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That takes too long. Give them Soylent Green and let them move on with dignity. Soylent Green, it's For people!
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IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Rise of Elderly Cardboard 'Exercising', How long they want to Live? SOYLENT GREEN option please
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Singapore Edition International Edition
Nearly 3 in 4 persons with dementia in Singapore feel ashamed, rejected: Study
SingaporeNearly 3 in 4 persons with dementia in Singapore feel ashamed, rejected: Study
02:09
Those suffering from dementia feel rejected, lonely, ashamed and less competent, Singapore’s first national survey on dementia conducted by Singapore Management University revealed on Monday (Apr 29). Eugenia Lim reports.
2related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.
29 Apr 2019 12:43PM(Updated: 29 Apr 2019 10:36PM)
Share this content
SINGAPORE: Those suffering from dementia feel rejected, lonely, ashamed and less competent, Singapore’s first national survey on dementia revealed on Monday (Apr 29).
The survey by Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA) polled more than 5,600 people, including those with dementia as well as their caregivers and the general public.
The results revealed that 72 per cent of people with dementia feel rejection and loneliness while half of them feel that they cannot be open with others regarding their condition.
More than 56 per cent of them say that people treat them as less competent, the study added.
READ: Hiring untrained maids to take care of frail, sick elderly may not be safe or sustainable: Experts
READ: Three stories from caregivers show we still undervalue caregiving, a commentary
Advertisement
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
An old man walks on an overhead bridge in Singapore. (File photo: Francine Lim)
For those who care for someone suffering from the disease, nearly 30 per cent said they feel embarrassed while tending to their loved ones in public, while more than one in 10 feel that others around them “seem awkward”.
Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer’s Disease Association Jason Foo said that stigma affects more than just the quality of life for persons with dementia and their families.
“It really emphasises that we should use the right type of language; show more empathy for persons with dementia and their caregivers and aim to integrate persons with dementia into the society by building dementia-friendly communities to support them,” he said.
In measuring stigma levels towards Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias, findings show that those who hold no connection to dementia have the highest stigmatic attitude.
This is followed closely by the persons with dementia themselves, with about half of them feeling ashamed of their condition, citing stigma as the main reason.
MORE AWARENESS NEEDED
The study also reinforced the need for more dementia education and awareness, with more than 57 per cent of the general public rating themselves as low in dementia knowledge.
The respondents also reported feeling uncomfortable interacting with persons with dementia, with almost 44 per cent feeling frustrated with not knowing how to help.
Despite the low awareness, nearly eight in 10 of all respondents want to do more to improve the lives of persons with dementia.
About seven in 10 of the respondents to the survey also agreed that those suffering from dementia should live “with familyin their home” and agree that Singapore needs to provide more dementia-friendly amenities.
READ: Eye exam detects signs of Alzheimer's disease
READ: Seniors who eat more mushrooms may have lower risk of cognitive decline: NUS study
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
An elderly man at a void deck in Singapore. (File photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
“We need to strive towards changing the mindset of society and break stereotypes,” said Mr Foo.
"All of us should not focus on their (persons with dementia) deficits, but on what they can still do with their remaining abilities. It’s important to recognise that they can still lead purposeful and meaningful lives."
According to the Institute of Mental Health, one in 10 people aged above 60 in Singapore has dementia, with the condition affecting half of those above 85.
This translates to an estimated 82,000 cases locally in 2018, with the number is expected to go beyond 100,000 by 2030.
“ADA believes that proactive steps should be taken to educate people to be aware of dementia, be mindful of any preconceived thoughts of dementia as a debilitating condition," said Mr Foo.
"In building inclusive dementia friendly communities – anyone and any organisation can be part of this movement."
To combat this stigma, ADA will be launching a nationwide dementia awareness campaign in June, starting with a set of Dementia-Language guidelines followed by roadshows, events, talks and videos.
The campaign will culminate in a public event on Sep 21 on World Alzheimer’s Day in commemoration of World Alzheimer’s Month.
