Ageing in Place Initiatives in Singapore

Singapore Social Work: Elder Care
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Department of ABC, University – Whitewater
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Singapore Social Work: Elder Care
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), one in every four people will be over 65 by 2030. In other words, close to two million people will be in the elderly or senior category, a group in need of assisted living (MSF, 2022). This has created a need for investment into assisted living strategies that allow this group to age gracefully in places where physical, psychological, and social needs are catered for. In this view, the current paper discusses some of the most recent initiatives to holistically meet the elderly’ needs.
Initiative 1: IDeAL@115
With Singapore’s elderly population increasing, there is a need for assisted living facilities. Integrated Dementia (Home-based) Assisted Living (IDeAL@115) is among the most recent initiatives aiming to care for the elderly. IDeAL@115 was launched on March 5, 2022, in Kebun Baru as part of a larger pilot program through a partnership between local grassroots organizations and a social service agency for dementia (Raguraman, 2022). Located across four units on a block of rental flats in Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, the facility has a kitchen, an activity room, a telehealth room, a laundry area, and a garden.
Each of these spaces helps meet the social, physical, and psychological needs of the forty residents currently benefiting from the free pilot program. For instance, small group activities are usually organized in the activity room based on the residents’ interests. Tools like board games, IPad games, therapy, and gardening are provided to keep them engaged. The kitchen provides lunch and snacks based on professional recommendations, while assistive technologies are deployed to track falls and remotely monitor those with dementia. A telehealth room allows them access to remote consultations with health professionals. In essence, IDeAL@115 strives to create an environment where most elderly needs are met in the shortest time possible.
Initiative 2: Enhanced Home Improvement Plan (HIP) & Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Programs
As of July 2012, the Bukit Merah and Kallang/Whampoa towns hosted two HIP and EASE pilot programs to expand elderly-friendly features within flats. Besides SMS notificat...