The 78 suggestion can be summarised under seven main points:

1. Effective Public Education

• Correct values about ageing should be taught so that the public accepts the elderly
• A culture that emphasises responsibilities and long term planning should be cultivated among Singaporeans, both young and old so that they know the importance of planning for old age
• The society should be shaped such that it recognises the contributions of active elderly persons

 

2. Providing better long term care services in the communities

• Help should be provided to families in taking care of the elderly
• An insurance scheme should be set up to take care of the financial needs of the elderly as they seek long term care services

 

3. Providing a one-stop service centre for the elderly and their families

• Such a service centre would integrate the various services required by the elderly and their family members
• The service centre would make it easy and convenient for family members to take care of the elderly and do their things at the same time
• The setting of the centre would also be a more effective way of using resources as efforts are not duplicated

 

4. Having a "basic needs" CPF model

• The present CPF model can be modified to take care of the needs of the elderly so they can deal with living and medical expenses and no problem with accommodation
• The living expenses of the elderly should be correlated with the lowest standard of living expenses
• The percentage of contribution to the special account should increase accordingly to age
• The minimum cash balance in the CPF account should be increased to more than 40 thousand dollars after year 2003

 

5. Setting up a manpower centre for the elderly

• The centre should be government-funded and set up in the community development council (CDC)
• The centre would liase with the employment centre of the Ministry of Manpower so as to arrange jobs and training for the elderly, especially the less educated

 

6. Improve on the "ageing in a familiar environment" concept

• The elderly should be able to stay in the same area and community as they age and not be moved or isolated
• Sufficient amenities and facilities should be provided in housing areas to take care of the needs of the elderly

 

7. Encouraging "three generations under a roof"

• The present strategy and model that encourages an extended family, with two generations living under the same roof should be expanded to three generations under the same roof
• Family ties should be improved so that an extended family can live harmoniously under the same roof