Ageing is the deposition of physical, physiological and social changes in a person over time. It really is a phenomenon that each individual is bound to experience. Therefore, it is merely natural for you to hope to are in a modern culture that respects, works with and suits various needs of older people.
Today, governments around the world are facing the hard task of providing enough healthcare and property for older people. Because of the possible inadequate allocation of money or having less concern because of its elderly individuals by the federal government, there is a possibility that a large proportion of the aged are neglected and are left scrounging for basic essentials while fighting myriad medical issues associated with age group.
Singapore currently has one of the most effective growing economies on the globe. However, it also has an extremely low birth rate and an appallingly higher rate of ageing. Roughly 10% of the population of 5 million is aged over 65. This figure increase to about 25% by the year 2020. With such shocking reports, many questions come to mind. A man may be concerned about how he'll find the methods to support his older parents as well as his own family. A female close to old age may be concerned about her future and wonder whether she'd have to execute menial jobs to pay the bills.
It is the duty of any federal government to give main concern to the needs and requirements of its citizens and take steps to address them. Thus, Singapore's Authorities has to formulate plans that solve the possible problems associated with an aging inhabitants and take precautionary methods to counter the same.
Stakeholders Involved
Before wanting to solve the problems of Singapore's aging population, it is critical to identify the stakeholders involved. By studying the effects of your ageing people on these stakeholders, the potentially negative effects of this issue can be mitigated, and future problems can be expected. Especially with the ever-changing interpersonal demographics and economic conditions, the inter-connectedness of the pressure which an maturing human population would exert on our country as a whole should not be underestimated, especially through the phase when recognized secondary sociable stakeholders transit to primary sociable stakeholders.
Primary stakeholders include:
1) Senior citizens
Senior citizens will be the very group of individuals to see the most impact as their well-being is at stake.
General concerns for these group of stakeholders include:
Would the future generations be able to support the increasing percentage of older persons?
Are infrastructure and open public services elderly-friendly?
Will the Singapore Federal government introduce more schemes and policies aimed at improving the problem?
2) Working Singaporeans
As an ageing human population increases demand for medical care and other services, the financial pressure on Singaporeans goes up too as the taxes they donate to support these services raises. This lessens the income they bring home and directly influences their spending electric power.
3) Singapore Government
With a shrinking workforce, a drop in the monetary development rate is inescapable. The federal government is in charge of the benefits of suitable guidelines to support the situation. Besides, the federal government must ensure that Singaporeans adopt an optimistic view on the matter and create nation-wide recognition on the effects of an ageing people.
Secondary stakeholders include:
1) Future generations
Currently, the implications associated with an ageing human population have yet to totally promote themselves and the Singapore Administration is absorbing almost all of the effects at current situation. However, if statistical studies confirm right and the percentage of older persons to working Singaporeans increases, the effects would be more severe and Singaporeans would need to share the burden of aiding the ageing people in old age. Therefore, our future decades will also face the same unwanted effects of the ageing society that current Singaporeans face.
2) Businesses
As Singapore's population is growing aged, you will see a relatively fewer number of individuals in the working sector. Businesses and organisations will be affected by the lack of young and skilled individuals. As a result, additional funds may need to be spent on trainings to help the older workers get good at new skills. Furthermore, scheduled to higher taxes burden on households, purchasing power of individuals will lower significantly. This may eventually have an effect on the expansion of businesses.
The extra stakeholders neither directly affected nor involved in the problem. Future generations have yet to be damaged by the condition of ageing. When the situation worsens in future, our descendants will have to support their elders and will also be influenced by higher taxes. They will eventually become primary stakeholders.
As we can see, large sections of the society are affected by this problem and will continue to be afflicted by the constant increase of ageing population. Hence, immediate steps have to be taken in order to minimize the damages induced by this issue.
Figure 1 (insert)
The Implications Of An Aging Population
Singapore has one of the best proportions of seniors citizens in the world, and second and then Japan in South East Asia.
