CARE FOR THE AGED AND AGED SICK (Adequacy and co-ordination of services)

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Social Affairs (a) what was the total number of (i) aged persons, and (ii) aged sick persons maintained by the various charitable homes for each of the five years from 1969 to 1973; (b) whether he has any plan to organise more adequate services for these categories of people; and (c) if he will encourage and assist in the setting up of a National Association for the aged and the aged sick so as to coordinate efforts in this direction.

Mr Chan Chee Seng (for the Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, according to available records maintained by the Social Welfare Department, the total number of aged persons in the various charitable homes was as follows:- Year Number 1969 471 1970 467 1971 538 1972 608 1973 669

The total number of residents in the Woodlands Home for the Aged administered by the Social Welfare Department was:- Year Number 1969 375 1970 433 1971 437 1972 463 1973 564 There is no accurate record of the number of aged sick persons in the various charitable homes known to the Social Welfare Department. According to records maintained by these homes, the number of aged sick persons was as follows: - Year Number 1969 295 1970 316 1971 438 1972 436 1973 451 The only Government Chronic Sick Hospital has about 100 aged sick persons under its care.

The Member for Jalan Kayu will agree that caring for the aged and aged sick, as in all welfare efforts, must be a community responsibility involving both the efforts of the Government and the private sector. There is happily no lack of initiative from both these sectors in the planning and implementation of more adequate services for the aged and the aged sick. Although both the Government and voluntary welfare organisations do provide institutional care for the aged and the aged sick, this we recognise is, at best, only a poor substitute for family care. Recent developments in the Republic have been in the direction of establishing facilities and services which will encourage the aged as well as the able-bodied persons to continue living and participating in the community. In the planning of more adequate services for these categories of people therefore, both the Government and voluntary welfare organisations have borne in mind the need for a balanced approach and have taken steps both to improve facilities and increase accommodation in institutions for the aged as well as to introduce new services which will enable the continued participation of the aged in the community.

As far as Government effort is concerned, in addition to the construction of four new dormitories in the Woodlands Home for the Aged to accommodate a greater number of aged persons, the Department of Social Welfare is proposing the setting up of Area Social Welfare Centres in the various housing estates which will provide, among other services, the establishment of Old People's Clubs where the aged could have the opportunity of socialising with others, engaging in leisure activities and on the whole leading a more meaningful life.

In keeping with the new thinking not to isolate the aged from the community, the Government recognises the need to assist the aged to continue living with their families. The revised Income Tax laws which allow for tax relief for maintenance of aged parents and grandparents is one of the positive measures by the Government in this direction.

In the voluntary sector, the Singapore Council of Social Service is setting up a Home for the Aged at Mandai. A community Home for the Aged in a housing estate at Henderson Hill has been implemented successfully, and this has encouraged other efforts by the Singapore Council of Social Service to explore the possibility of establishing a paying hostel for old people at Housing and Development Board estates.

It is envisaged that with the longer life expectation which people now enjoy, the problem of the care of the aged will become more acute. There will, therefore, be necessity for the activities of the various organisations concerned with the care of the aged to be co-ordinated. It may not, however, be necessary to set up a National Association for the aged sick but to have such co-ordination done through existing facilities now available. It may be possible for the Council of Social Service whose objects are "to co-ordinate voluntary welfare activities in Singapore not only as between member organisations of the Council but also with other organisations" to undertake this function.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): Sir, would the Parliamentary Secretary please inform the House whether there is any intention to lay down minimum standards in the running of these homes, with particular regard to the health and medical care, and also to control the activities of some of these homes which are being run along commercial lines?

Mr Chan Chee Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, these are good suggestions, and we will give consideration to them.