Elderly Challenge - Observation 4

All year, the elderly have the most health problems occurring compared to children and adults. Having observed that in my grandmother, I suggest yearly health check-ups be conducted for the elderly since they are more prone to getting ill.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 3

Around Singapore, the elderly often have problems getting around as the directions given on the signposts and boards, etc. Mostly it is because they are not able to understand or read english. Therefore i suggest that the signs be present in also Chinese and other mother tongue languages to make it easier for the upper generation to get around in Singapore.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 2

Dementia, often more commonly known as Alzheimer's Disease, is a very common among the elderly. It is incurable, but can be treated to some degree for it to slow down. There are some very simple ways to keep the mind of the elderly active and to as much as possible prevent dementia.

By just playing cards, reading and playing a musical instrument, dementia can be prevented. Physical activity to keep fit also helps prevent dementia. Though simple, these activities, especially the physical ones might be hard to convince the elderly to carry out. Support from family members and friends in the community is needed to allow the elderly to enjoy a healthy lifestyle free from dementia.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 1

Most of the elderly have vision problems, thats why to lower the chances of them tripping over usually unnoticeable things such as banana peels and small objects on the floor at home and in public, the objects should be a bright colour that stands out and is obvious.

Here is a photo of a 'object' that the elderly may not notice and have a high chance of falling due to tripping over it.

PHOTO NOT TAKEN YET

Holiday Work 1 - Understanding the Elderly Challenge

Explain in your own words, the FOUR key recommendations of the report.

To encourage the elderly to live with the family, Singapore will have different types of housing in order to meet the senior’s needs. There will also be good support care services.

Singapore encourages the elderly to interact with the wider community and therefore, once out of their homes, the elderly will find it easy and convenient to move about without worrying about transportation hassles. Examples are lifts, walkways, and ramps for the wheelchair bound.

Healthcare services for the elderly will be affordable to ensure that they live comfortably. These services will be efficient and easily accessible to ensure that the quality and dignity of life is maintained.

The elderly will communicate well between the generations in the family. By ensuring that the elderly enjoy their life by maintaing good relations with relatives and friends in the community, Singaporeans will have positive attitudes when facing the elderly.

State ONE way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly

The Government should look at the varying length of land leases to lower land costs in order to cater to the elderly who desire lifestyles in housing by the private sector.

State TWO ways on how we can ensure that the quality of elderly care here in Singapore is affordable

The Government should top-up the Medisave accounts of the less-well off senior citizens in order to ensure they have the means to afford healthcare services when they need it.

The Government should adopt a family physician centered approach towards the management of the healthcare needs of the elderly as a family physician would know what the elderly would require given the close proximity between the physician and the elderly. This will ensure that the elderly will receive the most appropriate level of healthcare services within the community.

After reading the CAI report, what do you are the THREE things that you can do, as an SST student, to help overcome these elderly challenges

Use techniques like SCAMPER to help improve the current elder-friendly products in order to help make their lives easier.

Do a campaign to help raise public awareness about the elderly to get people to do community service.

Co-operate with organisations to organise more outdoor activities for the elderly to get them to make more friends and be more familiar with the neighborhood instead of them moping alone at home.