Source: CNA/zl
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Singapore Edition International Edition
Nearly 3 in 4 persons with dementia in Singapore feel ashamed, rejected: Study
SingaporeNearly 3 in 4 persons with dementia in Singapore feel ashamed, rejected: Study
02:09
Those suffering from dementia feel rejected, lonely, ashamed and less competent, Singapore’s first national survey on dementia conducted by Singapore Management University revealed on Monday (Apr 29). Eugenia Lim reports.
2related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.
29 Apr 2019 12:43PM(Updated: 29 Apr 2019 10:36PM)
Share this content
SINGAPORE: Those suffering from dementia feel rejected, lonely, ashamed and less competent, Singapore’s first national survey on dementia revealed on Monday (Apr 29).
The survey by Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA) polled more than 5,600 people, including those with dementia as well as their caregivers and the general public.
The results revealed that 72 per cent of people with dementia feel rejection and loneliness while half of them feel that they cannot be open with others regarding their condition.
More than 56 per cent of them say that people treat them as less competent, the study added.
READ: Hiring untrained maids to take care of frail, sick elderly may not be safe or sustainable: Experts
READ: Three stories from caregivers show we still undervalue caregiving, a commentary
Advertisement
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
An old man walks on an overhead bridge in Singapore. (File photo: Francine Lim)
For those who care for someone suffering from the disease, nearly 30 per cent said they feel embarrassed while tending to their loved ones in public, while more than one in 10 feel that others around them “seem awkward”.
Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer’s Disease Association Jason Foo said that stigma affects more than just the quality of life for persons with dementia and their families.
“It really emphasises that we should use the right type of language; show more empathy for persons with dementia and their caregivers and aim to integrate persons with dementia into the society by building dementia-friendly communities to support them,” he said.
In measuring stigma levels towards Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias, findings show that those who hold no connection to dementia have the highest stigmatic attitude.
This is followed closely by the persons with dementia themselves, with about half of them feeling ashamed of their condition, citing stigma as the main reason.
MORE AWARENESS NEEDED
The study also reinforced the need for more dementia education and awareness, with more than 57 per cent of the general public rating themselves as low in dementia knowledge.
The respondents also reported feeling uncomfortable interacting with persons with dementia, with almost 44 per cent feeling frustrated with not knowing how to help.
Despite the low awareness, nearly eight in 10 of all respondents want to do more to improve the lives of persons with dementia.
About seven in 10 of the respondents to the survey also agreed that those suffering from dementia should live “with familyin their home” and agree that Singapore needs to provide more dementia-friendly amenities.
READ: Eye exam detects signs of Alzheimer's disease
READ: Seniors who eat more mushrooms may have lower risk of cognitive decline: NUS study
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
An elderly man at a void deck in Singapore. (File photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
“We need to strive towards changing the mindset of society and break stereotypes,” said Mr Foo.
"All of us should not focus on their (persons with dementia) deficits, but on what they can still do with their remaining abilities. It’s important to recognise that they can still lead purposeful and meaningful lives."
According to the Institute of Mental Health, one in 10 people aged above 60 in Singapore has dementia, with the condition affecting half of those above 85.
This translates to an estimated 82,000 cases locally in 2018, with the number is expected to go beyond 100,000 by 2030.
“ADA believes that proactive steps should be taken to educate people to be aware of dementia, be mindful of any preconceived thoughts of dementia as a debilitating condition," said Mr Foo.
"In building inclusive dementia friendly communities – anyone and any organisation can be part of this movement."
To combat this stigma, ADA will be launching a nationwide dementia awareness campaign in June, starting with a set of Dementia-Language guidelines followed by roadshows, events, talks and videos.
The campaign will culminate in a public event on Sep 21 on World Alzheimer’s Day in commemoration of World Alzheimer’s Month.
Source: CNA/zl
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Singapore Edition International Edition
Euthanasia law comes into effect in first Australia state
WorldEuthanasia law comes into effect in first Australia state
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries and was banned in Australia until Victoria state introduced laws to legalise the practice in 2017. (Photo: AFP/Christophe Archambault)
19 Jun 2019 09:21AM
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SYDNEY: Euthanasia laws for terminally ill patients came into effect in Australia's second-most populous state in a "bold change" on Wednesday (Jun 19), the only place in the nation where the practice will be legal.
Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries and was banned in Australia until Victoria state introduced laws to legalise the practice in 2017.
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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews - who supported the bill after the death of his father in 2016 - said the laws were about giving patients a "dignified option at the end of their life".
"We've taken a compassionate approach to give to people that choice ... that dignity for hopefully a good death which is a really important part of a good quality of life as well," Andrews told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine.
"This is bold change. No other state has done this ... but we think this is the right step to take."
The scheme will be accessible only to terminally ill adult patients with less than six months to live, or one year for sufferers of conditions such as motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis.
Advertisement
There are multiple safeguards, including an independent review board and a coroner who will track and monitor all deaths.
Andrews said about 12 people were expected to use the laws this year and up to 150 each year after that.
Other states in Australia have debated assisted dying in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated.
Source: AFP/ad
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...into-effect-in-first-australia-state-11639898
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Euthanasia law comes into effect in first Australia state
WorldEuthanasia law comes into effect in first Australia state
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries and was banned in Australia until Victoria state introduced laws to legalise the practice in 2017. (Photo: AFP/Christophe Archambault)
19 Jun 2019 09:21AM
Share this content
SYDNEY: Euthanasia laws for terminally ill patients came into effect in Australia's second-most populous state in a "bold change" on Wednesday (Jun 19), the only place in the nation where the practice will be legal.
Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries and was banned in Australia until Victoria state introduced laws to legalise the practice in 2017.
Advertisement
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews - who supported the bill after the death of his father in 2016 - said the laws were about giving patients a "dignified option at the end of their life".
"We've taken a compassionate approach to give to people that choice ... that dignity for hopefully a good death which is a really important part of a good quality of life as well," Andrews told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine.
"This is bold change. No other state has done this ... but we think this is the right step to take."
The scheme will be accessible only to terminally ill adult patients with less than six months to live, or one year for sufferers of conditions such as motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis.
Advertisement
There are multiple safeguards, including an independent review board and a coroner who will track and monitor all deaths.
Andrews said about 12 people were expected to use the laws this year and up to 150 each year after that.
Other states in Australia have debated assisted dying in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated.
Source: AFP/ad
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...into-effect-in-first-australia-state-11639898
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Better to just Soylent Green.
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Elderly in Hong Kong looking to China for affordable care in retirement
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
A view of a bedroom in Yee Hong Heights, a senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organisation, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Jul 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Clare Jim)
20 Aug 2019 12:51PM (Updated: 20 Aug 2019 12:59PM)
Share this content
HONG KONG: After spending time with his 84-year-old mother in a senior care home in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, David Lee walked up to the supervisor and asked to reserve a place there for his own retirement.
Lee, a 56-year-old from just across the border in Hong Kong, moved his mother, who has Alzheimer's and other ailments, into Yee Hong Heights two months ago as it became more difficult for him to care for her.
Advertisement
An increasing number of people like him are moving outside Hong Kong - one of the world's most expensive cities - to mainland China for cheaper and better retirement options.
"My mother had been queuing for two years for a space in a senior care home in Hong Kong, and she only waited two months before getting a space here," Lee said.
It is a marked departure from the scepticism that greeted the Hong Kong government a few years ago when it tried to encourage seniors to retire in China's Guangdong province as part of an effort to ease a housing shortage.
Many then were concerned about cultural differences, medical services and a lack of insurance coverage in the mainland.
Advertisement
But faster transport links to the mainland and an integration push by the Hong Kong and Chinese central governments under the Greater Bay Area initiative have helped ease some of those fears.
The senior care market in China is estimated to grow to 7.7 trillion yuan (£898.02 billion) by 2020 and to 20 trillion by 2030, from 5 trillion yuan in 2016. That has led to a flood of investors from Hong Kong and overseas.
READ: China plans to make Shenzhen a 'better place' than Hong Kong
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
A view of a hair salon in Yee Hong Heights, a senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organisation, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Jul 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Clare Jim)
New World Development , a major Hong Kong developer, said it planned to expand "Humansa" - a senior healthcare and rehabilitation service it launched late last year - into Shenzhen, Foshan, Shunde and other cities in the mainland this year.
