Daily Lessons from Life 09 February 2012 - Educate public on need for social services

"Educate public on need for social services: Chan Chun Sing - CNA 09 February 2012

SINGAPORE - More social services are needed as Singapore's population ages and demands evolve.

Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Chan Chun Sing, said this on the sidelines of a seminar on Thursday.

Mr Chan said the government will need to share and educate the public on such needs.

His comments came after residents in Woodlands and Toh Yi objected to proposals to build elderly-friendly facilities in their neighbourhood.

Earlier this month, residents of two Woodlands HDB blocks were up in arms over the proposed construction of an elder day-care centre at the void decks of Blocks 860 and 861 at Woodlands Street 83.

And on Wednesday evening, some residents of Toh Yi Drive shared the same sentiment when they petitioned against plans to build a studio apartment block for the elderly near their homes.

The residents are also concerned about the loss of communal space.

But given Singapore's ageing population, finding a common ground will be increasingly important.

Acting Minister Mr Chan said: "Some of the issues are real, some of the issues could be because they do not fully understand (the need for these facilities). We have many examples of many communities embracing many of these social services in their community.

"Many of the communities in fact come to embrace the work and help out in these centres, be it day activity centres for the elderly, (or) day care centres for the children. So I think there's great potential for everybody to work together."

"It doesn't mean...elderly will create nuisance but instead it will become a pioneer for the young to learn how they age and then help them to age gracefully.""

Any sane person old enough and have some commonsense will KNOW that there is a need to put Elders Care Home NEAR the main communities! Gone are the days where old folks homes are located in remote area. Gone are the days when death from old age is a standard routine as our population grow older.

Lessons for me are:

1. YES. Educate the people by all means. If they have not learned in their primary school education that to grow old is natural and that respecting and caring for the elderly is a big responsibility. No child play for sure!;

2. Educate the people too that they TOO will grow old and will need to be looked after IF their funcational health deteriorate a lot due to illness or careless lifestyles. Where do they want to be settled in? Away from the main communities? In an isolated, hard to access corner of Singapore or JB Malaysia?;

3. Engage in a 2-way manner with the dissenters sincerely but also FIRMLY. There is NO NEED to win them over as long as you explain the reasons why it makes sense to have the Elder Care Home constructed at the void decks of the HBD estates. Convenience, easy access, community care, and ammineties, etc. If the dissenters STILL do not get it, 'agree to disagree' and move on. On principle, the society, and the government, is RIGHT to do this. Do not be cowed as a certain hardliner, Philip Yeo, would say! I don't like the man too much but on this score, I have to agree with him!!

May Singaporeans realize that HDB flats are just a place to stay in and NOT to make money. If you want to make money, please move to private property if you can!