to read the small text and to scroll up and down. Navigating the various icons to get to what they want is a challenge. Many complained that the touchscreens do not respond well to their drier fingertips, and pain in their finger joints is another problem.

Twenty years ago, there were some resistance to automated teller machines (ATMs). However, adaptations went relatively smoothly. This was because these machines pose fewer physical challenges. The font sizes are big. Users can choose the language of communication. And very importantly, these big installations can be trusted because they have been set up by banks. On the other hand, transactions on smartphones or online are unsettling to our seniors because they are not quite sure if their monies are flowing to the right accounts or parties. Frequent news about scams online also make them very nervous. We have to address all our seniors’ concerns through holistic measures, customised education and familiarisation programmes.

Volunteerism. More of our seniors should be encouraged to volunteer as part of active ageing. This is an activity which allows the elderly to stay engaged in the community and derive a sense of satisfaction from giving back and, in turn, enable the community to tap upon their wisdom and years of rich experience.

Research has also shown that the elderly who have meaningful relationships and are engaged in their communities are happier and healthier. Volunteering gives them a deep sense of purpose.

However, getting our seniors to volunteer on a sustainable basis may not be easy. To attract them beyond one-off projects and come out of their comfort zones on a sustainable basis requires greater logistical planning and financial support from the community.

Hence, I would like to propose time banking to draw more elderly to our community volunteering programmes. For example, every hour of volunteering clocked by participating seniors can be deposited, accumulated and exchanged for free or discounted PA courses. It can be extended later to include other parties, including individuals, through platforms which allow bartering of services.

In addition to recruiting and attracting seniors, we should also design programmes such that our younger generation can be involved. This will promote intergenerational bonding. The Ministry of Education (MOE) and PA can continue to assist by facilitating the arrangements between schools and senior groups.

I hope that MOH will consider implementing Community Network for Seniors to all constituencies. It is useful and helpful because it brings together Pioneer Generation ambassadors to coordinate various support services for senior citizens. It also provides an opportunity for seniors to volunteer, with 40% of the ambassadors aged 60 and above.

Volunteers can play a big role to engage the socially isolated elderly. In reaching out to them, they not only bring light and warmth to them, but they also assist beleaguered families and relieve caregivers.

Due to the increasing number of those ageing and those who will be isolated when they become less mobile, it is not feasible to just depend on trained personnel. The community must be involved to complement the reach of social workers and medical health workers.

Initiatives that organise neighbours, volunteers and activists to be befrienders and to reach out to the socially isolated seniors are beneficial to our elderly. When we visit them regularly, we keep them engaged and tend to their emotional well-being. We are also more likely to find out about their issues early and deal with their healthcare and emotional concerns early. Such initiatives strengthen neighbourliness, as we actively look out for one another.

Senior caregiving. There are already initiatives to provide more support to caregivers. However, with smaller family sizes and more double-income households, it is inevitable that, increasingly, families will have to entrust the important responsibility of caregiving to professionals. We have no alternative but to continue work on boosting the capability and capacity of our professional caregiving sector.

MOH is tapping on retired nurses, who can be re-engaged on a casual basis. Building up this network of retired medical professionals will complement what our healthcare community can offer. I would like to ask MOH what is the proportion of retired nurses involved in this initiative.

We should also explore how services at our eldercare centres can be augmented to include short-term accommodation for seniors whose caregivers are temporarily unavailable due illness, work or travel overseas.

I appeal again to the Government to legislate eldercare leave and bereavement leave. This would be very much appreciated for family emergencies involving the elderly.

Lastly, I want to touch on physical accessibility for all seniors. Barrier-free access has mostly been achieved in our heartlands and I really would like to see the same in the designs of our HDB flats. They should be "flats-for-life" – accessible to the elderly which, incidentally, would also be accessible for the disabled and families with young children. Floors should be levelled, switches and sockets repositioned, doors, bathrooms and toilets should be widened to enable wheelchair movements.

For our public transport, I hope directional signs and notices have bigger fonts against high contrast backgrounds to make them easier to read.

In conclusion, most of us here will enjoy the fortune of living longer and healthier years than any of our preceding generations. Thanks to the efforts of our elders, we reap the fruits of their labour. Let us work together to provide them with the best care they deserve in their golden years. I conclude with my support for the Motion, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Kok Heng Leun.

6.16 pm

Mr Kok Heng Leun (Nominated Member): Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on this Motion.

I will speak in Mandarin. So, while some of my colleagues are putting on the earpiece for translation, I will make a declaration that my theatre company Drama Box and myself have been actively working on this issue of end-of-life care, presenting quite a lot of creative projects that reach out to the elderly and other sectors of the society. Now, my speech in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] First of all, I would like to thank the Members who moved the Motion. My speech today is based on my personal experience, what I experienced through my work in the arts, as well as my encounters with many senior citizens.

My father is 77 years old. When he was young, he devoted his life to work in order to support our family. Like many "traditional" fathers of that era, he was strict and reserved and was not particularly close to his children.

He was not highly educated, neither did he have any hobbies in particular, except for playing a game of mahjong or enjoying some drinks with his friends. He retired more than 10 years ago and, five years after his retirement, he started experiencing the onset of dementia. [pauses]

(In English): I am sorry. I think I need a break. Deputy Speaker, can I take a break first, and let the other Members speak first?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Alright, I will call on you later.

Mr Kok Heng Leun: Thank you.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Tin Pei Ling.

6.19 pm

Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson): Deputy Speaker, if I may first speak in Mandarin and then in English.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion today.

Three years ago, we celebrated SG50 and, once again, confirmed the contributions of our Pioneer Generation. Undoubtedly, it is their contributions and sacrifices that have brought about the achievements we have today. Therefore, respecting and appreciating the elderly is a matter of course. However, respecting and appreciating the elderly require not just words but actions, too.

Much of the infrastructure that we have today was built in a different era when our population was still young. In a rapidly-ageing environment today, we must make adjustments to ensure that the elderly can remain physically and mentally active and age in place gracefully. The Government has done a lot in this area. Many of our colleagues have made various good suggestions. I would like to add several suggestions.

First, we should apply elderly-friendly designs into our hardware and heartware solutions in all aspects of life. Success of any innovation depends on the design.

Second, we must use technology and AI to supplement our shortage of manpower, so that more senior citizens, including those who live alone and are less mobile, can age in place and live independently.

Third, we must strengthen our community service organisations, optimise the allocation of resources and manpower, and encourage more people to volunteer in the community. By doing this, we can not only solve the manpower shortage problem but also demonstrate a human touch.

We must change the negative mindset that "as people age, they become useless". Each age group has its own set of issues, and we all need to be more tolerant and learn to adjust. When we grow old, we may become weaker physically, but we are wiser. As long as we make the necessary adjustments, we can live a fulfilling and colourful life in old age.

We hope the Government can take the lead to create an elderly-friendly work environment and set out human resource (HR) policies that are suitable for mature workers, so that seniors who love working and want to continue to work, can continue to make meaningful contributions.

More importantly, we should encourage the elderly to remain positive and active both physically and mentally, so that they can lead a more meaningful life.

(In English): Our seniors dedicated the prime years of their lives to build the Singapore we are so proud of today. They deserve our respect and we should certainly honour them. Honouring them requires not just words but actions, too. Much of what we have today, including the hardware and social infrastructure, was designed decades ago when our population was still young. It is time to refresh these to welcome a different population landscape with a different set of requirements.

With Singapore undergoing rapid ageing, it is important that we set the right policies, put in the right resources and organise ourselves better in the right way sooner than later. We need to ensure adequate support for our elderly today and tomorrow, so that we are all empowered to age gracefully and actively in the comfort of our own homes and communities.

This Government has increased social spending and will continue to spend more. Public healthcare expenditure more than doubled over the past five to six years, reaching $10 billion in financial year (FY) 2016. Our society believes in each generation financing its own needs, not wanting to burden our children’s generation and the next. Parents will feel this most keenly. Me, too.

However, as our population continues to age, healthcare expenditure will still have to increase to fund enhanced or new elderly programmes for the larger base. Also, infrastructural investments, retrofitting and hardware maintenance will still be needed to create an elderly-friendly environment.

Given our expectations on social spending, it is imperative that we maximise the impact of every dollar spent. We must enable our elderly today and tomorrow to continue leading an independent and graceful life. There are three recommendations that I would like to put forth in the hope of enabling our seniors’ daily lives better.

First is to apply elderly-friendly designs into our hardware and heartware solutions. We must ensure that all our designs are designs for inclusion. We should not take the easy way out, or for the sake of efficiency and design only for that 80%, which would then lead to exclusion, which is definitely an outcome that we wish not to see.

Currently, there are only two silver industry guidelines in Singapore – "Guidelines for age-friendly homes" and "Guidance for digital devices and online services to be senior friendly". These are a good start, but we need to mainstream elderly-friendly designs much more and make them pervasive. We need to apply elderly-friendly designs to the development of common spaces, facilities, machine and software interfaces, workflows, public processes and more.

The key is to make them pervasive. We could create specialisations for students to undertake in tertiary institutions, so that we build up a supply of talent with the expertise. We could also set up a Government department that does research, set standards and audit public and private projects to ensure elderly-friendliness.

Second, proliferate digital eldercare to supplement the shortage of manpower. There may soon be a point in time when there are more who need care than those who can care. By leveraging technology and AI more effectively, we can drastically change how care is provided and help even more Singaporeans to age in place.

Take Japan as an example. Japan is even further ahead of us in terms of ageing. They have an increasing number of elderly with a decreasing number of working adults. They suffer severe labour shortage, especially in eldercare nursing. Yet, they reinvented how the elderly can be cared for by leveraging technology and AI. From Toyota’s Robina and Humanoid, Honda’s ASIMO, Tokai’s Robot for Interactive Body Assistance (RIBA) to the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology's (AIST’s) Puppets for Animal Therapy (PARO), Japan has a full range of robots that can help the elderly with household chores, get out of bed, conduct conversations complete with emotions, and even help paraplegics to walk again.

Imagine if these solutions are available to us in Singapore, many elderly, whom we used to think can only be cared for in nursing homes, can now lead a fairly independent life in the comfort of their own HDB flats.

Alas, while these are all possible, it is still not known if these solutions can be exported and at what price. It would be most ideal if Singapore can leverage our own existing competencies in research and development (R&D) to develop solutions for ourselves. I understand that MOH had introduced a funding scheme to encourage elderly-focused innovations.

Therefore, I would like to ask for an update on the utilisation of funds to support R&D efforts and startups looking into digital eldercare solutions. Could the Government share some of the success cases so far? Could we accelerate developments locally and implement them sooner than later?

Third, institutionalising a network of volunteers. Relying on salaried staff is not enough and, despite my strong support for digital eldercare, I do also believe that the human touch is still very much needed and cannot be replaced. We need more Singaporeans to step in and step up to help. We can leave the professional part of caring of the elderly to the salaried staff and AI robots. But there are many opportunities for volunteers to step in.

For example, accompany the elderly to medical appointments, give them a ride to hospitals, clean their homes, deliver groceries or just offer a listening ear. There are kind souls already helping in these areas, but the need is far higher than the supply of volunteers. Therefore, we need to find ways to involve more Singaporeans.