It has so far invested HK$400 million (US$51.13 million) in the "high-quality and personalised" service, and owns about 1,000 beds in Hong Kong. In five years, it plans to increase the number to 4,000 in the Greater Bay Area, it said.
Baring Private Equity told an industry summit recently that it planned to invest in senior housing in the Greater Bay Area.
ROOM TO GROW
So far, there are at least five senior homes in Guangdong opened by Hong Kong investors or non-government organisations, providing over 2,000 beds, official data show.
According to an official Hong Kong survey, 77,000 people from Hong Kong 65 and older lived in Guangdong in 2016.
Hong Kong's Labour and Welfare Bureau forecast there would be a shortage of 11,600 subsidised beds for elderly care in the 2026 fiscal year. That's the equivalent of about 70 senior care homes.
A room in one Chinese elderly home serving Hong Kong clients costs less than US$1,000 a month, just a fraction of the US$2,000 to US$5,000 charged for a mid- to high-end facility in Hong Kong.
Elderly Hong Kongers who cannot afford those rates wait 37 months on average for subsidised senior housing, and the average room is 6.5sqm, compared with 30sqm in the mainland.
READ: Commentary: The invisibility of the poor in Crazy Rich Hong Kong
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
A view of a mahjong area for elderly recreation in Yee Hong Heights, a senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organisation, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Jul 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Clare Jim)
To encourage more seniors to retire in mainland China, the Hong Kong government grants social security assistance to underprivileged elderly in Guangdong and Fujian provinces.
The government also plans to grant additional old-age living allowances starting in 2020 for people living in the two provinces.
Yee Hong Height is run by a Hong Kong NGO that works with the Hong Kong government to allocate subsidised beds. But it also sells private beds to both Hong Kong and mainland Chinese elderly.
Out of a total of 315 beds, 190 are occupied by Hong Kong people, compared with fewer than 10 when the facility first opened in 2006.
It expects the percentage of Hong Kong people to rise to 70 per cent in two years plans to add 200 to 300 beds.
"In the past we were like sales people and had to go to Hong Kong to promote our centre. But now, many people come to visit us themselves," said Jackie Mo, superintendent of Yee Hong Heights.
READ: Sent packing: Hong Kong's elderly cardboard collectors
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
Jackie Mo, superintendent of Yee Hong Heights, at the Shenzhen senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organisation, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Jul 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Clare Jim)
Service providers from Hong Kong and Macau get construction and operation subsidies - just like their local peers - if they utilise idle social resources for development.
Yet "if you target 100 per cent Hong Kong elderly, it doesn't look good to the local government," Mo said. "But if you want to target local Chinese clients, there are so many cheaper options here."
Insufficient medical insurance in China and a lack of confidence in China's medical services remain the biggest obstacle for Hong Kong people retiring there, according to industry sources.
"Since I have spent most of my life time in Hong Kong; I am more familiar and have trust in the local hospital rather than the Greater Bay Area," said Mr Liu, 74, a retiree who declined to give his full name, adding he would not consider moving to a senior care home in the mainland.
Source: Reuters/zl
Tagged Topics
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...na-for-affordable-care-in-retirement-11824460
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
A view of a bedroom in Yee Hong Heights, a senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organisation, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Jul 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Clare Jim)
20 Aug 2019 12:51PM (Updated: 20 Aug 2019 12:59PM)
Share this content
HONG KONG: After spending time with his 84-year-old mother in a senior care home in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, David Lee walked up to the supervisor and asked to reserve a place there for his own retirement.
Lee, a 56-year-old from just across the border in Hong Kong, moved his mother, who has Alzheimer's and other ailments, into Yee Hong Heights two months ago as it became more difficult for him to care for her.
Advertisement
An increasing number of people like him are moving outside Hong Kong - one of the world's most expensive cities - to mainland China for cheaper and better retirement options.
"My mother had been queuing for two years for a space in a senior care home in Hong Kong, and she only waited two months before getting a space here," Lee said.
It is a marked departure from the scepticism that greeted the Hong Kong government a few years ago when it tried to encourage seniors to retire in China's Guangdong province as part of an effort to ease a housing shortage.