(Suan Ee Ong, 2010).
http://www. singstat. gov. sg/pubn/reference/sif2012. pdf
1. Society
The Declining Specifications of an Individuals Health
Research shows that as individuals age group, they are increasingly susceptible to numerous health threats. The risk of malnutrition heightens with era with 3 in 10 older at risky. (http://www. asicluster3. com/blog_self/index. php?page=viewentry&id=133) As being a person age groups, problems like diabetes or parkinson's packages in, along with nutritional restrictions. You can also expect an overall deteriorating quality of physical health. For instance, psychomotor skills deteriorate, resulting in stifled physical self-reliance. Osteoporosis, an illness in which triggers the bones to become less dense influences many our elderly. Also, mental health begins deteriorating with the onset of diseases like dementia and depressive disorder.
As one age range, quality of health will certainly comes after a downward tendency. Coupled with a growing number of residents aged 65 and above. this contributes to a decrease in the standard of health over a period.
This would in turn give rise to new business and businesses revolving around healthcare, with area of interest specialisations in look after the aged.
It is important for the world to provide services that target the aged. In addition, the globe Health Firm (WHO) has stated that not absolutely all of the aged will be in need of health care services if world helped them lead an active lifestyle. Therefore, the population development forecasted in future years, metropolitan financial countries will lack the appeal to catch the attention of immigrants. (Kresl, Peter Karl & Letri, Daniele (2010)) Being a small country with low beginning rate, Singapore may face some difficulties in attracting foreign talent to our city in future. Therefore, our population may face troubles in employing a sufficiently skilled labor force to maximise end result.
Effects On Future Generations
As the populace ages, there will be an increasing demand for goods and services in the medical sector. A government's duty is to serve its people, and culture as a whole would expect basic healthcare services to be provided. Consequently, you will see increased strain on the government to provide for healthcare. Monetary costs would be incurred and would be offered to society by means of increased taxes. Using the dismal labor and birth rates we see today (1. 22 births per female in 2011, down from 1. 83 in 1990), duty burdens on future years (who'll then become main social stakeholders) is only going to increase as time goes on. (Office of Information Singapore. (2012))
There can be an inverse relationship between the dependency proportion (ratio of the populace who are too old or too young to work) and birth rate of any country. Naturally, an increasing dependency ratio can be attributed to a declining birth rate. If the birth rate is constantly on the stagnate or drop, the dependency proportion would only increase at a faster rate in the future. This translates into a bulkier burden on the working society to maintain economic growth and to provide for dependent citizens.
The Reverence in the Silver Generation to Society
It is evident that the elderly exert a significant effect on our public fabric. They bring with them the ethnicities, traditions and ideals that make our country what it is today. The effort and time that they devote to raise informed, motivated and processed citizens of this generation is the reason why our country has already reached this degree of success. As the saying goes, as time passes comes wisdom. Therefore, the silver precious metal generation is much revered, and as per asian cultures, credited respect and good care should get to them. As the elderly before us have dished up the country by adding to it in various aspects, Singapore's federal should have a feeling of filial piety to them. Since the government is, the burkha social stakeholder involved in the problem of an ageing human population, it has presented many federal government initiatives to solve arising problems.
Summing Up
To take care of the implications associated with an aging population, we have to seek to boost elderly standards of living and encourage them to contribute to culture even at an time past retirement. The government also needs to take up initiatives to help senior citizens fit in and continue being part of the workforce even at a ripe later years.
2. Businesses
Due to the swift progress of an ageing population, there are certain conditions that may come up.
Productivity Issues In Organisations
A large percentage of older persons in a human population indicates a drop in size of any productive workforce. Based on the UN's latest biennial populace forecast, the median get older for all countries will rise from 29 to 38 years by 2050. (SOURCE) We might safely presume that the dependency ratio will increase greatly over another few decades.
Organizations looking to expand productivity would be reluctant to hire elderly workers. Those following a income maximising model opine that it might be more cost efficient to hire youthful workers due to their higher productivity. Also, during durations of recession, generally, older workers are among the very best few in the retrenchment list. However, this contrasts the fact that older staff bring with them a plethora of experience and knowledge, which can only be gained as time passes. Despite cost inefficiency, it is unfair to be against the notion of hiring of more aged workers.
Singapore's administration foresaw these issues and applied new legislations to suppress age group discrimination at the workplace. By 1 Jan 2012, under the Retirement life and Re-employment Work (RRA), the statutory retirement was arranged at 62, and companies have to give you re-employment agreements to staff up to the age of 65.
http://www. mom. gov. sg/employment-practices/employment-rights-conditions/retirement/Pages/retirement. aspx
With these new initiatives, it could be seen that the government is indirectly interesting all business organisations through legislation. These lenders, which were once secondary social stakeholders, are actually evolving into key interpersonal stakeholders in this problem of an increasing age population.