Assuming a population of about 30,000 in a constituency, with a third being elderly, a third being adults and another third being minors, if the adults can just spare two hours every week, we will have more than 20,000 hours of help available in any week. Scale it across Singapore, we will have millions of volunteer hours available, and so much can be achieved.

At present, I am aware that the Government has piloted the Community Networks for Seniors and it has been very helpful in providing a suite of comprehensive services for our seniors. I hope this scheme can be rolled out nationally so that all seniors can benefit from it. But I also believe that we need to be more ambitious than this. We should aspire to having all Singaporeans do community service and on a long-term sustainable basis. If each person could just spare one to two hours per week engaging in a specific volunteer "vocation" with clear roles and responsibilities spelt out, we can achieve a lot more.

Today, we have a myriad of formal and informal groups of volunteer organisations doing community service, serving from their hearts. We have seen passionate Singaporeans, young and old, dedicating days of their weeks serving the less fortunate. Still, we also see Singaporeans who would like to serve but are unsure of what they can do, what needs are still unfulfilled and whether the time commitment will be too great for them.

Hence, we need to find ways to make serving a priority and organise ourselves better so that busy Singaporeans can just "plug and play" when serving the community. Could there be a national coordinating body for volunteers in Singapore that consolidates and monitors the list of needs in the communities and resources that are already available, identify the roles and corresponding manpower needed, coordinate and help everyone clearly see how they can fit in to help?

At present, SG Cares is perhaps the best place to play this role but it will need a clear structure, concrete programmes and strong support to do so. I would like to think that inside each of us, we want to help others who need help and we want to contribute to a caring society. I hope Singaporeans will see community service as a priority in life and respond to the call to get involved in a bigger way for a more sustainable future.

Finally, I firmly believe that our seniors are much more capable than being mere recipients of care. As we enhance our healthcare, we can expect longer and more healthy years. As our economy evolves, there will be less reliance on physical strength at the workplace but more use of intellect and wisdom. As each population becomes better educated and more savvy with the digital space, there will be less fear and deeper entrenchment of technology in our lives.

Some hold the belief that, in Chinese, "老了不中用", which means that you become useless as you age. While I understand that there are some constraints that come with age, I do not agree with this belief. It is self-defeating and we risk a self-fulfilling prophecy. We need to keep active and keep trying. We have seen elderly in their 90s who remain active and sharp, even learning a new language. It is possible.

Of course, we hope we do not have to work into our old age because we have to, but because we love to. It brings meaning to life. It helps us to look forward to every new day. Is this not wonderful? Hence, we should do three things to help our seniors keep active and continue to do well in their old age.

First, create a favourable environment and employment opportunities for seniors. Stem out ageism. The Government can take the lead in testing how the work environment, workflows, job role designs and even compensation and benefits, such as health benefits, can be optimised for senior workers.

Second, incentivise the elderly to volunteer more. The Pioneer Generation Ambassador is a wonderful programme. Can we expand it to recruit more and cover more functions?

Third, introduce health programmes tailored to meet the needs of the elderly. Decentralise the implementation of these programmes, cascade them down to the precinct or even to the individual HDB blocks. Make it easy and inexcusable for everyone to keep fit and stay social.

Ultimately, we need to transform our culture and mindsets. Every Singaporean needs to believe that we each have a role to play beyond our family and employment obligations. We need to recognise that it is not enough to rely on salaried staff because they are financially obliged to carry out the care. A caring and inclusive society cannot be one that the citizens only talk about it and expect someone else to do it. We have a duty to one another.

I believe that seniors are a gift to our society. Their wisdom, resilience and this legacy that they have built for Singapore are a gift to us and our young. We must, therefore, strengthen our support to enable successful ageing and create an environment where our seniors can continue to thrive. I support the Motion.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Kok, are you feeling okay now?

Mr Kok Heng Leun: Yes

Mr Deputy Speaker: Alright. Please proceed.

6.34 pm

Mr Kok Heng Leun: My apologies to the House. I will continue from where I left off.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] My father retired more than 10 years ago and, five years after his retirement, he started experiencing the onset of dementia. He began to forget things. He would forget what my mother told him despite having asked about it repeatedly, and his temper also flared more easily. To comfort him and also ourselves, we told him that he was just getting old.

What exactly does it mean to "become old"? There is a word which is used together with the word "lao" (old) and that word is "shuai" (to be weakened). Put together, "shuai lao" means old and weakened. These two words create a very negative attitude towards ageing. For example, in Chinese, we say, "shuai ruo"(weak), "shuai tui" (to be in decline), "shuai yan" (to deteriorate in looks), "shuai ku" (to wither), "shuai hao" (to be waste away), "shuai jian" (to weaken), "shuai bing" (to become sickly). There are many of these words but, to summarise in Hokkien, it is simply "suay" (unfortunate).

Many people refuse to think about the stage of our lives where we age and then die. Perhaps you will think about your retirement, perhaps you will start to do some financial planning, but to really understand the process of ageing is something that all of us want to avoid.

Perhaps, we should have realised this fact of life much earlier – birth, sickness, ageing and dying are all essential parts of life. We cannot just pay attention to living, but we need to also understand ageing and the process of dying. We must accept that our healthy bodies will eventually become weak and our sharp minds will one day become slow. Things that we used to do easily may become challenging. You may not be able to button your shirt; going to the toilet becomes inconvenient; you may need help in the morning. And what is most humiliating is that you may have to put on diapers. All these inconveniences and situations can slowly erode the will of a person who used to be full of life and ideals. Over time, he may find that he can no longer face others nor look at himself with dignity, and he begins to feel helpless, fearful and lonely.

Looking back at my father's bouts of anger back then, as his son, I did not notice his helplessness, fear and loneliness. Through this process, I begin to wonder: have we understood the process of ageing and dying? If we have a better understanding of ageing and dying, we may be able to help the elderly around us handle the process. Our society must start to pay attention to this and learn to accept and prepare for ageing, as an individual and as a community. Why is this society always celebrating life, celebrating the birth of a child but not paying attention to the process of ageing and dying? A human being’s existence should not be measured in terms of how much wealth he has created but how he has lived every stage of his life with dignity.

Secondly, recalling my father's experience, I believe one of the biggest problems is that I was not close to my father. If I was closer to my father, perhaps I would have noticed the problems earlier.

In recent years, I have met many old folks through my productions. I categorise them into three groups: those who are very close to their friends and relatives; those who are on bad terms with their friends and relatives, and the third group, those who do not maintain relationships with anyone. For the first group, I think we can still help them if they have friends and relatives. However, for the second and third groups, namely, those who are on bad terms with their friends and relatives and those who are not in touch with their kin, their twilight years tend to be difficult.

There was one occasion when we organised a seminar on the issue of wills, and many elderly folks rushed to ask the lawyers many questions. However, all the questions were basically about this – "Mr Lawyer, what do you think if I allocate my assets this way?" The lawyers felt perplexed, "Why do they ask my views on how they want to divide their assets?" After several rounds of discussions, I realised that all of them were worried that their family members would feel aggrieved about how the assets were distributed. In fact, the fundamental problem was that they had proceeded with the will without settling their family problems first.

A Filipino nurse whom I interviewed before, told me that she was puzzled by what she saw when she started working in Singapore. In Singapore, when an elderly family member falls ill and requires long-term care, the first thing that other family members would think of is to hire a domestic helper to help with caregiving. In her hometown, there would always be a relative who will volunteer to take care of the elderly family member while the rest of the family will pay for the living expenses of this relative. Through the experience she shared, we know that if an elderly family member falls ill, he would not be afraid, as he knows that those around him and those who are close to him will look after him and support him.

Many people will say that it is not easy to do that in Singapore, especially when most of our families are small families and there are few siblings whom we can share the burden of caregiving with. Moreover, faced with daily stress and long working hours, they can only choose to depend on domestic helpers in the end. Further, I often see that the caregivers of the elderly are also around the same age as them. So, can you imagine an elderly person looking after another elderly person?

My mother says she always believed that she would become a burden to her children. She also did not want our father to become a burden to us. However, despite getting help from a domestic worker to take care of my father, she still lost around 10 kilogrammes in the last three years.

Caregiving is an exhausting and often a thankless job, but many people are unable to afford a maid and have to juggle between caregiving and work at the same time. They have to pay for transport and medical bills, they do not have enough rest as they have to look after the elderly for extended periods of time. This will not only affect the mental health of the caregiver but also those around him or her.

I listened to the suggestions by many of my Parliamentary colleagues and I agree with them. I hope that the Government will consider two measures to help reduce caregivers’ burden. Firstly, legislate caregiver leave so that caregivers can have paid leave and spend more time with their loved ones. Secondly, pass legislation to allow working adults with elderly family members that require caregiving to enjoy income tax rebates.

Actually, I am quite worried about whether young people know how to look after their elderly family members, because many young parents today do not even look after their own children. Instead, they leave their kids to their parents or domestic helpers.

However, looking after your loved ones brings a lot of joy. I remember helping my father change his diapers and bathe for the first time. These experiences left a very deep impression on me. These intimate contacts with my father helped me understand the physical changes he experienced through the process of falling ill and ageing. When I took him to see the doctor, kept him company at the hospital and fed him, my relationship with him improved. Previously, my father seldom smiled at me, but now, he always smiles when he sees me.

Through this process, I learnt to think from the other person’s perspective and understood what empathy means, because when you look after a patient and an elderly person, you must look at things from their perspective.

To enable the elderly to live their twilight years with dignity, we must create an environment where they feel secure, and that begins with ourselves.

When I was drafting this speech, this poem by Ma Zhiyuan kept ringing in my mind.

"Dry vines, old trees, and a crow; a home by a small bridge and a flowing stream; a horse on the ancient path stands against the western wind; as the sun sets, a man roams the world, broken-hearted."

Does life need to be so sad and lonely when one enters the withering season of fall?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Rahayu Mahzam.

6.43 pm

Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I serve in Bukit Batok East, which is an old estate. Many residents have lived there for 20 to 30 years, some with other family members living within the area. Bukit Batok East is their kampung and most do not want to move out of the area. I meet many elderly residents regularly at events, house visits and my MPS.

Today, I would like to touch on three areas which have been raised as concerns by some of my elderly residents and my observations of the efforts in place to help the elderly: one, financial sustenance; two, mental wellness; and three, community support.

Many elderly residents I meet at MPS have sought financial assistance to cope with their daily living expenses. I believe my experience is no different from that of other Members. Some of these seniors have insufficient income or sources of funds to pay their bills, medical expenses or even food. They may not meet the criteria to receive financial assistance because of the fact that they are working or have children who are expected to support them. In many cases, the seniors are reluctant to seek assistance from their children and the most common reason cited is that their children are having financial difficulties, too. The children may also not truly appreciate the issues that their elderly parents are facing.

One of my residents shared with me that her children had scolded her when they found out that she sought financial assistance. Instead of supporting her, they chided her and told her she needed to adjust her lifestyle. Her lifestyle was by no means lavish, so she was hurt by her children's response. She was crying when she told me that her son told her that if finances are so tight, she should just eat rice and soya sauce.

I acknowledge that not all of the residents fall into the category of needy beneficiaries but the reality is that day-to-day living is a challenge for them. It will not be feasible to expect financial assistance for all these families and I also believe that, to some extent, there must be personal and familial responsibility. Therefore, the solution is not to give more money to more people. I think that there is scope though to review the existing support structures in place to better assist seniors to cope with their financial challenges.