Many then were concerned about cultural differences, medical services and a lack of insurance coverage in the mainland.
Advertisement
But faster transport links to the mainland and an integration push by the Hong Kong and Chinese central governments under the Greater Bay Area initiative have helped ease some of those fears.
The senior care market in China is estimated to grow to 7.7 trillion yuan (£898.02 billion) by 2020 and to 20 trillion by 2030, from 5 trillion yuan in 2016. That has led to a flood of investors from Hong Kong and overseas.
READ: China plans to make Shenzhen a 'better place' than Hong Kong
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
A view of a hair salon in Yee Hong Heights, a senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organisation, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Jul 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Clare Jim)
New World Development , a major Hong Kong developer, said it planned to expand "Humansa" - a senior healthcare and rehabilitation service it launched late last year - into Shenzhen, Foshan, Shunde and other cities in the mainland this year.
It has so far invested HK$400 million (US$51.13 million) in the "high-quality and personalised" service, and owns about 1,000 beds in Hong Kong. In five years, it plans to increase the number to 4,000 in the Greater Bay Area, it said.
Baring Private Equity told an industry summit recently that it planned to invest in senior housing in the Greater Bay Area.
ROOM TO GROW
So far, there are at least five senior homes in Guangdong opened by Hong Kong investors or non-government organisations, providing over 2,000 beds, official data show.
According to an official Hong Kong survey, 77,000 people from Hong Kong 65 and older lived in Guangdong in 2016.
Hong Kong's Labour and Welfare Bureau forecast there would be a shortage of 11,600 subsidised beds for elderly care in the 2026 fiscal year. That's the equivalent of about 70 senior care homes.
A room in one Chinese elderly home serving Hong Kong clients costs less than US$1,000 a month, just a fraction of the US$2,000 to US$5,000 charged for a mid- to high-end facility in Hong Kong.
Elderly Hong Kongers who cannot afford those rates wait 37 months on average for subsidised senior housing, and the average room is 6.5sqm, compared with 30sqm in the mainland.
READ: Commentary: The invisibility of the poor in Crazy Rich Hong Kong
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
A view of a mahjong area for elderly recreation in Yee Hong Heights, a senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organisation, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Jul 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Clare Jim)
To encourage more seniors to retire in mainland China, the Hong Kong government grants social security assistance to underprivileged elderly in Guangdong and Fujian provinces.
The government also plans to grant additional old-age living allowances starting in 2020 for people living in the two provinces.
Yee Hong Height is run by a Hong Kong NGO that works with the Hong Kong government to allocate subsidised beds. But it also sells private beds to both Hong Kong and mainland Chinese elderly.
Out of a total of 315 beds, 190 are occupied by Hong Kong people, compared with fewer than 10 when the facility first opened in 2006.
It expects the percentage of Hong Kong people to rise to 70 per cent in two years plans to add 200 to 300 beds.
"In the past we were like sales people and had to go to Hong Kong to promote our centre. But now, many people come to visit us themselves," said Jackie Mo, superintendent of Yee Hong Heights.
READ: Sent packing: Hong Kong's elderly cardboard collectors
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
Jackie Mo, superintendent of Yee Hong Heights, at the Shenzhen senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organisation, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Jul 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Clare Jim)
Service providers from Hong Kong and Macau get construction and operation subsidies - just like their local peers - if they utilise idle social resources for development.
Yet "if you target 100 per cent Hong Kong elderly, it doesn't look good to the local government," Mo said. "But if you want to target local Chinese clients, there are so many cheaper options here."
Insufficient medical insurance in China and a lack of confidence in China's medical services remain the biggest obstacle for Hong Kong people retiring there, according to industry sources.
"Since I have spent most of my life time in Hong Kong; I am more familiar and have trust in the local hospital rather than the Greater Bay Area," said Mr Liu, 74, a retiree who declined to give his full name, adding he would not consider moving to a senior care home in the mainland.
