Aging Population (Singapore)
The Life expectancy in Singapore has increased steadily by roughly 30% in the past 50 years—from 60 years at birth in 1960 to 80 years at birth in 2010. (Statistics Singapore, 2010) Since the last quarter of the twentieth century, the rise in life expectancy has been accompanied by a downward trend in fertility which results in an aging population. Similar to many developing countries with aging populations, aging populations indisputably brings challenges.
The Government has many plans and policies in preparing our nation for the inevitable aging population – One of such policies implemented by the government is to ensure that everyone in the society to play a part. Where one should at least ensure that their basic needs are well taken care of. The government will be rolling out a pilot wellness programme next year announced in 2007 September. Such program is to get older Singaporeans to stay fit and healthy so that they can have better prospects for employment. (Low, 2007)
The government have since deployed a few policies to ease the aging process. Firstly, almost 70% of Singaporean stays in HDB. Thus with regards to public housing, the government is working closely together with HDB and the Town Councils to bring accessibility to all environment focusing mainly on HDB estate. The government hopes to achieve a “Barrier Free Accessibility” to all living estate by 2011. Some of these features include making sure that wheelchair bounded citizens could move around effortlessly in their apartment and around the estate. The size of the bathroom also must take into consideration as wheelchair should be able to fit and the user can move easily. On top of that, senior citizen friendly features like railing or siren should be provided for Old Folks specialized flats or flats with senior citizens.
Furthermore, the government has been working with HDB to upgrade Lift of older flats where lifts do not stop at every level. The Lift Upgrading Programme policy has been in
The Government has many plans and policies in preparing our nation for the inevitable aging population – One of such policies implemented by the government is to ensure that everyone in the society to play a part. Where one should at least ensure that their basic needs are well taken care of. The government will be rolling out a pilot wellness programme next year announced in 2007 September. Such program is to get older Singaporeans to stay fit and healthy so that they can have better prospects for employment. (Low, 2007)
The government have since deployed a few policies to ease the aging process. Firstly, almost 70% of Singaporean stays in HDB. Thus with regards to public housing, the government is working closely together with HDB and the Town Councils to bring accessibility to all environment focusing mainly on HDB estate. The government hopes to achieve a “Barrier Free Accessibility” to all living estate by 2011. Some of these features include making sure that wheelchair bounded citizens could move around effortlessly in their apartment and around the estate. The size of the bathroom also must take into consideration as wheelchair should be able to fit and the user can move easily. On top of that, senior citizen friendly features like railing or siren should be provided for Old Folks specialized flats or flats with senior citizens.
Furthermore, the government has been working with HDB to upgrade Lift of older flats where lifts do not stop at every level. The Lift Upgrading Programme policy has been in
References: Anon [Online] SBS Transit to Introduce Singapore’s First Wheelchair Accessible Low-Floor Superbus Retrieved September 11, 2010 from http://www.comfortdelgro.com.sg/files/press/attachment/151.pdf Anon [Online] Life Expectancy at Birth Retrieved September 11, 2010 from http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/charts/demoind.html#demoA Lim, H., & Low, B. (2010, August). [Online] Older MRT stations retrofitted with barrier-free facilities Retrieved September 11, 2010 from http://app.lta.gov.sg/forum_replies_content.asp?start=hcd9pv36xjnqy3544qk6lfk2ztjio220vwuyt5h9jc7mi30630 Low, LC. (2007, September). [Online] Retrieved September 11, 2010 from http://www.youth.sg/content/view/3411/