June 21, 2007
Family offers 'lowest cost' way for elderly care
By Radha Basu
FAMILY members looking after the elderly with some community support is the 'lowest-cost option' for any society grappling with an ageing population, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng said yesterday.Mr Lim, who is overseeing ageing issues, was briefing reporters on lessons gleaned from his recent study trip to Japan, where one-fifth of the population are aged above 65.
Singapore too is facing a rapidly greying society. The elderly, Mr Lim said, should be kept at home wherever possible. He noted that Japan had some residential care facilities for the old, with one employee for every two residents. But they were costly. He also felt it was the 'duty' of the family to look after their old. 'Payment cheapens the care family members give,' he said, when asked whether caregivers should be given more financial help to keep the elderly at home rather than in institutions.
However, he conceded that some old people needed more care than others.
SOURCE: appmfagovSg
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Elderly care - Who should be responsible of aged care? The continuing debate. Although the article was published last year, I wonder whether progress has been made in the important issue of aged care.
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