Increase In Demand For HEALTHCARE & Elderly-Specific Facilities
Many countries, including Singapore, have been working towards providing better care, not only in treatment centers and private hospitals, but also within the city and at home. To improve accessibility for the elderly, the federal government has adopted many initiatives and assignments to boost living conditions for older people.
For example, the Enlargement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme integrated by Singapore government introduced slip-resistant bath rooms and even installed get bars within flats. Other tasks include life upgradation, building of barrier-free features such as ramps and the levelling of steps.
In order to provide a more accessible medical care services, the Singapore administration has given more focus on home and community-based services, which include the development of cultural rehabilitative care and attention places. More subsidies are also introduced to support the poor and the ones from middle-income households.
The growing ageing society has resulted in the growing demand for facilities and the expansion of subsidies which is placing great pressure on government. Government spending on health care is estimated to increase even further in the foreseeable future as additional money must support new initiatives and growth of the prevailing initiatives. There is also a need to hire more medical researchers, for which more resources and cash are required. As a result, the allocation of the budget towards medical care is likely to surge as related spending would increase to about double by 2030.
http://www. asiaone. com/Business/News/My+Money/Story/A1Story20080627-73309. html
3. Government
Government guidelines not have only a positive impact on the lives of older people, but could also have a negative effect on businesses. Companies may feel constrained by such career policies and could decide to re-locate of Singapore. They may also stop encouraging the federal government in the elections.
The government depends heavily on taxes from small and large businesses for its sources of earnings. If these lenders were to change location or re-locate of Singapore scheduled to restrictive plans, revenues would show up. A drop in earnings would mean that the federal government has less to spend on other facilities for its people.
Furthermore, relocation of businesses would lead to widespread lack of local jobs. The effect is a higher dependency proportion, higher unemployment rate, less revenue for the government and the slowing down of the market.
Thus, the government should ensure that any insurance policy related to ageing does not anger or annoyed the sentiments of various businesses and really should keep in brain what is at stake.
Summing Up
Let us consider the repercussive chain of effects of aging population. Firstly the number of men and women in the labor force would drop, with a matching increase in the dependency ratio. This results in a drop in result /efficiency of specific businesses and the economy all together. As Singapore's GDP is very determined by both our import/export sectors and consumerism this may cause Singapore's current economic climate to go into a slowdown. One might argue that there would be an increase in the growth due to the usage of more healthcare. However the drops in output would be higher than the increase in consumption of professional medical. Eventually, you will see an elevated burden on the current workforce to keep economic expansion. Finally, if there is nothing done, a vicious cycle commences, and future years would think it is increasingly difficult to give the previous decades and support the overall economy.
(Picture - Singapore's indication of ageing)
Actions Used By Singapore's Government
Singapore's federal government recognises that the upsurge in the ageing inhabitants will lead to several results that will affect all parts of contemporary society, as well as the market of the united states. Hence, in order to aid the older inhabitants, the government has put in place various regulations and presented new techniques.
In 2004, the federal government setup the Committee on Ageing Issues. This committee made up of private and administration representatives who arrived together to discuss issues related to ageing. The tips for alternatives related to these issues were provided in a written report and were handed down for implementation. They targeted at enhancing employability, enhancing medical care facilities, promoting lively life styles and financial freedom.
The federal also is aimed at establishing concrete factual statements about our society and conducts frequent surveys to gauge the physical and mental health of seniors. It also identifies areas to increase the wellbeing of its people.
(Reference point: http://app1. mcys. gov. sg/Portals/0/Topic/Issues/EDGD/Brief%20on%20Ageing%20Population%20(Public). pdf)
1. Housing
As seen from Number 1 (Singapore: Indications of Ageing), the percentage of Singaporeans aged 65 and above will significantly grow in the coming years. Hence, there's a need for the federal government to introduce plans that provide adequate housing that suits the needs of older such as their health, ability to move and security, which is very important.
