Sunday, March 22, 2026
LPA申请趋年轻化 医生：20岁出头也订立
新明日报
2026-03-22
陈佳怡 报道
*LPA申请趋年轻化 医生：20岁出头也订立*
本地截至2月有超过40万国人订立持久授权书，受访医生表示，虽然60岁及以上长者居多，但也出现年轻化现象，有诊所的40岁及以下国人占10到15%，还有20岁出头的年轻人也来订立授权书。
本报日前报道，截至2月20日，已有约40万4000名新加坡公民订立持久授权书（Lasting Power of Attorney，简称LPA），约占公民人口七分之一。在65岁及以上公民中，已有19万7000人订立LPA，占约四分之一。
满21岁者可以申请LPA，申请表格分为两种，其中约98％公民使用表格一（Form 1），此表格免收费。签下持久授权书的授权人，可委任被授权人代为处理其福利与产业与财务事宜。表格二（Form 2）则根据个人需求定制授权范围，通常须由律师拟定更详细指示，收费也较高，公民须支付185元。填妥表格后，需要缴纳证明书签发人的费用。
记者向几名诊所询问，宏茂桥安医诊所（CareDoc Medical Clinic）家庭医生林企森受访时说，前来订立LPA的60岁及以上者占比最高，约60%到70%。“较年轻的人数有所增加，通常集中在30岁中期至40岁之间，约占10%，并且多是患有高血压或糖尿病等慢性疾病的群体。”
或与家中长辈观念有关
安德西药房和10点关怀的诊所主任蔡纯医生也说，申请LPA的人群主要为50岁至75岁，但近年来，年轻人数量有所增加。“40岁以下大概占10%到15%，以前几乎没有。有些是因父母或祖父母来订立，而他们是被授权人，所以也一起完成。”
相比去年和今年第一季度，安德西药房接到的LPA预约增幅为50%左右，10点关怀的则达98%增长。“两家诊所每日分别开放9到13个预约名额。”
Kingsway Health家庭诊所林优明表示，今年观察到年轻人也开始准备订立LPA，最年轻的20岁出头。“与去年相比，前来完成LPA的人数则增加了约60%。”
联益医疗家庭医生韩骁也说，前来订立LPA的申请者年龄从30岁到80多岁皆有。
“当中约10%在40岁以下。过去两年，这个比例变化不大。”
Phoenix Medical Group家庭医生曾伟杰说，订立LPA的申请人逾半数在60岁以上。“2月就处理了约10到15例。
有诊所预约满至4月初
价格低于30元的诊所证明书签发人，预约已数排满到4月初。
申请者可先上网查看最靠近住家的医生、精神科医生或律师。
记者日前查询，价格最便宜的全科诊所从24元起，一些在30元以内。不过，最早的看诊预约已排到4月初。
例如，收费30元的Kingsway Medical家庭诊所最早的预约排到4月10日。表格一的手续费原本仅豁免至3月底，林优明就说，整个3月的时段在3月初就被预订一空。
选择证明书签发人有什么考量？
证明书签发人可以是律师、医生或心理医生，要找谁视个人情况和需求。
赢必胜事务所是其中一家受委任的律所，旗下律师黄国彦受访时说，办理者该注意的是被委托的人是否也住在新加坡。“如果人在异国他乡，甚至只是隔着一条长堤的外国人，那么持久授权书的效力将大大降低，毕竟‘远水救不了近火’”。
他认为，选择证明书签发人时，对方要能够好好沟通并清楚解释LPA。“我们见过很多年长申请者因住家附近的家庭医生无法用华语或方言进行有效沟通，最后还是一知半解，只能来找我们咨询。”
他也说，律师在涉及的法律层面可以解释得更清楚，但只有医生才能证明申请者是否具备足够的心智能力。
“如果我们发现申请者心智不健全，我们会转介给医生处理。”
陈佳怡 报道
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Ageing: Singapore systems well prepared for ageing. Society? Less so
For subscribers
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/singapore-systems-well-prepared-for-ageing-society-less-so
2026-03-21
By--- Jeffery Tan is group general counsel of Jardine Cycle & Carriage. He is a senior accredited director of the Singapore Institute of Directors, serving on several boards.
=====
The letter from the CPF Board informed me I would soon be eligible to draw on my retirement savings. It was routine, even efficient. Yet I found myself holding it longer than necessary.
Sixty-five was an age that had always belonged to someone else – my parents’ generation, not mine. It was a number associated with retirement speeches and farewell lunches, with the gradual stepping away from the centre of things. Yet here it was, addressed to me.
Ageing does not arrive all at once. It accumulates in the quiet spaces of our lives, until one day, old age introduces itself formally.
On paper, Singapore has prepared remarkably well for ageing. CPF LIFE provides lifelong income. MediShield Life ensures access to affordable healthcare. Our public housing and transport systems are being steadily “silver-proofed”. But there is growing friction between the narrative of our evolving high-tech infrastructure and the lived experience of the person using it.