Source: Reuters/zl
Tagged Topics
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...na-for-affordable-care-in-retirement-11824460
- Joined
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‘We can tell them life is still worth living’: The community nurse who helps keep the elderly out of hospital
For Chinatown’s chronically-ill seniors, nurses like 27-year-old Chua Yu Ru - who make their rounds not in a hospital but in HDB blocks – are making the difference between pain and declining health, and a better-managed life
Community nurse with Kek Eh Nau, 79
Community nurse Chua Yu Ru, 27, helped Mdm Kek Eh Nau, 79, find some respite from caring for her husband with dementia.
08 Sep 2019 06:15AM
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SINGAPORE: The floor of Mr Hoh Ah Kaw’s one-room flat was sticky, and there was a lingering dampness in the air.
His bed sat awkwardly two feet from the door, clothes hanging from a pole above it, but amid the cramped clutter of old furniture, what caught Ms Chua Yu Ru’s eye were boxes and boxes of eye-drops sitting atop a dresser. They were all unopened.
It took a while before the frail 79-year-old finally admitted to her that he had no one to help him apply the eyedrops to his cataract-ridden eyes.
“He told me his hand had no strength to press the bottle,” said Yu Ru, a 27-year-old senior staff nurse. So for months, he had simply resigned himself to skipping the four daily applications that the doctor had prescribed.
It is residents like him who spur Yu Ru to spend her days pounding the ground on her daily rounds as a community nurse in Chinatown, looking out for the ailing elderly residents – many of whom live in rental flats – and doing her best to help keep them out of hospital.
Community nurse & Mr Hoh Ah Kaw
Senior staff nurse Chua Yu Ru with Mr Hoh Ah Kaw, 79. (Visuals: Say Xiang Yu and Christy Yip)
Suffering from assorted chronic conditions, from diabetes and hypertension to congestive heart failure, many are fatalistic about the situation, and tend to neglect doctors’ orders, their medication, or even seeking help.
“Many times, due to not being sure who to approach or where to seek help, the residents do not get the treatment that they need - or they are not even aware they have certain conditions,” she said.
Some of the elderly think that just because they are old and sick, life is just like that.
"But we can be the voice telling them that life is still worth living, and help them change the way they approach their health," she added.
In Mr Hoh’s case, Yu Ru helped him obtain an eyedrops applicator that lets him apply the medication with an easy push of a button. Once a week, she visits to check that he has been doing it right.
Community nurse & Mr Hoh Ah Kaw eyedrops
Yu Ru follows up to ensure Mr Hoh is using the eyedrop applicator she obtained for him.
As the population ages, more nurses like her are being stationed within neighbourhoods across Singapore. Yu Ru works out of two community nursing posts in Chinatown – one at Banda Street and another at Jalan Kukoh – set up by the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Though these posts, located at Senior Activity Centres, are set up for standard checks like blood-pressure readings, it quickly becomes clear that the heart of these nurses’ work goes beyond the clinical.
As CNA Insider trailed Yu Ru on her rounds, she stopped many times to greet eager residents. Like the elderly uncle who, from two floors above, spotted her familiar white uniform and trolley bag of medical supplies, and waved excitedly.
“Come visit me soon!” she called back to him.
“Have you eaten?” she asked another resident in Hokkien. “Kopi ga dai” – coffee with more condensed milk, he told her.
“Ga dai?!” Yu Ru exclaimed in mock disbelief, making a mental note to watch for signs of diabetes at his next check-up at the nursing post.
Community nurse & Ga dai Uncle
Yu Ru and fellow nurse Murni Nadhirah frequently stop to chat with residents.
It’s these relationships they spend time building that makes the elderly residents more likely to listen to the nurses’ advice, and to trust them with deeply personal matters.
Said Yu Ru: “They don’t just see me as a nurse. They see me as family. And I think it comes from seeing that we are genuinely here to help them for the long term.”
Community nurse & resident market
WHY COMMUNITY NURSING?
Prior to becoming a community nurse last year, Yu Ru worked in SGH’s general surgery ward for four years.
The work was by nature fast-paced – wound dressing, serving medication, discharging patients. In most cases, she saw the patient just once. So it was those who kept coming back that made Yu Ru stop to think.
They were diabetic patients, vulnerable to infections in the lower limbs, and requiring amputation when wounds went unchecked. One would come in for a toe amputation, and Yu Ru would do her due diligence to teach the patient how to take care of their wound at home.
