Ethos Issue 1, October 2006
Successful Ageing - A Review of
Singapore's Policy Approaches
Olivia Goh
The importance of seniors maintaining active
lifestyles continues to be emphasised, with efforts to encourage
healthy living, active lifestyles, social networks, lifelong
learning and strong family ties. In 2005, the Government committed
$20 million to the Golden Opportunities! (GO!) Fund, which
provides seed funding for programmes and activities promoting
different aspects of active ageing.
One key thrust of Singapore’s ageing
policies has been the social integration of seniors and inter-generational
cohesion. Strong families continue to be seen as the first
line of support for seniors. While children have the responsibility
to take care of their elderly parents, seniors can also contribute,
for example as active grandparents.
Recognising the need for work-life balance
in support of stronger family ties, the Government has introduced
pro-family practices in the workplace.8
Some policies also actively encourage inter-generational bonding
within families. These include the CPF Family Housing Grant,
priority for parents and married children buying new HDB flats
to live with or near each other, tax incentives for children
looking after aged parents and CPF top-ups among family members.
Cohesion and Conflict in an Ageing
Society: The Importance of Inter-Generational Bonding
In an ageing society, conflict could arise between the young
and the old. With the increasing number of nuclear families,
grandparents have fewer opportunities to interact with their
married children and grandchildren. Communication between
the two generations can be impeded by language barriers, since
many elderly speak only dialects while the young are more
comfortable speaking English. People will have to turn increasingly
to friends and community in their older years.
Inter-generational cohesion is therefore
important in ensuring that both the young and old do not see
each other as competitors for limited resources. The IMC had
proposed a review of policies that cater to two-generation
families and to extend them to three-generation families.
Since 1999, more emphasis has been placed on inter-generational
bonding, for example, by encouraging seniors to take on a
more active role in the family as grandparents and caregivers.
In July 2002, the Family Matters! Singapore Taskforce on Grandparenting
and Inter-generational Bonding was set up to promote activities
or events that foster interaction and bonding between people
of different generations, providing opportunities for older
and younger generations to interact and engage in meaningful
exchanges and learn from each other.9
Conclusion
Singapore has had a head start in meeting the challenges of
an ageing population. While much has been achieved over the
last five years since the publication of the 1999 IMC report,
more remains to be done before the baby boom generation reaches
65. To be effective, the Government must take an integrated
approach and encourage greater co-ordination and collaboration
between agencies. Equally important is the need for the community
to respond with the same level of commitment and to take ownership
of the issue of ageing. A positive and mature attitude towards
seniors and ageing, at all levels of society, will be necessary
for ageing policies to be truly successful.
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