Some schemes that the federal government released were the Multi-Generation Flats in 1987 and Granny Flats in 1991. However, these were not so well received. A more successful effort was the execution of Project LIFE ( Lift Improvement and Facilities Augmentation for Seniors). (Guide: http://asiaforum. tsaofoundation. org/pdfDownloads/Day1/D1_plenary/plenarySession_1/Housing%20developments%20for%20ageing%20population%20in%20Spore%20-%20yap%20chin%20beng. pdf) This proposal is aimed at creating lifts in Cover Development Panel (HDB) flats so that each floor is serviced, for the convenience of the elderly and the handicapped. The federal government desires complete adoption of the plan in every HDB flats by 2014.
In addition, integrated studio apartments were also integrated into each property block and came with spaces for interpersonal and communal gatherings.
In the year 2011, the federal government introduced the thought of barrier-free housing conditions which engaged the building of handicap ramps and pathways to accomplish easy movements of wheelchairs.
Therefore, continuous modification of housing scenery aims at getting together with the needs of people and to provide a comfortable shelter for each and every senior citizen.
2. Transport
Public transport in addition has seen improvements which is somewhat more 'elder-friendly'. In 2006, MRT channels were revised and made hurdle free. Today, around forty percent of our buses are wheelchair accessible.
3. Encouraging re-employment
Due to the negative effects of ageing human population on the workforce productivity, the government has seen the value to tackle upon this problem in order to sustain economic development. Hence, the 2005 session of an Tripartite Committee (authorities, employers and trade union) on Employability of More aged Employees by the Minister for Manpower addressed the issue by putting into action several procedures (Thang, L. (2011)).
One of the procedures is the the enactment of Retirement and Re-Employment Action (RRA) which was put into influence on 1 Jan 2012. The Tripartite Committee shaped the Tripartite Execution Workgroup to help employers perform this effort.
In October 2007, the Tripartite Execution Workgroup made by the Tripartite Committee was to aid companies in the execution of the re-employment measures. In order to further encourage the execution of re-employment schemes for older personnel, companies received financial support as high as $400, 000 for guidelines that were placed based on the re-employment legislation. Workforce Development Firm also subsidized the re-training programs that were put in place by employers. in addition, Continuing Education and Training (CET) get good at plan was launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Manpower to provide trainings for employees in order that they will be outfitted with skills that match the pace of the fast-growing establishments.
While the government tries to encourage re-employment of older workers, they have to ensure that younger employees and employers are prepared to accept them. It is because older workers are generally perceived as unproductive and inflexible. Hence, measures have been set up foster an age-friendly working environment. That is done by introducing national honors to recognize companies with the most progressive and impartial techniques. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Tactics (TAFEP) in addition has put in place many recommendations to advocate on fairness and to discourage discrimination of the old-aged employees. (Thang, L. (2011))
Hence, by motivating the more aged employees to keep working, and by changing mindsets to accept older individuals, Singapore's workforce and result can be maintained at the existing level of integrity.
The Tripartite Execution Workgroup was a member of family success as by Feb 2009, 706 unionized companies have focused on re employment while 4650 staff over age 62 were re-employed by the end of 2008. (Thang, L. (2011))
4. Guaranteeing financial stableness for the aged
Due to the decreasing fertility rate in Singapore, there will be a heavier financial burden on the near future generations, and it is possible that the elderly generation might not be financially indie. The Workfare Income Dietary supplement (WIS) Scheme was introduced in 2007 to ensure that Singaporeans will have sufficient cost savings for their retirement life. This scheme promotes the older personnel who are getting low-paying salary to continue working so that they can accumulate more CPF savings. In order to supplement higher take-home pay and reduced CPF rates, the Government began to give elderly workers area of the WIS in cash so that they can afford for their basic needs. (Research:http://mycpf. cpf. gov. sg/Members/Gen-Info/Workfare. html)
Furthermore, because of the increase in life span, the government programs to improve the Minimum Amount Draw-Down age from 62 to 65 by the year 2018. There have been also strategies to create a longevity insurance scheme. This will ensure that CPF participants can rest assured of a basic income as long as they live. (Reference point:http://app1. mcys. gov. sg/Portals/0/Summary/pressroom/03-2008. pdf)
5. Healthcare
In face of the current trend that can be seen in Singapore, it is vital that healthcare services are increased to cater to the needs of the more mature population. Thus, the Ministry of Health released a Chronic Disease Management Program which empowered doctors to look at a holistic procedure in the treatment of diseases. Furthermore, the ElderShield Plan for the impaired was enhanced in 2007 to assist in affordability of medical services by paying $400 per month for 6 years. There is a 60% improvement from the previous structure.
http://www. moh. gov. sg/content/moh_web/home/costs_and_financing/schemes_subsidies/ElderShield. html
In addition, the Ministry of Community Development, Children and Activities (MCYS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) are also doing a review of eldercare services targeted at bettering facilities such as daycare centres, rehabilitation centres and home help services.