But a few months later, the same patient would be back for a forefoot amputation. And later on, below-knee amputation.
Seeing such patients broke her heart, she said. “I felt that what I was doing as a surgical nurse seemed limited at that point in time.”
Community nurse on rounds
Making the rounds as a community nurse, with medical supplies in tow.
In 2016, inspiration came when Yu Ru joined a medical mission trip to rural Papua New Guinea, where access to healthcare was limited and her team brought medical services to the remote villages instead.
It made her wonder. “Rather than being at this end of the spectrum where I’m just fighting fires and preventing further complications, could I go to the other end where I teach (patients) about diabetes or how to value their health?”
She took up an Advanced Diploma in Nursing, specialising in chronic disease management. And when she completed her studies in 2018, SGH was fortuitously setting up community nursing posts as part of the Ministry of Health’s nationwide plan to bring healthcare closer to home.
Yu Ru grabbed at the opportunity for a transfer. “It was what I really wanted, and I never expected it to happen in such a timely manner,” she said.
Community nurse & Mr Khoo Chey Boh sarsi
Yu Ru checks Mr Khoo Chey Boh, 74, who has chronic heart failure, at the Jalan Kukoh nursing post. She spends more time following up with patients and monitoring their health now than she did as a surgical nurse.
Across Singapore, there are now 70 nursing posts set up by various hospitals, 23 of which are run by SGH. Yu Ru was posted, along with five other nurses, to kickstart Chinatown’s two nursing posts.
A year on, the two posts are among SGH’s busiest. The one at Jalan Kukoh, for instance, sees about 110 residents a month.
INTERVENING EARLY
When Yu Ru is not at the post, she’s making as many as six home visits in a day in the Outram catchment area, which comprises China Square, Chinatown, Pearl’s Hill and People’s Park.
These visits often help Yu Ru spot environmental factors that affect a resident’s health, or detect symptoms of illnesses early, which she says is the “biggest benefit of community nursing”.
WATCH: What a community nurse does (8:17)
One of her regular visits is to 69-year-old Abas Mawas, who has diabetes and end-stage kidney failure.
When Yu Ru first met Abas – whom she affectionately calls “Datuk” (grandfather in Malay) – he had an open wound on his big toe that needed regular dressing.
But what was a minor injury became a major infection, and the toe turned gangrenous.
Community nurse & Mr Abas Bin Mawas aka datuk
Mr Abas Mawas, 69, is diabetic and sometimes has trouble controlling his diet, which Yu Ru helps monitor.
These warning signs were all too familiar to Yu Ru, and she pleaded with Datuk to check himself into the hospital immediately. If he amputated his toe on time, it could stop there; otherwise, the infection could spread in his bloodstream and his entire foot might have to go.
Datuk, however, badly wanted to attend a family member’s wake, and would not be convinced.
“At that point in time, I had to respect his decision,” Yu Ru said. “I’d rather he knew that I was there for him whenever he was ready to go to the hospital.”
Indeed, within a few hours, Datuk changed his mind and called her, and she rushed over from another home visit to arrange for an ambulance.
For that, Datuk is forever thankful. “If she didn’t save me, maybe this foot also would be no more,” he said.
Community nurse & Abas Bin Mawas toe
His left foot is now missing a toe, but it could have been the entire foot, if not for Yu Ru's timely intervention.
THE COMPLEX TAO OF RELATIONSHIPS
Chatting with residents in Hokkien, Cantonese and a bit of Malay, Yu Ru is “kaypoh” in asking about their social lives, how many children they have, so on – as these factors can contribute to their state of health.
Many look forward to her visits; living alone, hardly visited by family if at all, their spirits get a lift from the companionship and smiles that she brings.
"It is helpful for me that I have somebody to talk to once in a while," said Mdm Indrah, 69.
When they come, it boosts us... makes you want to eat your food, eat your medicine, and live for one more day.
Community nurse & Mdm Indra hug
Mdm Indra, 69, lives alone and was depressed after her sister died earlier this year. She gets a "boost", she says, whenever the nurses visit.
But forging relationships has been a more complex undertaking than Yu Ru had imagined – especially in her early days as a community nurse.
