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Feb 23, 2010
ESC'S FUTURE STRATEGY
Include an ageing population
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I SCANNED the reports on the latest recommendations by the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) and was disappointed by the omission of any strategies aimed at solving the issues facing our ageing population.
Has this problem not been described as the 'economic tsunami' in the coming years?
I cannot imagine how any future economic development strategy can succeed without taking this potential economic threat into consideration.
The problem is already upon us, especially in the older housing estates.
Without a timely approach to solve an increasingly pressing problem, the best of our economic development intentions may be jeopardised.
Many countries are already searching for solutions to the problem of an ageing population.
We cannot afford to plan for future economic modernisation without considering the issue of our own ageing population.
Some pressing questions the committee could have tackled and offered solutions for were:
How will we accommodate the increasing numbers of elderly people who are likely to have failing health and be unproductive?
How much land can we set aside for them?
How do we ensure they enjoy a reasonably decent life in their twilight years?
Ultimately, we must consider seriously the introduction of retirement villages in some parts of Singapore to accommodate the growing number of senior citizens and lessen their dependence on their families and society as a whole.
In this way, in fact, we can also use the precious land currently occupied by many one- and two-room flats for other economic purposes.
Jackson Chia
President
Active Retirees' Association
Singapore
ESC'S FUTURE STRATEGY
Include an ageing population
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
I SCANNED the reports on the latest recommendations by the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) and was disappointed by the omission of any strategies aimed at solving the issues facing our ageing population.
Has this problem not been described as the 'economic tsunami' in the coming years?
I cannot imagine how any future economic development strategy can succeed without taking this potential economic threat into consideration.
The problem is already upon us, especially in the older housing estates.
Without a timely approach to solve an increasingly pressing problem, the best of our economic development intentions may be jeopardised.
Many countries are already searching for solutions to the problem of an ageing population.
We cannot afford to plan for future economic modernisation without considering the issue of our own ageing population.
Some pressing questions the committee could have tackled and offered solutions for were:
How will we accommodate the increasing numbers of elderly people who are likely to have failing health and be unproductive?
How much land can we set aside for them?
How do we ensure they enjoy a reasonably decent life in their twilight years?
Ultimately, we must consider seriously the introduction of retirement villages in some parts of Singapore to accommodate the growing number of senior citizens and lessen their dependence on their families and society as a whole.
In this way, in fact, we can also use the precious land currently occupied by many one- and two-room flats for other economic purposes.
Jackson Chia
President
Active Retirees' Association
Singapore
