Ageing population influences policy formulation as far healthcare and taxes are concerned. There are debates that the Japanese government is not doing enough in anticipation of the fast ageing population and its repercussion on the Japan’s already suffering economy and society. Japan's health-care costs are creeping up along with the number of elderly -- reaching an estimated 8 percent of GDP in 2005, compared with 4.4 percent 40 years earlier. More than 40 percent is related to patients aged 70 or over.
And experts say local governments are not planning enough new nursing care centers or recruiting helpers to meet predicted needs.
Other ageing nations will be watching closely to see how far the heavily indebted government can rein in costs especially as the number of elderly in Japan creeps up with projections that 40 percent of the population will be aged 65 and over by 2055.
Although the situation of Singapore’s ageing population is not as serious compared to that of Japan, we are fast catching up if nothing is done to address the problem. It is almost inevitable that Singapore will dwarf the steps of Japan given our falling birth rate and ageing population from the Baby Boomers. One of the problems faced by Japan is the issue on “Social Hospitals”, where elderly were being kept at hospitals just because there is no one to take care of them, depriving those with a true need of a hospital bed. Perhaps the Singapore government saw this coming and hence the new policy put in place as spoken during the national rally this year.
In retrospect, do you think the government has done enough to address the immediate concerns faced by our imminent ageing population? If not, why so?
Sources: http://www.mcys.gov.sg/successful_ageing/Report.html
http://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/agingjapan
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14 comments:
Suish: I am reading the article this morning on the healthcare initiatives starting in Bukit Panjang. I believe Singapore is trying to move healthcare for the elderly and they need not pay any membership. Yeah!! But a point to note: How long do you guys think such initiative will take to put in place in all areas of Singapore.
Quoted from Today Newspaper:
"To help senior citizens stay healthy, a Senior Wellness Centre - which was officially opened yesterday by the Transport Minister - has been set up at the Bukit Panjang Community Centre. Funded by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, the wellness centre - which includes a garden spa - aims to provide a wide range of lifestyle activities."
to much extend, i feel that the Singapore govt has done much in comparison to what other countries have done, partly due to the fact that Singapore is a small country and that it's policies and implementation can be done quite efficiently. As highlighted by 'Sushi' in the comment above, these are just some of the efforts the govt is putting in, in anticipation of our surge in the ageing population in less than a decade's time where the boomers reached the age of 65. So, I guess as far as I can see in the near future, the government has done its part. -- Mr K.K. Lee
Thanks Sushi and Mr Lee for your comments, especially for Sushi's Quote from Today's. Much appreciated! I agree to Mr Lee to some extent that the Singapore government has done what it could in efforts to stem repurcussions arising from the ageing population. But how about issues like rising healthcare costs, shortages of hospital beds, lack of insurance coverage, especially amongst the seniors? Could there be something which the authroities can do or could have done?
--SG Healthcare Blogger
Suish: I read from the papers lately, there's many articles on parents being 'ditched' in the old folks' home. It's very sad and upseting. I am hoping that we could do something to make sure that the elderly are treated fairly. Maybe more efforts to recruit them at reputable workplaces?
May: Yes yes. I agree. Singapore is already such a small country. We definitely is able to solve such ageing problem. Recruitment, more insurance coverage, more efforts to bond the families could be ways to help the elderly.
J: Everybody needs love and care. Perhaps the media could help in this area, put more emphasis on love and care for the elderly group.
"How do you ask the correct questions so policy makers can begin to rethink some of these fundamental questions (of staying helathy and hence staying out of hospitals)?"
Such were the questions posted by Dr Chris Lien from Changi General Hospital at atr panel discussion on mergency challenges for research and policy for the aged in Singapore.
This was taken from an atricle titled "Hoping for a Change" by Neo Chai Chin on TODAY (14th Sept 09).
In response to this, Vivian Balakrishnan "acknowledged the need for a system that incentivies treating patients as a whole", perhaps an indication that the Government is seriously looking into this area now, though much has been done in the past few years with fruitsof labour yet evident.
-- Rapheal
I saw this article which Rapheal mentioned too and thought that the Government's efforts should be applaud!
The article highlighted that fact there many initiatives are in place. For instance, the Tsao Foundation Ageing Research Initiative (ARI) was launched 2 days ago (on 1st Sept 09) at NUS where the foundation donated $750,000, with the Singapore Government matching this amount, for the need of primary healthcare systems where fears of loss of aged's independence will be addressed.
--- Jessica
By the way, adding on to what Jessica has said, part of the $750,000 donated by the Tsao will be allocated for research purposes. Researchon elderly healthcare. One cannot help the elderly unless attention and research is being valued, something that the Tsao and the Government is looking into, which spells good news for our aged population. (Mr K.K. Lee)
I think that the government should once again (not that I've known of) promote people to give birth as well, so that the ratio will be well mixed in the country.
raphael... so true! it's abt asking the right questions to stimulate introspection. as well as prodding the policy makers to ACTIONS. in reality, there are so many unreported cases of suicide and public behavioral probs tt i come across..... it only makes me think S'poreans are too stressed out. and increasingly, we r witnessing behavioural probs in public committed by the elderly.
juz to add dat the increase is esp. acute partly because of the recession, abandonment of elderly... more senior citizens r affected mentally. behavioural problems cant solely be remedied by pills.
hey all, just to share sth I read this morning in TODAY's newspapers: "A HELPING HAND FOR THE ELDERLY WHO SHOP FOR GROCERIES" A number of 250 needy elderly was accompanied by 300 volunteers fr CDAC and NTUC Fairprice as part of CDAC's Project Care initiative. "The elderly were given a $30 NTUC shopping voucher. The project, which started in 2007, also teaches them how to read food labels." Personally, I feel that it's a very good initiative, although we may have the upcoming ageing population issue, but they are an asset to our country. With sufficient help and aid for them, i'm sure they could shine too.
Hi, There's a new co-operative aimed at the needs of the elderly in Singapore will be launched soon. It is to engage them in ad-hoc jobs while addressing their social concerns at the same time. It is called The Silver Co-op, to be launched by Central Singapore, North East and South East Community Development Councils. It is an initiative to help the elderly.
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