The concept of active ageing was developed by the European Commission rate in 2002. It brings ahead the idea of higher retirement age and longer amount of activity in the workforce. It has been established that leading an active and directional life boosts the entire well-being of a person and helps maintain diseases and diseases at bay. Dynamic ageing was unveiled by the Singapore federal to be able to ensure self sufficiency of citizens after retirement. It established the Council for Third Age(C3A) in-may 2007 to promote active ageing and fund community-based happenings related to dynamic ageing.
In addition, due to the increase in degenerative diseases that require expensive treatment, the idea of effective ageing is attaining more importance. It is said that the price tag on treatment for the more mature generation will cost 2-3 times more than that necessary for the younger people.
(Guide: http://www. asiaone. com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20071031-33327. html)
What Does the Future Hold?
Our people is ageing at a level faster than in countries such as Australia, South Korea, UK and the USA. (ref - first article in dropbox). The number of individuals aged 65 and above will show a sevenfold increase by the year 2050. So what does indeed this mean for our future?
Firstly, our country will be more prone to external invasion. Presence of your ageing population can be an indicator that our defense is weakening. We will have fewer young people to fill the ranks of the military, and fewer physically fit citizens to guard us in times of need. Our future and success will be threatened.
Secondly, economic development will slow down. Singapore will no longer be observed as a hub of young, proficient and competitive individuals by global MNCs. They may no longer want to invest and set up their offices here. Furthermore, with fewer individuals to pay taxes, the federal government will have less overall to invest on medical care, infrastructure, etc. As a result, taxes will increase, going out of people less to invest on themselves and their family.
The demand for healthcare services will climb, but will never be sufficiently subsidised by a government which doesn't have enough resources.
Singapore is at the brink of getting into a vicious cycle. If immediate short-term and long-term measures are not taken, we are bound to find ourselves moving backwards and reaching a rate of progress similar to what we'd many decades before.
Our recommendations
1. Enhancing mature citizens' value in the business through empowerment
In brand with the re-employment policies the government has in place, we claim that organizations create visits and headings specially targeted at empowering senior citizens. They have to ensure that these masterpieces are aligned with the functions of these older persons.
Likewise, existing positions should be altered according with their capabilities. The goal of this is to enhance their value and well-being at work where they are often thought to be liabilities more than investments.
With such initiatives, older persons can perform better, with an increase of flexibility and recognition within the organization. This also widens the functioning composition of organizations, enabling more variety of specialty area.
At once, organizations could tap into their experience and experience, especially for crisis management and advisory functions. Even within the Singapore Cupboard, forefather Lee Kuan Yew continues to be actively involved with local politics at the age of 89 and the game titles "Minister Mentor" and "Senior Minister" were specially intended to continuously enable him.
2. Continuous active campaign of healthy maturing from small communities
Presently, Senior Citizens' Professional Committees (SCECs) under the People's Connection (PA), the major senior residents' network in Singapore, organizes a multitude of activities and training aimed at improving senior citizens' life encounters. They are usually conducted at a national level, and rarely get in touch with the smaller neighborhoods.
The government could engage Resident Committees (RCs) and Community Centres (CCs) in neighbourhoods to assist in promoting healthy aging. Subsidised or sponsored activities could be one option to attract senior citizens to actively exercise healthy maturity. Constant awareness may be accomplished through updates and pamphlets mailed to letterboxes.
3. Strengthening family ties
It is important for our contemporary society to realise the worthiness and importance of older persons. They should not be considered burdens; instead they must be seen as remarkable citizens who helped bring us as well as our country to the positioning we live in today. Hence, it is expected that we, the younger generation, give them the deserved care and attention and respect without any ulterior motive at heart.
We believe that the indoctrination of the strong worth should commence at a get older. Special programmes should be presented into schools in order to market togetherness within the family. Children should be educated about the importance of elders in society and should be taught to always suggest to them value and kindness. The advertising can also play a role an important in this process by occasionally posting articles that portray older people in a good light.