And yet, every day brings a new subtle indignity. Banks often hold us up as the primary “face” of scam victims – well-intentioned warnings that inadvertently paint a target on our backs and fuel a narrative of helplessness. Workplaces, obsessed with “young blood”, sometimes give the impression that they cannot wait to phase us out, regardless of our competence and experience.
Today, one in five Singaporeans is over 65 – hardly a minority that can be swept under the carpet. They will be a defining segment of society. How it sees them and includes them will shape the character of our nation.
When progress outpaces inclusion
When my parents’ generation turned 65 in the late 1990s, the world did not demand they relearn the mechanics of daily life. The telephone, the bank teller, and the clinic functioned as they had for decades. Familiarity provided stability. Today, ageing requires a relentless, exhausting adaptation. We authenticate our very existence through face verification and navigate portals designed for the “default” user: someone young, fast, and tech-fluent.
When a senior needs help with a “routine” digital task, the loss of independence is a blow to the ego, says the writer. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
A 2023 Infocomm Media Development Authority survey found that while 80 per cent of seniors aged 60 and above use smartphones, a significant gap remains in navigating complex digital services. For my generation, the downsides of ageing – failing eyesight, loss of fine motor skills, and the anxiety of “pressing the wrong button” – are not just medical issues; they are barriers to making financial transactions, accessing healthcare and using public services.
A 2025 Singapore study highlights a damaging irony: Despite our eagerness to learn, there is a persistent “digital ageism” in design. We are told to “upskill”, yet the apps themselves are rarely built to accommodate cognitive or sensory changes. When a senior needs help with a “routine” digital task, the loss of independence is a blow to the ego. We have created a world where independence is now conditional upon a password reset. The ever-increasing sophistication of bad actors using deepfakes that perpetuate fraud – manipulating even the likeness of the country’s top political leaders – serves to only make many seniors feel like deer caught in the headlights.
Meritocracy’s blind spot
Singapore’s success rests on meritocracy – the idea that effort, ability and performance determine opportunity. It has propelled the nation forward with extraordinary results.
But meritocracy, as practised, carries an unspoken bias. It favours speed, adaptability and upward momentum. Consider the standard job description today, seeking “digital natives” who are “dynamic” and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Rarely do job postings include language for qualities that deepen with age like judgment, perspective and restraint. The message received is that youth is associated with potential, whereas age is mistakenly lumped together with a sense of diminishing relevance.
Little wonder then that people feel a strong sense of injustice, which plays out most keenly in the workplace. A 2022 Institute of Policy Studies survey found that one in four workers aged 50 and above reported experiencing age discrimination. Globally, the World Health Organization has warned that ageism is pervasive globally, with economic and social consequences.
In Singapore, its effects are particularly paradoxical. We have created one of the healthiest, longest-living populations in history. Yet we have not fully adjusted to what it means to fully value longer lives.
We must dispel the myth of the “helpless” senior. Currently, public policy often frames the elderly as recipients of care – passive consumers of healthcare and subsidies. This is out of touch with the reality that many Singaporeans in their 60s are the backbone of the “informal economy”, mentoring young colleagues, volunteering in their communities, or providing childcare for grandchildren. Their contributions may not always be captured in economic statistics, but they are no less real. They seek recognition, not just accommodation.
Even the way we “protect” seniors can be harmful. The constant focus on elder scams, for instance, can lead to “internalised ageism” – a form of learnt helplessness where seniors become too terrified to use digital tools at all. Instead of a campaign showing a senior being saved by a youth, why not one where a senior’s experience spots a sophisticated financial anomaly that a “fast” younger person missed?
More On This Topic
Ageing without worry: Some lessons from Australia
Old enough to collect CPF, but still young enough to find love?
A good example of this relates to a widely reported Ponzi scheme. Seasoned financial analyst Harry Markopolos became deeply sceptical of the reported returns at Bernie Madoff’s investment firm – one that promised consistent, high returns that defied normal market behaviour.
Using his understanding of financial mathematics and decades of experience, Mr Markopolos concluded in just four minutes that Madoff’s numbers were mathematically impossible – and after hours of follow-up work, he believed he had definitively proven the operation was clearly a Ponzi scheme – something that was missed by many younger analysts and regulators.
Although Mr Markopolos first identified irregularities in the early 2000s, what’s often overlooked is that he continued his forensic work well into his 60s – and remained active in uncovering financial irregularities later in life.
The invisibility of old age
Recently, a younger friend described someone as “still sharp” at 65. She meant it kindly. Yet the word “still” lingered. It implied that decline is the default and competence is the exception. Psychologists note that this “micro-ageism” leads to social exclusion and depression. When we feel invisible, we begin to act invisible.
Singapore has done the hard work of preparing structurally for an ageing population. With foresight, we have strengthened pensions, expanded healthcare and redesigned infrastructure. But the “soft work” of the future requires a cultural shift: for employers to comprehend how to leverage experience as a strength, for institutions to design policies with inclusion in mind from the start, and for society to wholeheartedly reject the assumption that age diminishes relevance.
