With more Singaporeans crossing the age threshold of 65, the need for more, and more varied, eldercare options becomes more urgent.
In just the last decade, the proportion of households where all members were 65 and above doubled from 52,200 (4.6 per cent) in 2010 to 128,200 (9.3 per cent) in 2020. Many of these folks living independently would need the support of family members or part-time caregivers as they age.
If they need more medical attention or need help with daily needs, then nursing homes may be considered. But many Singaporeans prefer to age in place - or remain at home as they age.
According to a group of experts and people involved in eldercare planning issues, there is a need to consider and ramp up assisted living options. This was the conclusion of a roundtable I attended on April 18, organised by the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation (Light) from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore.
Assisted living refers to facilities that let elders live in home-like environments that they move around freely in, yet offer services like meals, housekeeping, laundry and medical care and supervision such as dressing of wounds and medication reminders.
A commentary from Light research assistant Chia Hui Xiang, and intern Gabriel Lee Dao Ning, described this as the problem of "the missing middle".
This refers to the inadequate range of care options for those who are not so sick as to need round-the-clock nursing home care; and not well enough to live independently in their own homes.
Right now, their options are limited.
Ageing at home
Those who are well enough to live independently at home but need some help can tap home care services now available islandwide, but these are limited.
There were 10,000 home care places in 2020, and 8,100 day care places.
A Duke-NUS Medical School study published in 2014 predicted that the number of elderly people requiring assistance for activities of daily living - such as washing, toileting, dressing, feeding and mobility - would rise from 31,738 in 2010 to 52,626 in 2020 and then 82,968 in 2030, reaching 7 per cent of Singapore's senior population.
With 10,000 home care places, that suggests a shortfall of over 40,000 seniors lacking trained help.
Many frail seniors choose to stay at home, cared for by their family members or domestic helpers.
Those who can live independently have more housing options these days, such as the two-room flexi flats on short-term leases offered by the Housing Board.
