Part 1: Understanding the 'The Elderly Challenge'

1 a) Housing for the elderly
Singapore should be a place that makes the elderly feel at home and encourages them to be part of the community. Singapore will have more houses built with a wide range of options to suit the elderly occupant, together with a decent caretaker.

  b) Better accessibility
Singapore will be making modifications so as to allow the elderly to access more places so that they can move around with more convenience and this is a form of exercise, which will therefore keep the elderly happy and healthy.

  c) Providing care for seniors
The elderly will have access to various efficient, affordable and easily accessible healthcare and eldercare services addressing all the elderly's different needs, allowing them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

  d) Creating more opportunities
The elderly need to lead healthy lives. For this, they will have buddies and should be involved in community activities. They will be able to socialise more and therefore others will have more positive attitudes towards them.

2) They are going to build a barrier-free environment to allow the elderly to live independently and continue engaging actively in the society. Unhindered access to various places - from homes to public amenities, communal and recreational facilities will be needed for such an enabling environment. It will give them access to the different public transport systems and therefore further benefit the few vehicles that have been adapted to be elderly friendly.


3a) The government will top up the Medisave accounts of the poorer Singaporeans when there are budget surpluses that the government can share with the people. This will help to pay for healthcare costs as Singaporeans depend on their Medisave accounts to meet their healthcare needs in their old age.


b) The elderly should receive care from family physicians as they play an important role in the management of healthcare needs for seniors. This will ensure that the elderly's many needs will be comprehensively taken care of.


4) I can help by helping seniors to cross the road by supporting them, giving up my seat when they come on the bus, or even helping them to pick up things that they drop. I can also go to community centres to talk to them.