Support new facilities for seniors: PM Lee Hsien Loong

They will benefit everyone; govt plans only part of solution, he says

By Robin Chan, The Straits Times, 1 Oct 2012

TWO days after plans were unveiled for more facilities for senior citizens to be built across Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged residents to support them, saying that they would ultimately benefit everyone.

But he also stressed that such government programmes can be only part of the solution to the challenge posed by an ageing population, and called on Singaporeans to do their part in taking care of seniors.

"I ask you all please support these plans, because they are for ourselves, for our own families, for the old people in our families, and for ourselves one day when we grow old - because one day we will all grow old," he said at a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration held by his Teck Ghee ward last night.



The Government announced last Friday that more than 100 facilities for seniors would be built within communities over the next three years at a cost of $500 million.

The plan is for every neighbourhood to have its own facilities for the elderly, to cater to a population in which one in every five people will be above the age of 65 in 20 years' time.

These facilities will complement ongoing moves by the Government to make housing estates more wheelchair-friendly, and to help people cope with health-care costs, such as through the Silver Housing Bonus.

But the building of facilities for the seniors has been met with protests from residents who are worried over their effect on property values or who want the space for other purposes. Several cases of such "not-in-my-backyard" (Nimby) syndrome in estates like Bishan and Toh Yi have sparked national debate over the issue.

While Mr Lee did not mention this directly last night, he appeared to have it in mind, when he urged Singaporeans to involve seniors in their communities.

Government programmes were only part of the solution, he said; families also have to take the responsibility to help the elderly age with dignity and peace of mind.

"Each family has to take care of the old folks because the Government cannot do this just alone," he said. "We have to take care of ourselves individually, as our families, so that we can grow old with families, with relations intact and with our health... then we can be a healthy, balanced community which is working well for Singaporeans."

Last night, Mr Lee and his wife Ho Ching watched several performances and viewed lantern displays at the celebration held at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

It drew more than 2,000 residents, including families with elderly members, some of whom could be seen holding brightly-lit lanterns or lighting candles.

One of them was Mrs Rose Tan, 68, who noted that facilities for the elderly located in the community allowed the older folk to have "fellowship and pass the time".

Finance manager Joseph Lee, 39, agreed.

The father of two, whose parents live with him, said: "We definitely need these facilities, because it will provide some kind of security and convenience for my parents if they are near where we live."

Grassroots leader Vasanithathevi Mohan, 58, expressed confidence that she would not see any Nimby cases in her neighbourhood.

Said the residents' committee member and Teck Ghee Indian Activities Executive Committee vice-chairman: "I have spoken to some residents and they agree that we need them."