The true measure of Singapore’s success will not be how long we live but whether as we live longer, we remain seen, valued and able to contribute. And that it is not always us who must bend to the demands of a striving society but for society to look at ways of including us instead.
Jeffery Tan is group general counsel of Jardine Cycle & Carriage. He is a senior accredited director of the Singapore Institute of Directors, serving on several boards.
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‘Too young to retire’ – that’s a little personal, isn’t it?
Expect doubts and regrets when switching jobs in your 40s
LPA: Forum: Consider government institutional donee option for LPA
Forum: Consider government institutional donee option for LPA
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-consider-government-institutional-donee-option-for-lpa
2026-03-20
The recent move to make Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) applications permanently free has made it easier for citizens to plan ahead in the event that they lose mental capacity. However, one practical challenge remains for some Singaporeans – identifying a suitable donee.
Many individuals today are single or part of couples without children. In such cases, appointing a friend of similar age may not provide long-term assurance. Professional donee services offered by private organisations can also be costly. One organisation quoted my wife and me a set-up fee of $4,000 a person. There were also other associated charges such as an annual fee and activation fee.
At the same time, Singapore’s demographics are changing. More people are remaining single, family sizes are smaller, and the number of seniors living alone is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Dementia cases are also projected to rise as the population ages. These trends suggest that an increasing number of Singaporeans may not have an obvious individual to appoint as their LPA donee.
One possible solution is the creation of a government institutional donee option.
Under such a model, citizens could continue appointing their own personal donee, such as a spouse or trusted individual. However, those without suitable options could choose a government-managed institutional donee.
Couples without children could nominate each other as donees while opting for a government institutional replacement donee should both parties lose mental capacity. Single individuals could appoint the institutional donee directly.
Such a system would provide continuity and safeguards through structured governance and oversight. It could also reduce reliance on court deputyship processes while giving Singaporeans greater confidence that their affairs will be managed responsibly if they lose mental capacity.
A pilot programme could be considered to study demand, operational requirements and safeguards before any broader implementation.
Strengthening the LPA framework in this way could help ensure that all Singaporeans – including singles and couples without children – have a reliable option to safeguard their future decisions.
Gary Yeo
More On This Topic
Forum: What readers are saying
Friday, March 20, 2026
陈智成：555
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/lifestyle/columns/story20260318-8737413?utm_source=android-share&utm_medium=app
2026-03-18
那天第一次走入离家不远的一家超市，劈头就听到吊顶的广播，一直重复着这样的警世通言：
我们从小，家里爸妈，学校老师，就教导我们，偷东西是不对的……。我推想现今超市一定老是有人顺手牵羊，被偷得够呛，才出此下策。听着觉得有点啼笑皆非。接着莫名就想起555。
旧时代的邻里杂货店比之今日的超市，确实多了许多人情味，最温馨的是一本555对顾客的那份信任与通融。
我小时候被差遣去杂货店打点煤油籴点米，可以没钱，但至切要记得带上那本母亲搁在抽屉里的小本子。那小本子封面没写着是记事簿，而是印上555的标志。里头记录某年月日向杂货店买了什么应付多少钱。打了油秤了米，杂货店老板接过555，拿笔直接在上面记下数目，就可以走了。
少不更事我开始好奇，那555到底是何法宝，买东西还可以用来代替钱。母亲为我解惑，那是赊账的记录。不是买东西不用给钱，是先欠着，等父亲月底领了工资，才有钱去结账。那上面记的柴米油盐酱醋茶我大略能辨，就是符号〡〢〣〤〥〦〧〨〩我没看懂。母亲说那些符号就是对应阿拉伯数字123456789。长大了才知道那叫“苏州码子”；长大了也才知道那个时候我们家就是名副其实属于现代网络语言说的“月光族”。如果没有杂货店允许赊账，如果没有那本555，日子大概是过不去的。
往后我还发现父亲也有一本555，平日塞裤袋里带着。起先我以为那是父亲自己专用，买东西赊账的记录。有一天，我打开父亲的那本555，却原来，里头记录的不是买东西欠下多少钱，而是老板和伙计之间的账目。一日十元，超时另加。累积几天，给了若干，尚欠多少。啊！有工作的日子，天天早出晚归，原来还可以过得那么拮据。
60年代初的动荡时代，加之马印对抗，市井萧条得活儿只剩打苍蝇。父亲那本555连工资都记不上了。父亲照常早出晚归，和一大班苦力同事，天天集聚在咖啡店等工作。一整天一整天地枯等，等得无聊，就聚赌起来。聚赌有输赢，但是大家都没钱。父亲那本555，又开始记录了某年月日我欠谁若干，谁又欠我多少。焦虑从没工作一下子代入到输多赢少。
有一晚，父亲夜归，我被母亲的哭闹声惊醒。黑暗中父亲对着斗室唯一的窗口猛抽烟。母亲一面嘶喊，一面捏着两本555，歇斯底里地晃。我认得一本是母亲赊来的柴米油盐，一本是父亲的工资变赌债。那年我5岁，开始明白555里记录的那些“苏州码子”，缩写的尽是贫贱夫妻百事哀。
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