One area that could be reviewed is the Lease Buyback Scheme. I note the enhancements that have been made over the years and more seniors have now successfully applied for the scheme. Could there be further expansion of this scheme by extending it to bigger flats, such as 5-room and executive flats? Could there be additional outreach to enhance awareness and acceptance amongst elderly residents?

There is an ongoing call for the scheme to be extended to bigger flats. I note the indication from the Minister for National Development earlier this year that it is not likely to happen anytime soon as it is not an effective use of space and a more feasible option is to right-size. I would ask, however, that the Ministry reconsider this view. Ageing-in-place is a key component in ensuring an elderly person ages successfully with dignity. Being able to continue staying where they are living has an impact on their mental and, therefore, also physical well-being. At a practical level, there may be further costs and implications of having to move to a new location. This scheme provides an opportunity to alleviate the elderly from their financial challenges. If this scheme is extended, more can benefit from it. That means more elderly residents have the chance to improve their financial situation.

In respect of outreach, there is awareness of the existence of the scheme. However, there is still some resistance to it. The family home is seen as sacred and many fear the implications of outliving the lease period or not leaving anything as inheritance to their children. I feel though that given that more Singaporeans are asset-rich rather than cash-rich, an equity release product like this is an effective measure to meet the elderly's financial needs. It may, therefore, be worth the effort to generate more acceptance of this scheme.

Another scheme which should be reviewed to help improve the financial circumstances of seniors would be CHAS. CHAS enables Singapore Citizens from lower- to middle-income households to receive subsidies for medical and dental care at participating general practitioner and dental clinics near their home. Singapore Citizens who qualify receive an individual blue or orange CHAS card. I often receive appeals to qualify for CHAS and for an "upgrade" to the blue card. Typical issues that arise include the fact that an adult child is using the home address but not living there or living in the same address but is not contributing to the household expenses. The elderly feel that they are unfairly assessed and deprived of the much sought after CHAS card. The CHAS cards are precious and meaningful for the seniors and the scheme goes a long way in helping them with their expenses, especially for those who have to seek regular medical treatment. I would, therefore, request that some adjustments be made, for example, to raise the income ceiling so that more elderly residents would qualify for CHAS or to increase the subsidies available within the scheme.

One other proposal I would like to make is for a review of the role and branding of the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents. This Tribunal was created as a means for parents to seek maintenance from their adult children. The work done by the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents and the Tribunal is not just adjudication though, as there is a lot of effort in conciliation and mediation. Over 80% of the cases that are referred to the Office of the Commissioner from 2014 to 2016 are settled through conciliation.

There is, however, great resistance from the elderly when they are asked to approach the Commissioner or the Tribunal, as a prelude to an application for financial assistance. At this juncture, I should just declare that I am also a mediator with the Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents. Many have approached me and explained that they are uncomfortable about pursuing claims from their children. I feel that there is scope for a review of efforts that could be done in educating the public about the family being the first line of defence and how the family can handle financial issues together. I would propose that the role of the Tribunal be reviewed and enhanced to assist families beyond just adjudication and mediation. Perhaps there could be more services provided to the elderly and their family members, such as counselling or financial planning classes, akin to the extended support available to families in the Family Justice Courts.

I move to the second issue of concern – mental wellness. Through house visits and feedback from grassroots leaders, it has come to my attention that there are many seniors who are living alone and who may not participate in community activities. Some may not have children or close relatives and end up being isolated. There are clearly undesirable effects of isolation, as we worry about the safety and well-being of the elderly. Another important aspect though is the impact on their mental well-being. Being disconnected with the world does not encourage active and healthy ageing. The elderly may not always want help but I believe it is important to set up an ecosystem where the elderly feel connected to the community and can seek out assistance when necessary.

It is a constant work in progress to reach out to the elderly residents. I feel that we should continue to encourage neighbours and grassroots leaders to look out for and connect with the seniors. Various agencies should also join in this effort. I, therefore, look forward to the extension of the Community Network for Seniors which aims to enable a more systematic collaboration between Government agencies and community-based stakeholders. This is a meaningful endeavour which should be built on further.

This leads me to my last point relating to community support. We have many schemes and programmes in place but there will always be gaps and those who fall through the cracks. I believe that the community plays an important role to complete the support structure for the elderly and close the gaps.

For example, in Bukit Batok East, some of the elderly residents who may not be eligible for financial assistance receive monthly food rations which had been donated by merchants, community partners and grassroots leaders.

Recently, we also introduced the "Belanja-A-Meal" scheme at one of the coffee shops. This scheme, which is a collaboration between the coffee shop and the Residents’ Committee (RC), is extended to all needy residents within the zone. Basically, patrons of the coffee shop are encouraged to buy an extra meal and these paid-for meals could then be redeemed by beneficiaries identified by the RC. Although this scheme benefits all needy beneficiaries regardless of age, there is a high concentration of elderly residents in that area who will find this scheme meaningful and will benefit from it.

My youth volunteers also follow up on many MPS cases involving elderly residents to ensure that there is closure and they receive the support that they need.

These are just some examples of organic support from within the community which helps to augment the schemes and services made available by the Government. It is important that ground-up initiatives are supported and encouraged so that we could build a better support structure for the elderly residents within our community. Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to say a few words in Malay.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In the Malay language, we refer to the elderly as the golden group. This obviously has a deep and meaningful connotation. Seniors are a group who should be appreciated and looked after well. We must recognise their contributions towards nation-building. Today’s Motion calls on us to view the elderly as a gift to society, as a key asset.

Many seniors are still working and contributing to their families and the national economy. If the seniors’ health are looked after and they stay active, they can certainly continue being the movers of the community and the nation.

Therefore, it is important for us to update the current policies and schemes to ensure the well-being of our seniors are looked after. The Lease Buyback Scheme and CHAS, for instance, must be continuously enhanced. In addition, it is also important for the general public to continue playing their role and complement the support given to the elderly. I am certain that, with a joint effort by the Government, families and the community, a comprehensive network of support can be established.

(In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, I will conclude in English. We need to take care of the elderly because it is the right thing to do. But we should also remember that we will all grow old one day. We will all be that statistic, that group that would tap on Government funds, that would add to healthcare costs, that would need to be cared for. It is, therefore, in our interests to invest and build an ecosystem that would allow for seniors to age well and with dignity. Deputy Speaker, I support this Motion.

Debate resumed.

6.54 pm

Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Deputy Speaker, this year, our population reaches a critical juncture. For the first time in our history, the number of people aged above 65 will equal those aged under 15. As more of our people age, it is necessary for us to support them in a holistic manner to ensure their physical, mental and emotional needs are well taken care of.

Our current approach for healthcare, which is to focus on a healthy lifestyle for all, is the right one. Healthy habits will contribute to better health in old age and reduce both physical and mental hardship for our seniors and their families. The best and surest way to minimise medical expenditures is to live clean, exercise discipline in our food intake and adopt active lifestyles.

For our seniors, even if they had not had healthy habits before, it is never too late and we should support and encourage them. I appeal to the National Health Promotion Board (HPB) to step up its good work in public education, including reaching out to seniors through the mass media in their various vernacular.

There is a need to ride on the success of homecare medical services and increase the number of such service points to increase the outreach of such services, in addition to the employment of skilled caretakers to meet the needs of our elderly. I am happy to note that MOH is studying assisted living facilities or services which will allow seniors with different physical or mental health needs to retain their independence by living at home. It is very important that we work together to ensure that such assisted living models be adapted to our local conditions and fit in with our HDB estate living settings, where the majority of Singaporeans are.

For the past few years, the Government has strengthened the social safety net for our senior citizens, such as the Silver Support Scheme, among other assistance schemes. In the provision of healthcare, MediShield Life addresses most of the general concerns of our seniors.

However, there are still Singaporeans who do not quite understand how MediShield Life and other support schemes for the elderly work, despite the efforts of our volunteers, community and grassroots leaders, such as the Pioneer Generation (PG) Ambassadors.

At least for medical bills, the elderly can approach the medical social workers for details. However, if they require other forms of assistance, such as financial help or protection from abuse by those around them, ignorance may cost them. How then can we reach out to these pockets of seniors? I hope we can take the time and effort to look into how we can reach pockets of elderly who need various types of assistance or protection, through public dialogues, consultations or formally appointing a committee to develop a feasible and durable framework to deal with this challenge.

The promotion of family values, especially the care of grandparents and parents, is a continuous effort and needs to be further deepened. There is a Chinese saying, "家 有 一 老 , 如 有 一 宝 ". It means that the elderly are like a treasure. There are cases where the children do not take the responsibility to take care of their parents and parents who choose to shield their children even when they do not do their duties or even ill-treat them.

With smaller family size, the significance of families in unity would increase, especially when we are facing an ageing population. We need greater efforts in public education and should review our family mediation set-ups as well as legislative frameworks to address family conflicts involving the seniors or the elderly.

We also need to avoid placing excessive financial and care burdens on our children. I believe, all Members would have come across this feedback from residents. Most residents I spoke to do not wish to burden their children or grandchildren.

Besides ramping up the building of HDB studio units for the elderly to facilitate downgrading, we should also relook how we can help the elderly in all housing types, HDB and private residences, to do reverse mortgage. With declining health, moving to a smaller home is more advisable. But for those who insist on ageing-in-place, how they can monetise their homes is a perennial challenge.

As an aspiring Smart nation, we should pay attention to how increasing the use of technology could help enhance support services for our elderly. Research funding and grants for this area will yield innovations better suited to our local conditions and elderly residents. I urge the Government to consider providing more incentives to our local researchers to develop technological solutions to better serve and reach out to our seniors.

Successful developments will go a long way to reducing the burdens on our young which is also the wish of our parents and our seniors. With that, I would like to conclude with my support for the Motion.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Dr Intan Mokhtar.

7.00 pm

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to speak on this Motion. It is a timely one and I laud the efforts of my fellow Members of this House who filed this Motion.

In our frequent interactions with our residents, we have come across seniors or elderly residents who have lamented on the different challenges and issues they face, such as the lack of employment opportunities, being financially dependent, being neglected by their children or having strained familial relationships.

Mr Viswa is a resident I have met several times at MPS. He is 70 years old and is married to his 68-year-old wife for more than 40 years. They have one son in his 40s who is in prison. Before their son was sent to prison, he financially supported both Mr Viswa and his wife. Now that he is incarcerated, Mr Viswa and his wife have to fend for themselves. Mr Viswa is adamant that he must find a job to pay the bills and support his wife who has ailing health. While we try our best to give him some interim financial assistance and to get some form of employment assistance for Mr Viswa, jobs for someone his age are difficult to come by. Fortunately, after several months of appealing for employment assistance and employment opportunities, Mr Viswa was offered a part-time position. While he is happy to have found employment, I am also worried if he will be alright and if he can continue in his job.

The reality is that with families getting smaller, we will end up having many elderly and seniors among us who may need to fend for themselves and continue to work into their golden years. While this, in itself, is not a bad thing, so long as our seniors continue to keep healthy, fit and active, and continue to sharpen their skills, more than health or skills, they need opportunities to be employed and be entrusted with work responsibilities. They may not be able to carry out physically demanding work but they do have invaluable experience and knowledge that we can tap on. For instance, they can be assigned as workplace mentors to train younger workers or be tasked to do administrative or information organisation work that would require a fair amount of patience which, I am sure, they have more of, compared to younger counterparts.

