Nursing homes: My S'pore-style suggestion

[metalslug]

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,193677,00.html?

STREET TALK
Nursing homes: My S'pore-style suggestion
By Reggie J

February 23, 2009




THERE has been a lot of talk about nursing homes since Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan's suggestion that some of our senior citizens could look at getting care in Johor Baru.

The Health Ministry's director of corporate communications wrote to TheStraits Times Forum saying that we should try to match the costs in JB, but that it would be a challenge.

Here is my suggestion for meeting that challenge: Take the approach we took in building flatted factories. Let's have flatted nursing homes.


And I hope not many fellow Singaporeans will consider the JB option.

My 86-year-old mother asked whether we would do it it to her. Of course not, we replied. I would never be able to look my mother in the eye again if we did. And I doubt she would forgive us, either.

Singapore, which leads the world with the best public housing, compulsory CPF savings, an efficient transport system and - heaven help me - the biggest ferris wheel, can surely look after its senior citizens in their twilight days.

After all, these are the people who, on their hands and knees, built this beautiful country, and who have now given a new generation and new Singaporeans so much to enjoy.

Yes, we can

Yes, it may be cheaper in JB than in Singapore. And space is limited here. But we worked with the same constraints in providing flatted factories, and should extend the concept to nursing homes.

We have the expertise and experience to plan and put up buildings in green and peaceful surroundings with common amenities and easy access to medical facilities. The Government can subsidise these care homes too, even if it is with means testing.

And think of the job opportunities it will bring.Plus, it'll be cheaper and more convenient to visit our loved ones here instead of having to clear immigration and go to JB.

As a nation, we have got used to living in high-rise flats, and my guess is that spending your last days in a high-rise nursing home will be like being at home for a lot of Singaporeans.

With an aging population, we have to ensure that no one will be lacking in care because they do not have the means. And flatted nursing homes may just be the answer.

As the minister's press secretary pointed out in this newspaper, if some find it useful to cross borders to stretch their retirement savings, there may be no need to stop them.

But it should not be for a lack of choices here that they consider such anoption.


The writer is a former Singaporean marketing professional.

 

[downgrader]

got space for ten fucking golf courses no place for nursing homes

please lah, singapore's priorities are fucked up

 

[kakowi]

Nursing homes come in three forms:

(1) those which require nursing care

(2) those which do not require nursing care and give the patients freedom to come and go

(3) those which do not require nursing care but supervise the patients so that they cannot venture out on their own, for example, patients with dementia
​

The truth is that costs in singapore are just too high.

A colleague puts her mother in one of the more expensive nursing homes and her expenses were close to $3,000 per month. It represents a severe drain on her resources and she took on several jobs.

The problem is that costs under PAP Singapore has risen high, due to reasons which no one wants to say.

One of the alternative is to place the old folks in a lower cost country.

As PAP Singapore views life as "you can have all you want so long as you have the money", the only way out is to give you a lower cost option.

Besides such an option will objectively reduce the number of aged in the streets and with the advent of new foreign singaporeans, it will result in a younger and more vibrant singapore.

It will also reduce the amount of subsidies they need to give out.

..

May I suggest this: talk to your wife/husband about the issues of an extended family, live together on one flat and rent the other out to get extra money. Or move to a smaller flat and stay closer to each other, like a block away.

For those who have tried this, it is easier said than done because you are dealing with cultural norms and the expectations of older folks.

However I foresee that if the PAP Singapore continues its policies which they feel are the best, then such consolidations may no longer be choices but neccessities.

..

The problem is that the PAP has insulated themselves from the effects of their own policies. Thus high medical costs - but they are entitled to the best treatments, best doctors, best public hospitals under their own scheme. Thus high inflation - but they grant themselves regular salary increases. Thus worries about jobs - but theirs are guaranteed free of foreign competition. Thus transport policies - but they do not take bus or mrt; their car allowances are not known to me. Worries about retirement - but they have their ministerial and mp pension schemes.

As a result of their insulation from their own policies, everything becomes a paper exercise. They hear of human issues but they do not understand. Eyes that see, Ears that hear, but Hearts without understanding.

Therefore, this nursing home issue - let's just take it as an extra option available for us. (Political mileage aside).

 

[po2wq]

tis guy juz open his blahdy mouth n said ... can! can! can! ... means can oredi ... typical marketing guy ...

on ze other hand ... ze fella who collect million $ salary 1 cant offer can solutions woh! ...