It is a matter of options and affordability

18 Feb 2009, The Newpaper

Question

Name of the Person: Raymond Anthony Fernando

It is a matter of options and affordability

I am deeply disappointed that Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has suggested that elderly Singaporeans who fall sick could choose to live in nursing homes in Johor Baru where costs are lower.

Although placing these elderly folks in JB nursing homes is an option open to Singaporeans, the signals that are being sent clearly shows a lack of compassion for our senior citizens.

It appears that when you are old and grey, nobody wants you, and this really saddens me.

Many senior citizens who suffer from chronic illnesses are isolated, and fall into depression.

History has clearly shown that a number of them lose the will to live when their children abandon them.

How is care giving in Singapore to be taken to a higher level when our sickly elderly are asked to live outside their country – a place where they had toiled with their blood, sweat and tears?

What messages are we sending to the young at a time when the Government wants to promote volunteering and caring society?

Though it is a difficult task, care giving should be promoted, as it is a noble job.

If millions of dollars are being spent to build casinos, why can’t some money be invested to build affordable nursing homes in Singapore?

Moreover, the massive traffic jams at the Causeway and worries about security in JB have to be taken into account.

Thus, institutionalizing old folks in nursing homes in JB is not a viable option.

Reply

Reply from MOH 

Mr Raymond Fernando felt that "Placing old folks in JB nursing homes (is) not a viable option" (TNP, 16 Feb 09).  He felt disappointed that the Health Minister should make such a suggestion.  Actually, my Minister's observation about the different cost structures in JB and Singapore and that the nursing homes there, besides many other services, were already catering to some Singaporeans, has been unfortunately spun out of context.

How the elderly sick should be looked after is something for the family to resolve.  All elderly would like to age at home, in the company of their loved ones.  The vast majority of the elderly Singaporeans live with their children under the same roof and we commend and encourage this. 

But a small minority of the elderly do fall sick, some require a few days or weeks of hospital care, while others need a few weeks, or even months of nursing home care.  We promote home nursing, but in some cases this is just not practical for care givers who need to work.

For the low income group who require nursing home care, heavy Government subsidy ensures that their nursing home needs in Singapore are affordable.  Charities also come in to supplement where appropriate.

For the higher income group, they have choices.  Most use local nursing homes, but some find it useful to cross borders to stretch their retirement savings.  We don't think these people would welcome any move to stop them from exercising that choice. In fact, is there a need to?  Indeed, my Minister's comments arose out of the many requests to allow their Medisave to be used for cheaper hospital care in neighbouring countries. 

Nursing homes are NOT homes for the aged where the elderly are abandoned by the children.  Mr Fernando is a well-known caregiver who never gives up on his loved one.  This is a value which our society should celebrate and emulate.