In the universities and some institutions of higher learning, professors and lecturers are given tenure until they are 65 years old ‒ what we call T65 ‒ which is proof that they are able to carry on teaching, writing, doing academic and research work until they are 65 years old. Similarly, I would urge the Government to look at how older workers in the public and Civil Service sectors can be retained in their jobs until 65 and offered re-employment contracts only thereafter. In other words, allow for retirement with two options, that is, one, retire at 62 years old, or, two, retire at 65 years old, and allow for re-employment up to 70 years old. Our seniors should be given more options in deciding their employment in their golden years.

I would also implore the Government to make it a requirement for private companies to retain older workers until the age of 65, and these should be older workers across all ranks and not just those in senior management. Companies that demonstrate strong support in retaining their older workers should be commended and given due recognition.

For many of our seniors, they take pride in being financially independent and not having to ask their children or anyone else for financial assistance. We must help them be so. There are some seniors who are in the fortunate position of being financially independent or being able to get financial support from their children or other family members, but there are others who are not so fortunate. Mr Deputy Speaker, please allow me to continue in Malay.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Aminah is a senior citizen who is a rather petite lady. She is in her 60s and lives alone in a rental flat, even though she has an adult grandchild who is supposed to live with her. Mdm Aminah has four children, who have all married and are living with their own families in their respective flats. Although all of them are working, Mdm Aminah is a recipient of financial assistance from the Government.

I have visited Mdm Aminah at her flat to give her some groceries and also to speak to her. From our conversations, I discovered that her children give her between $10 to $20 each month and take turns to visit her every weekend. For most of the week, Mdm Aminah is all alone. I asked her whether the money given by her children is sufficient. She simply smiled. The financial assistance that she receives from the Social Service Office (SSO) does help to reduce her financial burden slightly. When I explained to her that there is a Maintenance of Parents Act, and whether she wishes to file a Maintenance Order at the Tribunal so that her children will give her a higher amount for her maintenance, she swiftly declined. She said that she does not want to burden or embarrass her children. We had to respect her wishes.

I have also met Mr Mohamed and his wife who are both in their 60s, too. They met me at the MPS and asked me to help them get a rental flat. At that time, they were living with their son and his wife in their 5-room flat, but they were chased out of that flat.

When asked about the circumstances leading to this situation, I found out that Mr Mohamed and his wife sold their 3-room flat around 10 years earlier in order to help their son buy a bigger flat and gave the proceeds from the sale of their house to buy their son’s 5-room flat. Now, after almost 10 years have passed, they were chased out of that same 5-room flat. They were very worried and were scrambling to get a rental flat. It was heart-wrenching for me to hear their story.

When I think of these two situations, I often asked myself where is the compassion and sympathy towards these elderly parents? Why are some people so cruel to them? These elderly parents willingly sacrificed their heart and soul for their children, but yet, why can their children not repay their sacrifice? As the proverb goes, the elderly have to tolerate all kinds of behaviour.

Fortunately, there is a diligent effort by our volunteers to engage our seniors and offer much needed assistance. Nonetheless, the responsibility of taking care of our seniors falls primarily on each one of their children, and it should not be the main responsibility of society and the Government. Parents are a gift and we should fulfil our obligations and look after them throughout their remaining years. We should never become like those who abandon their parents. Mr Deputy Speaker, please allow me to continue in English.

(In English): Madam Loh is a resident whom I met recently at MPS. She was in tears as she sought help to get a rental flat. Like Mr Mohamed and his wife, Madam Loh lives with her son and daughter-in-law. However, their familial relationships were strained after living together for four years and Madam Loh was asked to leave the flat. She is desperately looking for a rental flat as she has no other children and does not wish to live with relatives, because she is embarrassed to let them know. In her desperation, she said she wants to take her own life so that she need not be a burden to anyone anymore.

For each of these cases above, my heart breaks at the despair and sadness faced by each of these elderly persons. As I said earlier, with our families getting smaller and with fewer children, the dependence on one or two children will be the norm for each elderly person, and the heartbreak they may face when their only child refuses to take care of them in future or when they get evicted from their shared home, will be very real.

I would propose for the Government to look at how our housing policies can be tightened to protect elderly parents who (a) decide to sell their flat or apartment or house; or (b) those who are compelled or maybe even tricked into selling their flat, apartment or house, in order to help their child or children to purchase their own flat, apartment or house. While we respect the decisions of senior or elderly Singaporeans to help their children with their own abode, I would propose that we consider having a policy, or even legislation, that can be invoked to take to task adult children who have benefited from the sale of the abode of their elderly parents and who later on neglect or drive out their parents from the abode they have bought as a result of that. This can be something similar to the Maintenance of Parents Act. Hence, the adult children can be made to pay back the full amount received from their parents in the purchase of their own abode when their familial relationships fail and eviction of the parents occur, or they can be made to pay for the monthly rental of the elderly parents should the elderly parents take up a rental flat or apartment.

Nonetheless, while we have the Maintenance of Parents Act or a new policy or even legislation to protect elderly parents who are made homeless by their own children, surely, we should not need to depend on a piece of legislation that has to be invoked for us to show love, care or responsibility towards our parents. Should that not be a responsibility that comes willingly from the heart? We should not be compelled to take care of our parents because the law says so. We should do it because it is the right thing to do. I support the Motion.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Miss Cheng Li Hui.

7.10 pm

Miss Cheng Li Hui (Tampines): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Motion. This is a topic that is especially close to my heart. I have spoken on this several times.

In my first General Election rally speech, I spoke about active ageing and what it meant for me personally and for my constituents. I shared how I was inspired by my grandmother and my wish for our elderly to lead fulfilling lives after they retire, to carry on with pride and dignity. This is a primary driver for many of the programmes that I introduce for my residents in Tampines.

During the debate on Budget 2016, I expressed my hope to see seniors who are not on the PG package to be visited by the PG Ambassadors, too, so that they are more aware of the programmes and help available to them. I was, therefore, heartened when Minister Heng announced the Community Network for Seniors. Its stated mission is to build active networks amongst the elderly, to actively engage the community and provide them with a path to seek help in times of need.

I am glad that Tampines is selected to pilot the programme. Today, we have over 26 RCs with weekly wellness programmes, from healthy cooking to exercise classes and health talks, with an average of 650 elderly attending the sessions. Some told me they have made new friends and are enjoying their retirement. Others said they have got stronger. One Mr K, 82 years old, is less reliant on the wheelchair and uses his walking stick to come for classes.

Under the Community Network for Seniors (CNS), there is also Eastern Health Alliance’s Care Line Programme. This is a tele-befriending service targeting the elderly who stay alone or require a befriender.

But it is not just about isolated seniors. Many of our seniors live with their children or near them. Madam Nadesan stays with her son and is well taken care of. But what the PG Ambassadors realised during their visit is that she suffers from frequent falls. So, they followed up with a home fall risk assessment, got a ramp fixed under the HDB's Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme and got her on board the Disability Assistance Scheme. Many people are unaware of the schemes available to them. There are many, and some are complex. House visits by PG Ambassadors really help to raise awareness and dispel some of their worries.

So, CNS closes gaps and works closely with the local community to help residents. There is a whole network of agencies from the Red Cross, St Andrews Community Hospital, Singhealth, Lion Befrienders, HPB, RCs and so on supporting this.

Passionate individuals also play a role. Jacelyn, aged 60, is passionate about line dancing and conducts free weekly classes in Tampines for about 60 residents. There are many individuals out there who care about the community. Let us tap on them, encourage them, motivate them. CNS is working well, and I read that it will be expanded to more areas soon.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in my maiden speech in Parliament, I spoke about the importance of intergeneration bonding and how it was important for the elderly and the young to have more opportunities to interact. I also suggested building eldercare and childcare centres in our parks and schools then. I drew from our positive experience in our 3-in-1 Family Centre in Tampines which was set up in 1990, incorporating childcare, student care and eldercare.

A couple of years ago, I learnt that there will be a new nursing home on Tampines Avenue 2 that is situated next to Angsana Primary School. When I saw the design of the nursing home, I advocated for the fence between the two buildings to be removed in order to remove physical barriers between the nursing home and the school. I do not like the fenced-up feeling in nursing homes. It is uninviting and isolates them from the community. I wanted the school field to be available to the nursing home for exercises and activities and also to make it convenient for parents and grandparents to drop in after dropping off their children in school.

Recently, I was delighted to hear from MOH that there will be no fencing around the nursing home and residents can look forward to both daycare and homecare services, such as home nursing and home personal care. I cannot wait. And I mean it. I really cannot wait. It was in December 2015 that we saw the artist's impression and we are still waiting for an operator to be appointed and no ground breaking yet. I know it is happening soon but I feel we need to move things faster.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as more eldercare facilities are set up in housing estates, I hope we can consider the model of pairing up these facilities with schools in the vicinity to create long-term partnerships for more interactions.

Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am very encouraged by the commitment of our Government in preparing for an ageing population. I note that the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Ageing was set up 20 years ago in 1998 to review healthcare needs of the elderly and to ensure that the healthcare cost remains affordable. Since then, many policies, programmes and initiatives have been implemented and many more Ministries and agencies involved – active ageing under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Pioneer Generation Office (PGO) under MOF, Ageing Planning Office under MOH, Silver Support Scheme under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and so on.

Much has been done, but I believe much more can and must be done. For example, there are many exciting new technologies to assist the elderly, from wearable devices to remote monitoring. Can we do more to encourage this sector? Can we aspire to be a global leader in technology-assisted elderly living and active ageing?

Is it time to consider setting up a new Ministry that will be able to coordinate all the developments, drive policy and innovation, and implement the programmes smoothly and efficiently? Should we coordinate all the efforts and resources to see how we can make better use of our seniors' experience and wisdom? How do we tap on our retirees to continue to play active roles in the country that they have given so much to, and for them to live the rest of their lives in Singapore in a dignified and fruitful manner?

Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government, in partnership with the community and public institutions, have made important steps towards making active ageing a very attractive reality in Singapore. While the issue of active ageing is a never-ending one, it has not yet quite reached maturity. Like a freshly retired person, there is still some way to go. It is also a complex one, and my remarks today do not fully express what I have to say on this topic. I shall save it for another day.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Senior Minister of State Amy Khor.

7.17 pm

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan): Mr Deputy Speaker, MOH supports this Motion. As the Chinese saying goes, a senior in the family is like a treasure in the family, or in Chinese, "家有一老，如有一宝".

We agree with Dr Lily Neo that our seniors are assets to our society and our country. Our seniors are key pillars in families, as parents and grandparents. They not only raise us but also educate and bring up grandchildren with the right values and traditions. Many of our seniors are also leaders in the community, contributing their wisdom to community development.

Today, more than one in three of our PG Ambassadors and around one in two of the HPB Health Ambassadors are over 60. At the economic level, many seniors are experienced business owners, while our silver workforce is also emerging as a key driver of our economic development, complementing a younger workforce that is likely to shrink in the future.

Our vision for Singapore is a "Nation for All Ages". The Ministerial Committee on Ageing launched a $3 billion Action Plan for Successful Ageing in 2015 with more than 70 initiatives across 12 areas to achieve this vision. In particular, we want to deepen our efforts to achieve positive ageing at three levels.

