More estates to get elderly-friendly fittings

Dr Khor said data gathered about seniors in pilot town Marine Parade will help identify the improvements needed. — ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO By Salma Khalik , HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

Three towns – Whampoa, Bedok and Taman Jurong – will join Marine Parade in being retrofitted to make them elderly-friendly, but for them, the process will be fast-tracked.

These four towns, among those with the oldest populations, will be in the vanguard of the move to transform Singapore into ‘A City For All Ages’.

When the works are completed, residents in these towns will have age-friendly features in their neighbourhoods as well as in their homes.

Background story

Looking into ageing

THE Ministerial Committee on Ageing was set up in 2007 to spearhead Singapore’s preparation to promote active ageing for its increasingly old population.

There are 12 political office-holders and five civil servants in the committee chaired by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. Since taking on the chairmanship, Mr Gan has set up five subcommittees, each looking into an aspect of ageing.

Manpower development and City For All Ages: These two subcommittees are headed by Dr Amy Khor, the Minister of State for Health.

Home care and family support, under the charge of Madam Halimah Yacob, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Active ageing and employability, chaired by Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Development of health care and social care services, helmed by Mr Gan.

The Straits Times will be interviewing the chairmen of the subcommittees over the next few Mondays, starting with Dr Khor today.

This came out in a Straits Times interview with Minister of State for Health Amy Khor, who is on the Ministerial Committee on Ageing (MCA), set up in 2007 to promote active ageing among Singapore’s greying population.