Meaningful activities for seniors in nursing homes

MOH's Reply

The Straits Times, 11 June 2016

Meaningful Activities for Seniors in Nursing Homes 

We share Mr Ng Qi Siang's views on the need for meaningful activities for our seniors ("Improve eldercare facilities to promote dignified ageing"; Tuesday).

Our nursing homes engage their seniors in a variety of meaningful activities, in line with the Ministry of Health's Enhanced Nursing Home Standards.

Nursing homes have to provide safe care, as well as preserve the dignity of residents and address their psychosocial well-being.

The Agency for Integrated Care's (AIC) Wellness Programme aims to improve the well-being and quality of life of seniors by increasing the range of social programmes in the community care sector.

Close to 200 staff from more than 40 organisations, including nursing homes, have been trained to facilitate visual arts, creative movement and taiji activities.

These activities help to improve strength and mobility, and promote a sense of achievement through learning something new.

AIC will also partner the National Arts Council to bring more arts-based activities to the sector.

Nursing homes have also engaged volunteers in organising activities for residents, such as excursions.

Corporate sponsors also donate their time and resources to enhance the activities in nursing homes, such as a movie screening at Ling Kwang Home for Senior Citizens.

We welcome more of such generous contributions.

We are also working with nursing homes to encourage greater independence and autonomy for our seniors.

For instance, we are piloting "cluster living" design in Ren Ci's upcoming facility in Ang Mo Kio, where residents share a common living and activity space within a smaller cluster of beds to promote independence and interaction, yet not disrupting the monitoring and care of patients.

We agree with Mr Ng that there should be lifelong learning opportunities for our seniors.

As part of the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, we recently launched the National Silver Academy (NSA), which will provide more than 10,000 learning places in more than 500 courses for seniors aged 50 years and above.

The NSA aims to enable seniors to pursue learning in diverse areas for interest and to stay active.

Seniors will receive subsidies for short courses offered by post-secondary education institutions (PSEIs) and community-based organisations.

In addition, SkillsFuture Credit can be used on top of existing government course subsidies to pay for approved skills-related courses.

Seniors may also apply for exam-free modules offered by PSEIs for a token fee. Seniors can find out more about the courses on the NSA website (www.nsa.org.sg).

Lim Bee Khim (Ms)

Director, Corporate Communications

Ministry of Health

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Forum Letter

The Straits Times, 7 June 2016

Improve eldercare facilities to promote dignified ageing

Many netizens have argued that nursing homes are "second best" choices compared with caring for the elderly at home.

Arguably, this may be due to deficiencies in the way eldercare is conducted in Singapore.

In its 2014/15 Annual Report, the Lien Foundation ran a comparative study on eldercare facilities in Japan and Singapore.

It found that while Japanese facilities emphasisedthe autonomy, individuality and dignity of the elderly, facilities in Singapore often deprive the elderly of their privacy, freedom and possessions.

Japanese homes also tend to give the elderly meaningful activities to pass the time, while Singapore facilities, according to the report, "practise paternalism and engage (the elderly) in activities that do not serve any purpose".

Consequently, instead of being seen as places where the elderly can enjoy a meaningful retirement, nursing homes here are considered places of stagnation and shame.

Singaporeans are, hence, reluctant to rely on them, as they feel that such places are not conducive for their elderly loved ones.

Clearly, more than merely improving the physical quality of these facilities, Singapore should consider how to run these organisations to facilitate dignified ageing.

The Government and tertiary institutions should collaborate to extend lifelong learning opportunities to the elderly.

While continuing education in Singapore is typically associated with utilitarian aims, it is also about enriching the mind and soul. It also keeps the elderly cognitively sharp and wards off degenerative diseases.

The elderly should, therefore, be allowed to use their remaining SkillsFuture credits to pursue modules at universities. Academics could also be encouraged to visit eldercare facilities to teach specially designed courses to the elderly there.

Such initiatives are not only enriching but also possess significant symbolic value as an act of gratitude to our pioneers, many of whom gave up education opportunities to build our nation.

Moreover, the elderly should be allowed more autonomy over their lives.

Rather than having to follow paternalistic fixed programmes, they should be allowed to make decisions for themselves, as long as these do not endanger themselves or others.

Consequently, instead of infantilising the elderly, this would allow them to maintain their dignity as autonomous human beings.

Our pioneer generation sacrificed much to achieve today's economic miracle. We should give them a dignified retirement befitting their contributions to Singapore.

Ng Qi Siang