First, at the individual level, we want to enable our citizens to continue to develop and grow as individuals, regardless of age. This includes enabling them to work for as long as they choose to. I am happy to share with Ms Joan Pereira that the number of nurses working past the retirement age of 62 years has increased. In 2017, over 1,400 retired nurses aged above 62 were working, compared to 1,200 in 2015. MOH will continue to work with our healthcare institutions to support flexible work arrangements for older nurses, so that they can continue to contribute.

At the same time, other seniors may seek purpose in their silver years, not by working but by developing their interests or pursuing their own passion or causes. To support seniors’ interest in learning, we launched the National Silver Academy, which has engaged over 13,000 seniors in learning across more than 900 courses, ranging from information technology (IT) and media courses to art and wellness.

Dr Lily Neo also suggested that the Government set up policies and programmes to promote volunteerism amongst seniors. I am happy to share that in 2015, we established a $40 million Silver Volunteer Fund (SVF) to support programmes that offer volunteer opportunities to seniors. To date, we have funded 22 volunteer programmes. One such programme is the Community Befriending Programme (CBP), whereby the SVF provides programme funding to recruit, train and deploy active agers as befrienders to older seniors, including covering some out-of-pocket costs for these befrienders. Today, we have more than 850 volunteers befriending 2,500 seniors in 47 constituencies under CBP. We expect this number to grow. We note Ms Joan Pereira’s suggestion and would be happy to explore time banking in future where there is ground-up interest.

Confidence and purpose in our silver years are only possible with good health. We agree with Dr Lily Neo and Mr Gan Thiam Poh that the promotion of health and well-being of seniors is key. We have brought preventive health services to over 44,000 mature workers in seven sectors, and exercise programmes and health talks to over 400,000 seniors in the community to keep them in good health. We have also enhanced subsidies under Screen for Life (SFL) to encourage more Singaporeans to go for health screening and follow-up. Now, eligible Singaporeans will only need to pay no more than $5 for screening and the first post-screening consultation at Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) general practitioner (GP) clinics. Close to 25,000 Singaporeans aged 50 and above have attended screening under the programme in the last five months.

Second, at the family level, we want to empower caregivers to better support seniors to age in place with peace of mind. I agree with Miss Cheryl Chan, Mr Kok Heng Leun as well as Mr Gan Thiam Poh that caregiver support and strong families are critical. Our efforts to enhance home and community care services are aimed at supporting seniors in the day, so that their caregivers can go to work with peace of mind. We have worked to increase the capacity, improve on accessibility and also raise the quality of our services. Between 2011 and 2017, we have increased the number of home and centre care capacity by 120% to 13,000 places.

In 2016, we started Integrated Home and Day Care packages, which give seniors flexibility to be cared for, either at the centres or at home. We are also building nursing homes in the community to support those who are too frail to be cared for at home. Miss Cheng Li Hui said that she cannot wait. I ask for her patience. I am sure it is worth waiting for.

Miss Cheng also spoke on improving the design and programming for our eldercare facilities. We agree and have been injecting more common spaces and greenery within our facilities. We are also co-locating eldercare and childcare facilities, where possible, to facilitate intergenerational activities, to engage our seniors.

We also agree with Dr Lily Neo that it is important for seniors to age in place in the community. Hence, we piloted the Care Close to Home programme to support the care and social needs of rental block seniors from Senior Activity Centres. Care Close to Home is an example on how we enable seniors to age in place by effectively turning these precincts into in-situ "care homes" with assisted living support.

At the same time, we have started building larger day care centres to serve as "Active Ageing Hubs" for seniors that can provide a range of services, from active ageing programmes for healthy and ambulant seniors to day care and rehab services for frail seniors. One such hub is at Whampoa, which now serves more than 600 seniors across its active ageing and care services.

Several Members also asked about respite for caregivers. We have various options today. For caregivers who need help for a few hours over the weekend, they can leave their elderly at one of the 10 senior care centres across Singapore, where they will be looked after. For those who need respite for a longer period, they can have their elderly cared for at nursing homes for several days, up to a month. At least 40 nursing homes are providing this service since it was introduced in May 2013. To date, over 1,600 people have tapped on these respite care services.

In addition, the Eldersitter Programme provides an eldersitter to look after seniors with dementia at their homes when caregiving arrangements are not available. In the past five years, over 1,200 seniors have been supported through this arrangement.

Today, caregivers also benefit from tax reliefs of up to $14,000 for taking care of an elderly parent with a disability. On top of this, they can also benefit from the lower foreign domestic worker (FDW) concessionary levy if they hire an FDW. If they are from lower- and middle-income families and are caring for an elderly person or a person with moderate disability, they can get an additional FDW grant.

We recognise that new cohorts of seniors will have differing aspirations. Our active agers will want to plan ahead for themselves and stay independent for as long as possible. We are evolving new models of care and studying new forms of housing that provide seniors with support services as they age. Minister Desmond Lee will touch on this in his speech.

Dr Lily Neo spoke on the importance of mobility, and I fully agree. Over 800,000 seniors have benefited from the Passion Silver card since its launch in December 2016, which lets them benefit from cheaper transport and merchant discounts.

Our Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) has also partnered Uber to launch UberAssist. Caregivers and seniors can now use the Uber app to call for a car to take them to their medical appointments. Around 800 drivers have also been trained to date to help assist our seniors, so that they can have a safe journey. More than 96% of our public buses are also wheelchair-accessible, and all will be so by 2020. All Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations and bus interchanges, and 97% of bus shelters are barrier-free.

Ms Joan Pereira also suggested that we design the signs and notices in public transport to make them easier to read for seniors. Since 2012, all new MRT stations have directional signage with high-contrast colours and larger font sizes. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is in the midst of making similar enhancements to the signs at the older MRT stations.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Ms Joan Pereira and Miss Cheryl Chan raised suggestions on healthcare affordability. We share the sentiment of Members that peace of mind is important. Helping our elderly with their healthcare costs is a joint responsibility with the Government through subsidies, collective risk pooling in our community through insurance, and individual and family support through MediSave and personal savings. This is a hallmark of a caring and inclusive society.

We have enhanced the reach of Government subsidies over the years. Through CHAS, we have made outpatient care in the community more affordable, including for the management of chronic diseases.

To Ms Rahayu Mahzam's query, we continue to review the CHAS criteria. And, as with all schemes, there could be people who fall outside the eligibility criteria. But we are open to consider such cases on appeal. With the PG Package, all Pioneers enjoy special CHAS support above the CHAS blue tier, and an additional 50% off subsidised treatments at polyclinics and public specialist outpatient clinics.

We have also made it easier to utilise MediSave for healthcare needs. The number of conditions covered under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) has been progressively expanded over the years, and Singaporeans can now use MediSave to pay for 19 conditions. Singaporeans aged 65 and above can also utilise an additional $200 of their MediSave through the Flexi-MediSave Scheme. We will continue to review our healthcare financing schemes to ensure affordability for Singaporeans while also ensuring sustainability of our healthcare system.

We made MediShield Life a universal health insurance scheme in 2015. To ensure affordability, premium subsidies are extended to the lower- and middle-income. Pioneers receive special PG subsidies. This has been a relief for many older Singaporeans and a valuable assurance that their large hospital bills are covered by insurance.

ElderShield is also currently being reviewed to provide stronger support for disability in old age. The ElderShield Committee had provided an interim update last week, with recommendations to make the ElderShield scheme universal for all future cohorts, to lower the inclusion age to 30, for the Government to administer the enhanced ElderShield scheme, and for the claims assessment process to be improved. We welcome the recommendations and will work with the Committee to consider how best to target support for those who may need more help with their premiums.

There have been some questions on why the Committee recommended lowering the inclusion age to 30. The Committee explained that lowering the inclusion age for ElderShield distributes an individual's own premium payment over a longer period during his working years to pay for his own future needs when he grows old. This will make premiums more affordable. The premiums paid are for their own long-term care needs and are not intended for the young to subsidise the elderly for their long-term care needs. In fact, the very intent of tapping on insurance is to avoid shifting the financial burden to the young.

I also note Ms Joan Pereira's suggestion to review our nomenclature for ElderShield. The current name of the scheme reflects its objective, which is to protect Singaporeans from the costs of long-term care, in particular, during their older years where the risks of severe disabilities are higher. We acknowledge the feedback, however, and the ElderShield Committee will be reviewing the name of the scheme.

We would like to assure everyone that no Singaporean will be denied appropriate healthcare. For those who continue to have difficulties with their healthcare bills, additional support is available through MediFund.

Third, at the community level, we want to build stronger communities of care to complement families in supporting our seniors. This is especially important as family size shrinks and increasingly more elderly will live by themselves.

An area of focus for MOH is to work with both community-based voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) and our healthcare providers to integrate health and social support for our seniors. For instance, AIC has worked with VWOs to station care teams within senior activity centres to do regular checks and support the activities of daily living of seniors living alone in rental precincts.

We agree with Dr Lily Neo that technology can present new opportunities to bolster our community support for seniors. For instance, in the SHINE Seniors project at Marine Parade, sensors are placed in the homes of seniors living alone, so that VWO staff or volunteers can respond to calls for help.

Another example is Changi General Hospital's Care Line, which is a 24-7 call centre that can respond to calls for help from seniors living alone in the community. We are also conducting a nationwide pilot of tele-rehabilitation that allows seniors to follow up with their rehabilitation exercises in the comfort of their homes, post discharge from hospitals. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital is also using telehealth consultations to support new nursing homes in better managing residents who are near the end of life.

Given the magnitude of population ageing, formal services alone are not enough. I agree with Mr Henry Kwek, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Miss Cheng Li Hui and Ms Rahayu Mahzam that we need to rally the whole community to come together to support our seniors. We would like to thank our Members who have spoken out in support of these initiatives and helped with bringing our communities together on the ground.

The CNS initiative was introduced in Budget 2016 as a pilot of what would eventually serve as a national community-based support system to help our seniors age well. In essence, it coordinates a strong local network of health and social care partners to support seniors, as a complement to family support, enabling our seniors to age confidently in the community. For well seniors, we want to keep them active and healthy for as long as possible. For those who are lonely, we find them a friend. And for those with multiple needs, our aim is to get them holistic help quickly.

CNS has been piloted in Tampines, Choa Chu Kang and Marine Parade. As Members have heard from Miss Cheng Li Hui, it has been well-received by all stakeholders. To date, CNS has activated more than 70 RCs to hold regular preventive health and active ageing activities and engaged more than 70,000 seniors. There are now more than 1,500 senior attendances for these programmes on a weekly basis.

CNS has also matched more than 600 seniors to befrienders and assisted about 800 seniors who have complex social and health needs. Based on what we have learnt from CNS, we plan to strengthen this effort. More details will be announced at the Committee of Supply this year. However, our success in building communities of care hinges on support and partnership from the wider community. Therefore, I fully support Mr Kok Heng Leun's suggestion to step up public education and promote greater awareness of the process of ageing and the needs of seniors.

Together with community-based organisations, we have made efforts to promote awareness of end-of-life issues and palliative care, and we have also launched an exhibition on ageing called Dialogue with Time, at Science Centre, which has attracted over 10,000 visitors since its opening last November. We will continue to invest in public education.

