Along with Japan, Singapore is one of the most rapidly ageing societies in Asia.
Currently, around 15% of Singapore’s population are aged 65 and older. By 2030, this is expected to increase to 25%.
This is one of the reasons the authorities have set up new polyclinics around the country, to ensure that there will be affordable and accessible health for older residents who need treatment.
However, the sad fact is that it’s not just medical services that older folks will need, but a place to stay as well.
7 More Nursing Homes to Be Built Over the Next 2 Years
This is why the authorities are planning to build seven more nursing homes over the next two years.
These new homes will be in residential areas where possible – likely in housing estates such as Punggol and Tampines – so that it’d be more convenient for family members to visit residents of these homes.
Speaking to The Straits Times, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it’s conducting land surveys for these new homes in sites such as :
- Tampines South
- Punggol Field
- Tanjong Katong Road
- Hougang Avenue 3
- Yishun Avenue 6
- Aljunied Walk
- Chin Cheng Avenue in Eunos
- Bidadari
On top of these seven homes, eight homes have been set up between 2016 and 2020, bringing the total number to 77.
Since 2015, the health ministry has also added 4,000 nursing home beds, as well as 4,600 daycare and 3,100 home care places.
In total, there are 16,221 nursing home beds across the country.
MP: We Shouldn’t Institutionalise Our Elderly
Earlier this year, Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon noted that there are more nursing home facilities for elderly folks now, but said we should still care for our seniors in the community.
“…what we want to do is make sure that we don’t entrench our elderly in institutions as they age,” he said.
By caring for them in the community, they can have an active social support network which will improve their emotional and physical well-being.
“It’s more important to make sure that they age in place, and also have good health in order to carry on a meaningful life in their golden years,” he added.
Ageing Should Not Be Seen as a Bad Thing
Ageing should also be viewed as something of a positive force, not a thing to be feared, Ms Charlene Chang, MOH’s group director of the Ageing Planning Office said in a webinar in March this year.
As she noted, life expectancy has gone up from 82.8 years to 84.9 years from 2010 to 2019. In the same period, health-adjusted life expectancy has also gone up from 72.8 years to 74.5 years.
“We want to do more to further increase these healthy life years… We want to not just add years to our life, but we also want to add life to our years,” she said.
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