Singapore‘s “Ageing in Place”

Eldercare
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Eldercare
The Ageing in Place policy in Singapore aims to empower the elderly to lead independent and comfortable lives in their homes and communities for as long as possible. The policy acknowledges that Ageing is a natural process that impacts individuals' physical and mental health, social connections, and financial well-being. As a result, the Ageing in Place policy offers a broad range of services and support to help seniors age with dignity and sustain their quality of life within their familiar surroundings (Ministry of Health, 2020).
The context of Singapore reveals four significant determinants of Ageing in place. These determinants are accessible public transport, social support networks, affordable housing, and adequate healthcare services. Firstly, the provision of affordable housing is a crucial determinant of Ageing in place in Singapore. The Housing Development Board (HDB) is the main organization that supplies public housing in the nation, presenting a variety of housing selections such as studio flats, two-room flats, three-room flats, and four-room flats. Through its Silver Housing Bonus Scheme, HDB provides affordable housing options for seniors who want to downsize to smaller HDB flats and use the incentives to support their retirement needs. The Silver Housing Bonus Scheme has significantly increased the number of seniors living in HDB flats in Singapore (Deng & Chan, 2019).
Secondly, adequate healthcare services are necessary for ageing in place in Singapore. The government has implemented various healthcare policies to ensure that seniors have access to affordable and quality healthcare. The Pioneer Generation Package offers older adults financial assistance for healthcare services, while the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) grants financial aid for primary healthcare services. These policies have improved Singapore's seniors' health outcomes (Lim et al., 2018).
Thirdly, social support networks are essential for ageing in place in Singapore. The government has implemented various policies to strengthen social support networks for seniors. The Senior Activity Centre (SAC) programme provides opportunities for seniors to participate in social and recreational activities. In contrast, the Silver Generation Office (SGO) programme provides social and healthcare services information. These programmes have reduced social isolation among seniors and improved their well-being (Teo et al., 2018).
Lastly, accessible public transport is crucial for ageing in place in Singapore. The government has implemented policies to improve public transport accessibility for seniors, such as the Silver Zones programme, which provides seniors with priority crossing times and more accessible pedestrian infrastructure. The Public Transport Council's (PTC) Senior Citizen Concession Scheme also provides seniors with discounted fares for public transport. These policies have enhanced the mobility of seniors in Singapore and reduced their reliance on private transport (Teo et al., 2018).
Two ageing-in-place initiatives in Singapore aim to meet the elderly's needs holistically. The Home Care Assistance (HCA) Programme is an initiative by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that provides home care services to seniors in Singapore (Lim et al., 2018). The programme aims to enable seniors to age...