Longevity is a blessing and not to be spent in sickness or loneliness. If we can work together, ageing need not be feared. We can enable seniors to age positively with purpose and grace, empower strong families that can care for seniors, and build a cohesive and resilient community able to thrive in the face of population ageing. MOH and the Ministerial Committee on Ageing look forward to working with all Members and Singaporeans to realise a "Nation for All Ages". Mr Deputy Speaker, please allow me to conclude in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] After hearing Mr Kok Heng Leun's speech, I was very touched. I agree with him fully. Illness and death are inevitable, but it is important that we enable our seniors to age positively with purpose, gracefully and with dignity.

The Government will continue to work hard to build a Nation for All Ages that is caring and inclusive and embrace seniors as an integral part of our community. But family and kinship are priceless and irreplaceable. We should honour the elderly as we do our own aged parents. Let us show our love and create a warm society for our seniors.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Minister of State Sam Tan.

7.39 pm

The Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office and for Foreign Affairs and Manpower (Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to, firstly, thank Members for tabling this Motion for the House to recognise our seniors. The Ministry of Manpower, together with our tripartite partners, is committed to supporting our older workers to enjoy fulfilling years and engage in productive work.

Sir, our workforce is ageing rapidly. Over the last decade, the proportion of residents aged 60 and over in our labour force has increased from 6.1% in 2007, to 13.8% in 2017. We expect this trend to continue in the foreseeable future as Singaporeans live longer and healthier.

It is a good thing that our seniors can work and want to work longer. Active participation in the workforce allows seniors to make positive contributions and forms part of active ageing. The economy and society as a whole benefit from their expertise and experience. To this end, we should continue to support older workers to have meaningful employment opportunities. At the same time, we should also ensure that our older workers are treated fairly and with respect at our workplaces. Our tripartite partners have been working closely together to help support our older workers so that they can have longer and fuller working lives.

Sir, we introduced the concept of re-employment under the Retirement and Re-employment Act (RRA) in 2012. RRA is to support older workers who want to work longer beyond their retirement age. We took another step forward in 2016 to raise re-employment age from 65 to 67, which has been effective since 1 July last year. This applies to the public and private sectors.

The re-employment model has shown encouraging results. Since it was introduced in 2012, over 98% of private-sector local employees who wished to continue working at age 62 were offered re-employment. Of those who accepted re-employment in the same job at age 62, around 96% did not receive any cut in their basic salaries in 2012. And this proportion rose to 98% in 2016. Some Members have suggested why not remove the retirement age and re-employment age altogether?

Sir, currently, the tripartite partners are of the view that the retirement and re-employment ages still play an important role in helping our workers stay employable for as long as they can. These are their reasons.

First, the retirement age of 62 provides older workers peace of mind that employers are not allowed to terminate their employment simply based on age.

Second, with the re-employment age, the older workers are further protected as employers must offer eligible workers re-employment up to age 67.

Third, the introduction and progressive raising of re-employment age, instead of retirement age, balances the employers' need for business flexibility and the employment needs of the older workers better. While the employer is obliged to offer re-employment to the older worker at 62 till 67, it need not necessarily be for the same job or at the same pay. There is some flexibility so long as both employers and employees achieve a mutual agreement. And also, beyond the re-employment age, older workers can continue to work as long as there is mutual consent between them and the employers.

With extended lifespans and improved health among seniors, there will be scope to raise the age of re-employment further again over time. This, however, will be a matter for tripartite deliberations. For now, as the re-employment age was just raised from 65 to 67 last year, the immediate focus of the Government and the tripartite partners is to ensure successful implementation of the new re-employment age to benefit more older workers. This is to fulfil what we had set out earlier.

As we encourage employers to hire and retain older workers, we recognise that those who do so deserve extra support and encouragement. The Special Employment Credit (SEC) scheme provides a wage offset of up to 8% of monthly wages to employers when they employ older workers aged 55 and above. An additional wage offset of up to 3% of monthly wages is also provided to encourage continued employment of older workers above the re-employment age of 67.

We also support employers to provide flexible work arrangements (FWAs) for older workers who prefer to transit from full-time employment to take on more flexible work options. The Work-Life Grant funds each company up to $160,000 over four years to implement FWAs to help employees better manage work and family responsibilities.

Our various programmes to improve the employability and employment of older workers have shown encouraging results. Singapore's employment rate of residents aged 65 to 69 is 41.5% in 2016. This compares quite favourably with developed economies, with Singapore ranked 5th against 35 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries in 2016. It is also higher than some of the developed countries with no retirement age, such the US at 31%, Australia at 25.9%, the UK at 21% and Denmark at 19.1%. In Singapore, we achieved 41.5%.

Sir, looking ahead, as our workforce continues to age, I strongly support Mr Henry Kwek's call and also other Members' similar call to do more to maintain the dignity of our elderly in the workplace. For older workers to work productively and also to help companies to remain competitive, we must ensure that our workplaces are age-friendly. We must treat our older workers fairly with dignity. But how do we do this?

First, we should eliminate ageism at work. MOM and our tripartite partners are against age discrimination. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) promotes the employment of older workers and raises awareness of the value that older workers bring to the workplace. They look into all age discrimination complaints and refer cases to MOM for investigation where warranted. Enforcement actions will be taken against employers who discriminate based on age.

The Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP) also spells out the principles of fair and merit-based employment which we expect all employers to abide by. For example, job applicants should be assessed fairly and are not to be ignored or rejected on the basis of age. This applies to all jobs listed in the JobsBank. The Guidelines also state specifically that date of birth information should not be asked in the job application forms.

Second, we should ensure that our jobs are suitably designed and redesigned for our older workers. This was why we enhanced the WorkPro in July 2016 to create easier, safer and smarter jobs for older workers. A company can now receive up to $300,000, up from $150,000, under the WorkPro Job Redesign Grant.

Since the enhancement, more than 600 companies have applied for the Job Redesign Grant, benefiting more than 9,500 older workers. This is an encouraging start, but we should do more. I urge more employers to tap on WorkPro to take bold steps to redesign and create meaningful jobs for older workers.

Third, we need both our older workers and employers to play their parts to enhance the employment and employability of mature workers. We will keep strengthening our support to them through SkillsFuture and Adapt and Grow.

For instance, under the Adapt and Grow Initiative, older professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) are provided with more support for career or job transition under programmes, such as the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) and Career Support Programme (CSP). The Work Trial programme also allows older rank-and-file workers to undergo short-term work trial with companies and acquire new skills to potentially take on new jobs. I encourage more employers and workers to take full advantage of these Government schemes we have put in place for them.

In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, we have made steady progress to enhance the employability and employment opportunities for our older workers. With an ageing workforce and the fast pace of economic restructuring and transformation, we will need to do even more to ensure that our future workforce will remain inclusive. Together with our tripartite partners, we will press on in our efforts to support our seniors so that they can continue to lead an active and fulfilling life.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary.

7.50 pm

The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (Dr Janil Puthucheary): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank colleagues for raising the important topic of support for the elderly, especially with respect to ensuring they benefit from the technological progress we make as a society.

The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) agrees with the concerns raised by Mr Henry Kwek, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Ms Joan Pereira and other Members. MCI supports the Motion and last year convened the Digital Readiness Workgroup to examine the current status, engage stakeholders and partners, and to develop strategies relevant to future opportunities and challenges. This workgroup has representatives from the public, private and people sectors. Later in the year, we will be explaining in more detail our strategies to help all Singaporeans, especially the most vulnerable, to understand and enjoy the benefits of technology.

In the interim, we have agreed on some broad principles that will inform these strategies and plans that we develop. First, our programmes, initiatives and products must be user-centric and designed for inclusion of everyone. Second, we must go beyond the provision of access, to equipping people with skills that enable them to participate actively and meaningfully. Third, the greatest reach and impact in this space will be achieved only through the deep collaborations between the people, public and private sectors.

Mr Deputy Speaker, even as we plan for the future and develop new strategies, these ideas are building on a strong foundation. MCI, together with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and its predecessors, has been working on these issues for more than 10 years, through a national programme called the Silver Infocomm Initiative. I would like to highlight just a few of the programmes it supports.

First, we have over 30 senior-friendly infocomm learning hubs island-wide, including at community centres (CCs) and libraries that offer a customised curriculum to train seniors. These are known as Silver Infocomm Junctions (SIJs).

Second, the "Seniors for Smart Nation" series of courses, run by the "Senior Academy" programme of PA.

Third, the "IM Bonding" programme at Senior Activity Centres focuses on lower-income elderly and involves a significant aspect of social interaction.

Fourth and last, the Silver Infocomm Wellness Ambassador is a programme to train and support seniors to teach and encourage their peers about technology.

All of these programmes, and many others, help seniors to become familiar with technology, to develop confidence to conduct transactions and interact online, to connect with one another and their families using digital tools, and to ultimately enjoy the benefits of technology. These programmes are available in English and vernacular languages and, over the last 10 years, have helped 150,000 seniors.

Sir, MCI agrees with the concerns raised by Members. Although there has been a lot of work ongoing for the last 10 years, much remains to be done. We are all ageing, technology will continue to develop at a rapid pace, and making sure the elderly benefit from the progress of our society must be something we always pay attention to.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Minister Desmond Lee.

7.53 pm

The Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development (Mr Desmond Lee): Mr Deputy Speaker, I will elaborate on our efforts in housing, our urban environment and social support. I begin with thoughtful planning and design of our infrastructure.

Ms Tin Pei Ling, Miss Cheryl Chan, Ms Joan Pereira and Dr Lily Neo spoke about how we should design and retrofit our Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, estates and public infrastructure to enable our seniors to age actively, comfortably and safely.

Today, when building our new estates, HDB’s consultants adopt the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA’s) Accessibility Code and guidelines. For example, common spaces are designed with ramps instead of just steps and seamless barrier-free routes to connect various amenities for our seniors and those who are wheelchair-bound. Three-generational fitness and play facilities facilitate social interaction between our seniors and the community. Within our flats, senior-friendly features are provided, such as gentle gradients at the main entrance, common bathrooms that are wheelchair-accessible and more user-friendly clothes drying systems.

The bigger challenge has been to retrofit our older, mature estates to make them more senior-friendly. And we have been doing this assiduously over many years since the 2000s, adding more ramps, linkways and senior-friendly facilities to mature estates through programmes, such as the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) and Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC). The Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), implemented since 2001, has also provided direct lift access to residents in about 5,200 HDB blocks. Through the City for All Ages and Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programmes, HDB is also retrofitting existing HDB estates and flats with more features, such as grab bars and non-slip toilet flooring, to enhance mobility and comfort for our seniors, benefiting more than 130,000 families thus far. Making our mature estates elderly-friendly requires a community effort. That is why programmes, such as NRP and CIPC, are structured to allow the community to participate in decision-making.

Private building owners can also tap on BCA's Accessibility Fund. This provides co-funding to encourage them to retrofit their private buildings that pre-date 1990, to make them senior-friendly.

Sir, we continue to research and study other ways and options to make our living environment more senior-friendly.

I next turn to housing asset monetisation, a point raised by various Members.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Ms Chia Yong Yong and Mr Henry Kwek suggested ways to help seniors unlock more value from their homes to supplement their retirement needs.

The Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) was introduced in 2009, giving lower-income seniors living in 3-room or smaller flats the option to sell back and monetise the tail-end of their leases to HDB, while continuing to live in their flats. The scheme was expanded in 2015 to cover 4-room flats.

