Health Minister stresses importance of helping elderly stay engaged in the community
SINGAPORE — The responsibility of caring for senior citizens and helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle should not rest solely on the Government or seniors themselves, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong yesterday. Instead, everyone in the community has a role to play, he added.
Mr Gan made this point after a 1.8km walk organised by Lions Befrienders and ITE College West, which saw 600 seniors and 200 student helpers taking part.
The event was aimed at promoting active and positive ageing among the elderly. It was also meant as a platform for students of ITE College West to mingle and interact with seniors living in the community.
Apart from physical health, Mr Gan also stressed in his speech on the importance of good mental health — by helping the elderly develop relationships and stay engaged with the community.
Besides raising awareness of the needs of seniors, he felt the event could also “provide more opportunities for our seniors to get to know one another, to be engaged, to develop friendships and also emotional support as they age”.
Agreeing, Ms Farishia Osman, an ITE College West student, said: “I think it’s important because they are part of our community, and if we don’t then who else will? And the younger generation are going to be the future leaders so they have to start young, start caring for them because ... they’re part of the community.”
Lions Befrienders Executive Director Goh Boo Han said he was “heartened” by the willingness of ITE College West in organising the event. “I hope that through their example, more schools would be inspired to step forth and reach out to the less privileged elderly community in Singapore,” he said.
The event helped to raise S$110,000, which will go towards supporting 3,000 vulnerable seniors served by Lions Befrienders.
SINGAPORE — The responsibility of caring for senior citizens and helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle should not rest solely on the Government or seniors themselves, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong yesterday. Instead, everyone in the community has a role to play, he added.
Mr Gan made this point after a 1.8km walk organised by Lions Befrienders and ITE College West, which saw 600 seniors and 200 student helpers taking part.
The event was aimed at promoting active and positive ageing among the elderly. It was also meant as a platform for students of ITE College West to mingle and interact with seniors living in the community.
Apart from physical health, Mr Gan also stressed in his speech on the importance of good mental health — by helping the elderly develop relationships and stay engaged with the community.
Besides raising awareness of the needs of seniors, he felt the event could also “provide more opportunities for our seniors to get to know one another, to be engaged, to develop friendships and also emotional support as they age”.
Agreeing, Ms Farishia Osman, an ITE College West student, said: “I think it’s important because they are part of our community, and if we don’t then who else will? And the younger generation are going to be the future leaders so they have to start young, start caring for them because ... they’re part of the community.”
Lions Befrienders Executive Director Goh Boo Han said he was “heartened” by the willingness of ITE College West in organising the event. “I hope that through their example, more schools would be inspired to step forth and reach out to the less privileged elderly community in Singapore,” he said.
The event helped to raise S$110,000, which will go towards supporting 3,000 vulnerable seniors served by Lions Befrienders.