Currently, LBS is not open to households in larger flats as they have more monetisation options than those in smaller flats. For instance, they can right-size to a smaller flat in the same neighbourhood. Under the Seniors Priority Scheme, seniors, including those in private properties, enjoy priority when they apply for a 2-room flexi flat in the same town or estate as their current home. If seniors living in larger flats right-size to a 2- or 3-room flat, they may apply for the Silver Housing Bonus and receive a cash bonus, if they use some of their proceeds to top up their CPF Retirement Accounts and join CPF LIFE.

To raise awareness of these and other monetisation options, HDB works with our media, organises public talks and seminars and sets up booths at local community events. Seniors also receive personalised information on their monetisation options when they carry out housing transactions at our HDB counters. Most recently, HDB and CPF Board sent out individually customised mailers to seniors about the range of monetisation options that are available to them.

Mr Henry Kwek, Ms Chia Yong Yong and Mr Gan Thiam Poh suggested other ways of monetising properties which do not require our seniors to move home, such as reverse mortgages and specialised funds based on the French concept of "Viager". Financial institutions (FIs) are already allowed to offer reverse mortgages and these specialised funds. But both are complex financial products which are more difficult to understand, hence the challenge. The risk that the value of the payouts may exceed that of the property could also impact their attractiveness to home owners. In fact, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Income and Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) bank stopped offering reverse mortgages in 2009, precisely due to a lack of demand. Recent surveys also found that many seniors were generally averse to the idea of reverse mortgages as they preferred to remain debt-free at that stage in life.

Some of the options I mentioned earlier, like buying a 2-room flexi flat with priority allocation, are also open to seniors living in private properties who may wish to consider asset monetisation. In addition, with the changes announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in March 2017, they may also obtain mortgage equity withdrawal loans from FIs. MAS had announced that such loans that are less than 50% of the market value of the property would no longer be subject to the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) framework. This may help retirees, many of whom would have paid up most of their outstanding housing loan, monetise part of the value of their property if they wish.

Sir, let me assure Members that we will continue to study and review options to help our seniors who wish to better monetise their homes, to supplement retirement needs.

Sir, we need both the "hardware" as well as the "heartware" if we want to build a society where our seniors can age happily, supported by the community around them. To do so, we have to plan well ahead. This involves nurturing communities of care, strengthening community care and service delivery for vulnerable seniors, planning ahead for seniors who may lose or have lost mental capacity, and putting in place laws to protect vulnerable seniors.

The composition of families has shifted over the years. Family sizes are shrinking, and we see more seniors who live alone or without children. Because of this changing profile, we have to proactively ramp up efforts to complement family support while, at the same time, encourage the strengthening of family ties.

Mr Henry Kwek and Ms Joan Pereira suggested introducing Senior Care leave to employees caring for their parents. Caregivers of elderly parents need support and understanding, and I thank Mr Kok Heng Leun for his very heartfelt and personal sharing of his experience, for the benefit of this House.

We encourage employers to provide a family-friendly workplace, and have introduced several family leave enhancements over the last few years. While we are prepared to study the idea of Senior Care leave in consultation with the tripartite partners, we should allow some time for businesses to adjust and adapt to the recent enhancements.

In the meantime, we will continue to work with the tripartite partners to encourage employers to adopt family-friendly practices, including adopting the Tripartite Standard of FWAs, and better leveraging on the Worklife Grant.

Sir, I agree with Miss Cheryl Chan that it is important to integrate housing for seniors within the community and encourage strong family support. To foster community interaction, we now build 2-room flexi flats in the same block as larger flat types for most projects. Under the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme, married children and their parents are given priority if they apply for a pair of flats at the same level, block or Build-To-Order (BTO) project. Those who wish to live as a multigenerational family can apply for 3Gen flats.

Mr Henry Kwek made some thoughtful recommendations on retirement housing, while Mr Leon Pereira spoke about assisted living for seniors. We also agree with Dr Lily Neo that we should support our seniors to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

Our strategy to achieve this is to try to integrate the delivery of social and care services within our public housing estates, for ease and convenience of our seniors. Over the years, we have ramped up the introduction of eldercare facilities in our HDB estates. We have taken this one step further with Kampung Admiralty, where seniors living in and around the Kampung can obtain a continuum of social and health services at the Active Ageing Hub. These services can support them as their needs evolve and put off the need for premature institutionalisation in nursing homes or other facilities. There are plans to build another 10 more Active Ageing Hubs by 2020.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh will also be glad to know that we will continue working with MOH to explore new senior-friendly housing models, such as new forms of home and care options to allow seniors to age in a familiar environment and to remain independent for as long as possible. This includes assisted living developments that will help to expand the care and residential options available to seniors, by integrating senior-friendly housing and senior care services. This is currently under study and we will announce more details when ready.

At the same time, we are studying measures which can better facilitate the development of private housing projects to support the needs of our seniors. We are reviewing our Development Control guidelines to provide more clarity on retirement housing developments, and we will share more information on these plans when ready.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam spoke about the need to support vulnerable seniors in our midst. This means empowering them to make choices to remain healthy, active and socially connected in their golden years, enabled collectively by the family, community and state.

On community support, we have expanded our network of social services supporting the low-income and vulnerable seniors, in close partnership with VWOs. Since 2014, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has set up 19 Senior Cluster Networks (SCNs), operated by VWOs, to coordinate support for these seniors within each HDB town, with other social and healthcare agencies, including SSOs, Family Service Centres (FSCs) and AIC.

Through the SCNs, we have supported these low-income and vulnerable seniors to stay engaged in the community, prevent social isolation and receive timely and coordinated care. The 69 Senior Activity Centres (SACs) reach out to around 30,000 seniors in public rental flats to engage them in recreation and to mitigate social isolation. Frail seniors with social and health needs are case-managed by social workers in the Cluster Support teams who coordinate care together with AIC. Senior Group Homes (SGHs) can support frail seniors who are suitable for communal living.

Our network of 24 SSOs has also brought help closer to low-income and vulnerable seniors in the community. SSOs play the important role of coordinating complex cases, which often involve multiple agencies and organisations. SSOs also plan and coordinate services at the local level and manage MSF-funded regional services for families and seniors.

While social service delivery has improved over the years, we know that we can continue to do better. Today, a family with multiple needs has to navigate different schemes, programmes, agencies and VWOs. We want to improve our interagency work processes to provide more integrated and holistic support for those in need. One of our key enablers will be CNS, which is being piloted, to bring together healthcare and social agencies and the community to provide support for seniors.

We can also improve data sharing and use among Government agencies and with the community. This could reduce the need for clients to submit the same documents to different agencies and organisations multiple times. It also helps to harness the time, energy and skills of social service professionals and volunteers to better support our seniors.

Sir, some seniors lose their mental capacity as they age due to dementia and other causes. Miss Cheryl Chan suggested improving the outreach and awareness of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), by making certifiers of LPAs more easily accessible within the community.

Apart from lawyers and psychiatrists, there are currently 496 medical professionals who are accredited to be LPA certificate issuers. Many of them are GPs who operate in clinics in the heartlands. In addition, there are community services that provide regular legal clinics for both LPA as well as will-writing. An example is Life Point, started by Sheng Hong Welfare Services. It is at Chinatown Point. It is a popular one-stop service for seniors to make their LPAs. We welcome more organisations to start similar services to benefit our seniors.

If a person loses mental capacity without having made an LPA, their family members or friends may apply to the Court to be appointed as their deputy. But we are aware that there are some individuals who may not have next-of-kin who can be appointed as a deputy, or, for that matter, even as a donee, when they make LPAs. Therefore, MSF will be launching the Professional Deputies and Donees Scheme this year, where professionals can be remunerated for a fee to be appointed as professional donees and deputies.

To support our ageing seniors who lack family support and experience declining mental capacity, we are also piloting a new initiative known as the Community Kin Service or Comm Kin Service. Under this service, VWOs can apply for a Court order to manage the senior’s money in order to meet the senior’s day-to-day needs. What they need to do is to prepare a care plan detailing the kinds of expenses that need to be incurred for their daily needs for these seniors and present them to Court. Once approved, they will act within the remit of the Court order. It thus empowers VWOs to do more to support seniors holistically within the community. Professional deputies can step in when the senior requires institutional care, to make more major decisions for the senior, such as liquidation of property, as their expertise would be better suited for such matters.

This Comm Kin pilot is expected to begin early this year with two VWOs – TOUCH Community Services and Ang Mo Kio (AMK) FSC Community Services. Nonetheless, we still encourage Singaporeans to make an LPA because an LPA offers them choice and autonomy in deciding who they wish to appoint as their proxy decision-maker, and gives peace of mind to the family, knowing that the necessary preplanning has been done.

Sir, another important aspect of preparing for a Nation for all Ages is enhancing our legislative framework for seniors. Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Ms Chia Yong Yong had asked us to review the role of the Tribunal of Maintenance of Parents (TMP). The Maintenance of Parents Act (MPA) provides legal recourse for seniors 60 and above and who are unable to provide for themselves to claim maintenance from their children. We recognise that some parents may be unwilling to file an application against their own children. So, the Act, therefore, allows the Commissioner to resolve issues through conciliation, without the need for the commencement of legal proceedings at TMP. If the parent is unable to make an application himself, for example, due to physical infirmity, the Commissioner is able to apply on behalf of the parent, with his consent.

Thus far, the Commissioner has not had to make such an application to the Tribunal on behalf of a parent, as most family members step up to help the parent. We will, however, continue to actively look into ways to lower the barriers for a senior to apply for maintenance, even as we seek to strengthen familial ties.

Ms Chia Yong Yong also asked whether the Tribunal has ever ordered children, under section 6 of MPA, to maintain their parents by setting up a trust fund to pay out regular maintenance. We have checked. Thus far, the Tribunal has not made such orders. Most orders have been by way of cash payment or cash support.

Currently, going beyond adjudication and mediation, TMP may already refer a parent to SSO for financial assistance and advice, if he is not awarded any maintenance, or if the maintenance awarded is insufficient to meet basic needs. The parent and the children may also be referred to an FSC for case management and counselling. That, in a way, also addresses the point Ms Rahayu Mahzam brought up. She suggested that the Tribunal take on more family counselling and mediation roles. These are better resolved at the FSCs.

I thank Members for their suggestions on legislative reviews and public education efforts to enhance support and safeguards for our seniors and promote family values on the care of our senior loved ones. Many suggestions have been given, including looking into the law of presumption of advancement. All these are things that we will study in the course of our work.

Concurrently, it is imperative that we put in place safeguards to ensure that frail elderly and ageing persons with disabilities are able to live in an environment that is free from abuse, neglect and self-neglect. To that end, the Vulnerable Adults Bill, which will be introduced this year, will protect individuals 18 years old and above and, because of mental or physical infirmity, disability or incapacity, are unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or self-neglect.

To complement such legislation, MSF is also working with community partners and stakeholders to enhance the capacity and capabilities of critical players to respond to reports of abuse.

Sir, Singapore is a rapidly greying society, by all existing trends and indicators. While this does pose significant challenges, we should plan ahead, prepare well and implement effectively. Only then can we tap the opportunity that our silver generation brings and turn a perceived challenge into a strength.

Before I close, allow me to make this very quick observation. Sir, we are encouraged that six Members of this House, from PAP.SG, coming from different Government Parliamentary Committees, have come together to raise this important Motion and to bring debate on this issue in the House. We are encouraged that all Members who have spoken have given good ideas, given heartfelt examples of cases and individuals whom they have encountered. We are encouraged that the Motion has full support from all sides of this House. And while four of us have responded on behalf of a total of five Ministries, we are fully committed to working as a whole-of-Government, to coordinate on seniors' issues, to prepare ahead and prepare well and to implement effectively.

We will share more details of specific plans at the upcoming Budget and Committee of Supply debates. At the end of the day, this has to be a whole-of-Singapore effort, involving families and communities, to make Singapore an inclusive and caring home that embraces all our seniors.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Henry Kwek.

8.14 pm

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry: Mr Deputy Speaker, it is beyond eight o'clock. We have worked hard and deserve to be tired. But fatigue aside, hearing the insights from my colleagues here remind me why Parliament inspires. The scale and scope of these ideas today can only be described as breathtaking. Let me sum up the debate.

Ageing is universal. Mr Leon Perera described it as an inescapable part of the human condition. Therefore, the Members of this House believe that dealing with ageing starts with ourselves.

Miss Cheryl Chan called for seniors to cultivate the "undefeated mind", one filled with hope, will and imagination. Miss Cheryl Chan and Dr Lily Neo pointed out that we are personally responsible for our own health. Otherwise, we will not enjoy our long life. Ms Chia Yong Yong cautioned us to be wise in estate planning. Better for our seniors to make wills and, therefore, have more control over their fates. At the same time, we must plan for unexpected situations, and that is why Miss Cheryl Chan encourages seniors over 55 to sign up for LPAs.

Many of my colleagues here believe that after the individual, the next line of responsibility lies clearly with the families.

Both Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Ms Chia Yong Yong suggest that the Tribunal for Maintenance of Family can do more and move into education and counselling as well as to be bolder in enforcement. Ms Chia Yong Yong also came up with an excellent idea, which is, to make children who benefit from transfer of property responsible for their parents. Dr Intan Mokhtar made a similar idea.

But as Ms Chia Yong Yong said, while the Government can work harder to ensure that families step up, we must "do not and must not abrogate the basic human values of filial piety." After all, one cannot legislate filial piety. We must all be filial, however, because, as Dr Intan Mokhtar mentioned, "it is the right thing to do". Ms Chia Yong Yong also shared that we have obligations even if there is no love. And as Mr Kok Heng Leun shared, being a dutiful caregiver to our parents is not just a responsibility, but it can also be one we derive joy from. Helping our ailing parents is an intimate process. It promises the possibilities of transforming and deepening our precious relationships with those closest to us.

Therefore, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Dr Intan Mokhtar and Ms Rahayu Mahzam calls for all of us – Government, society, community – to do what is necessary to promote the right values of filial piety. I fully concur. Just this year, at my constituency, we started teaching filial piety through Confucian Dizi Gui. And I look forward to encouraging similar classes through other cultural lenses.

Today, we also talked about more support for caregivers. Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Kok Heng Leun and myself spoke about caregiver leave, so that our seniors will not be facing the trauma of sickness and hospital visits alone. This will also provide some comfort to caregivers. Mr Kok Heng Leun also suggested more tax relief for caregivers, and Miss Cheryl Chan suggested more generous subsidies for caregiver services.

Next, we must also ensure that seniors are on the right side of the digital divide. Ms Tin Pei Ling mentioned that we should strive to ensure that both "hardware and heartware are elderly-friendly" and we should not just be talking about technology but also processes. I would like to add to Ms Tin Pei Ling's point that a Smart Nation will not leave its wisest residents behind. Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Ms Tin Pei Ling also asked us to tap on the full possibilities of digital eldercare and call for the Government to limit the downside of embracing everything digital to our parents.

We also spoke about senior housing and monetisation of assets. Dr Lily Neo, Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Leon Perera spoke about encouraging and teaching good designs, building housing close to necessities. Ms Cheryl Chan suggested auditing all towns for such. Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Ms Chia Yong Yong spoke about encouraging more reverse mortgages and extending it beyond 4-Room HDB flats. I also spoke about more options for private developers in assisted living and nursing home, as well as catalysing more reverse mortgages for private estates.

On the financial side, our speakers have acknowledged that the Government has done much. But there is always a little bit more room to do more, especially if we can continue to grow our economy and keep our medical costs low.

The first line of financial support is actually for our seniors to stay employed and self-reliant. In terms of senior employability, both Dr Lily Neo and Dr Intan Mokhtar asked that we relook at employment and re-employment ages. Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Government to take the lead in senior employment and spearhead new designs and job designs and work environment. Mr Leon Perera spoke about using technology and innovation to expand on employability of seniors. I concur on his points and I spoke previously on using the shared economy to create micro-jobs for our seniors.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Ms Joan Pereira asked for us to do more for Baby Boomers through more CHAS discounts, and for a broader group of seniors. I fully agree on the necessity.

Ms Joan Pereira, Dr Lily Neo and Miss Cheryl Chan asked for more support for community healthcare programmes with more emphasis on disease prevention. Ms Tin Pei Ling, Dr Lily Neo and Mr Leon Perera also asked the Government to accelerate our local pace of digital eldercare innovation. Mr Gan Thiam Poh called for more increases in home care medical services, and Ms Joan Pereira asked for more dementia friendly communities as well as getting the review of ElderShield right.

Beyond finance and health, Members also believe about emotional well-being. We believe that our seniors, even if they retire, should stay active. As Ms Tin Pei Ling hopes, "we can continue to contribute because we want to. It brings meaning to life, it helps us look forward to every new day. Is it not wonderful?"

As such, Ms Joan Pereira proposed the innovative idea of encouraging time-banking, which is not just to encourage seniors to volunteer, but also to spur bartering of services among seniors. Dr Lily Neo also suggested a one-stop for volunteer advisory.

But sometimes, our seniors also need community support, especially on the emotional front. As such, Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Ms Joan Pereira and Miss Cheng Li Hui called for a nationwide rollout of the successful CNS programme. I fully agree. Getting Government support for coordination through CNS will give our community efforts a major push.

Ms Tin Pei Ling also contributed the refreshing idea to get all Singaporeans conscripted as volunteers to support seniors two days a month, with real vocations, real roles and responsibilities.

Members of this House also spoke about fighting misperceptions. Ms Tin Pei Ling asked us to "stamp out ageism". In fact, I think we must go beyond stemming out ageism.

Dr Lily Neo and Mr Leon Perera asked all of us to focus on bringing out the best of our seniors, focus on the Silver Dividends, rather than worry about the demographic time bomb. They are right. We are a decisive country, and we think long term. If we come together as a society, we can get on the right side of ageing. The stakes are high for us because all Singaporeans, every member of this Chamber, own this challenge together. Let me quote Ms Rahayu Mahzam, "We shall also remember that we will all grow old one day. We will all be that statistic, that group that would tap on Government funds, that would add to the healthcare cost, that would need to be cared for."

But beyond Government programmes, we must also step as a society by creating and participating in community initiatives. And specifically for Members in this Chamber, we have an added responsibility as the local leaders capable of pulling together hearts, minds, and hands, in our own respective areas. And so, we, in this Chamber, must all step up. Actions speak when words cannot. As Ms Pei Ling puts it, "a caring and inclusive society cannot be one when citizens only talk about and expect somebody else to do it. We all have a duty to do it". And when we discharge our duties to our families and seniors, we, like Mr Kok Heng Leun, who cared for his father, can see the world through his eyes, and discover empathy in ourselves and in our society.

I would also like to thank the Government for providing such a comprehensive response across five Ministries. I am glad to hear from Minister of State Sam Tan about our Government's progressive take towards retirement and re-employment. I take his point that the private sector needs time to get used to the recent changes.

At the same time, I would like to remind our seniors that their fate is largely in their own hands. There is no legal limit on when we can stop working, as long as there is demand for us. If seniors can ensure that their skillsets stay relevant, they will be prized for both their skills and wisdom over time.

Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and Senior Minister of State Amy Khor have shared excellent examples of how we can apply technologies to help our seniors. I look forward to continuous innovation from our Government.

I also deeply appreciate Minister Desmond Lee's promise to relook at the Urban Redevelopment Authority's developmental controls. More flexibility there can do wonders to provide much needed housing options, especially for our seniors living in private estates. Having said that, it is clear that the Ministry of National Development has done much to create new models of housing, especially for the public estates. That is well noted by the public.

I thank MSF for its progressive attitude towards encouraging companies to be family-friendly and pushing through the Tripartite Standard of FWA and for leveraging the workplace grant. I take MSF's point that companies need time to adjust and adapt before we can pursue further moves.

Until then, I appeal for more companies to apply FWAs to their employees who are caregivers. Loyalty goes both ways. When a company treats employees with compassion, the employees usually respond with passion.

On reverse mortgages, I take the point that companies have stopped offering this service and this is precisely why there is a gap, and this gap will grow. I hope that the private sector and the social sector can think hard about meeting this need.

I am also heartened by Senior Minister of State Amy Khor's point about confident ageing, and her progress update on the Action Plan for Successful Ageing. In many of the areas raised by my fellow MPs, MOH is either already piloting or is scaling up their existing programme. As the Action Plan continues to roll out, I appreciate Senior of Minister Amy Khor's openness to new ideas.

I also appreciate MOH's openness to explore strengthening CNS in the coming Budget and to conduct regular reviews of excellent healthcare financial programmes, such as CHAS.

I would also like to thank Minister Gan Kim Yong and Senior Minister of State Amy Khor for the Action Plan for Successful Ageing. It is a remarkable plan, the result of painstaking consultation involving more than 4,000 people. I hope the ideas discussed today will help strengthen our plan.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me now conclude our Motion. Some say that Singapore is too forward oriented from Day 1. Our founding Prime Minister was all of 36 when he steered a big ship called Singapore. And he was not the youngest one.

Since Day 1, we forced the future onto ourselves, in every dimension we can think of. When we were still a developing country, international experts said we could not afford the MRT system. But we went ahead anyway. We built whole industrial estates, before companies were interested in coming in. We were one of the few countries that invested in turning salt water to fresh water and used water to drinking water, in anticipation of our future water needs.

Often, our Pioneers made sacrifices to afford these projects. I think I understand why. Just like their personal sacrifices for their children, this is our seniors' way of saying to us, "we care for you, and we do the best for you”.

Now that we have comfortably crossed our first 50 years, we have passed a milestone. Singapore must continue to be future-oriented and continue to carry the torch that our founding fathers have passed on to them. Like the seniors before us, we owe it to our children a duty to build a bright future, sparkling with possibilities.

But we should also grow a deeper sense, an appreciation of legacy. We must build a Nation for All Ages with a healthy respect for legacy and experience, where our seniors age successfully, and in dignity. Only then, when we have done all these, can we say to our caring seniors, who built Singapore, "Do not worry. We got this covered. And we have you in our hearts." [Applause.]

Mr Deputy Speaker: Excellent speech, Mr Kwek, but a slight technicality. In future, please refer to your Parliamentary colleagues in a slightly formal way than calling them by their first names.

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry: Well noted, Deputy Speaker.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

"That this House recognises that seniors are a gift to our society, contributing to a wise and resilient Singapore, and calls on the Government to continue strengthening support for seniors to age with dignity and spearhead community efforts to create a society where they can thrive."