“At first, I thought most people would be excited that there was fully-subsidised healthcare brought right to their doorstep,” she said.
But when her team went knocking on doors to introduce the slew of new healthcare services available, some were not interested. They would say they did not need doctors, or that they only used traditional Chinese medicine.
This was a jarring experience for the nurses. “In the hospital, they come to you to seek treatment. Over here, we have to coax them to come for check-ups.”
Community nurse Chua Yu Ru 1
Getting residents to trust them and to accept their care was more complicated than she'd thought it would be.
And even when the nurses won the residents over, the relationship might still hang by a thread – something Yu Ru “learned the hard way”.
One of her first few cases was a man with poorly controlled diabetes. He agreed to let Yu Ru check his blood sugar levels every day, as requested by his doctor.
During these check-ups, Yu Ru would often ask what he had eaten, and his responses were always about noodles and kueh, precisely the food he should avoid. Yu Ru suspects it was her negativity that eventually drove him away.
“He would always hear me say not good, not good, not good,” she said. So after two months, he stopped coming altogether. “He decided for himself that eating well is much more important.”
While it was demoralising at first, Yu Ru did not let herself become jaded. Since then, she has learnt the need to “pace (herself) with the residents” before she can help them.
“Coming from the ward, I’m so used to being the one who instructs,” she said.
As much as we are eager to provide the best care for them, they may not be open to accepting advice just yet.
A year since she last saw that resident, Yu Ru managed to touch base with him recently. This time, she simply asked about his well-being.
“I’m waiting for that moment where he’s open to us again,” she said.
Community nurse & Goh Kung Hong bed bugs
Yu Ru helping Mdm Goh Kung Hong, 66, with the paperwork to apply for financial assistance with her medical bills. Their work as community nurses goes beyond just the clinical.
SIMPLE THINGS COUNT
Dr Lee Wai Sian, a family physician at the Outram Polyclinic, lauds the holistic care that community nurses provide “beyond the clinical setting”.
Some of the most helpful ways to ensure that residents stay healthy, for example, is to repack their medication in a way that’s easy for them to access; and to help them organise their paperwork (to avoid misplaced appointment letters that lead to missed check-ups).
“Due to a variety of reasons such as physical decline, memory difficulties, lack of medical awareness, and inadequate social support or finances, it can be challenging for some elderly to manage their health on their own,” Dr Lee said.
When faced with multiple pills to take, various instructions to follow, and in some cases, six months’ worth of supply to handle, the elderly can find it daunting to even begin unpacking the medication they’ve brought home.
Community nurse & pills
The different pills and the complicated dosages can be daunting - some end up not taking their medication at all.
In Datuk’s case, he was given nine types of pills to take at different times of the day – some on different days of the week.
So the first thing Yu Ru did to help was to sort out his medication in labelled pill boxes, and make the instructions easy to follow: A sun symbol for pills to be taken in the day, a moon for night, the numbers 1 to 7 representing Monday to Sunday, which Datuk found easy to follow.
Yu Ru also followed up on subsequent visits to ensure he had taken his medication and re-packed them correctly.
Community nurse & pill boxes
Datuk's medication is sorted out in pillboxes with easy-to-understand labels.
TAPPING OTHER HELPING HANDS
Though Yu Ru and her colleagues may not have the same resources as they did in the hospital - such as being able to tap immediate medical advice from doctors - they can call on community partners to supplement their care for the residents.
One such partner is the Kreta Ayer Seniors Activity Centre.
When a resident doesn’t show up for an appointment, Yu Ru can count on the centre’s volunteers to point her to their usual hangouts – like the time she went looking for one and found him eating his favourite oyster omelette.
In turn, she alerts the centre when a resident needs their services.
On a home visit to Mdm Goh Kung Hong, Yu Ru found out that the 66-year-old had difficulty sleeping due to a bed bug infestation. The thought of bed bugs scared Yu Ru, but she braced herself, took pictures of the traces, and sought help from the centre manager to arrange for fumigation immediately.
Community nurse & bed bugs
Yu Ru taking pictures of the bed bug infestation.
Such things may seem a stretch of a nurse's duty, but she says it’s part of the job. “We not only nurse them, we look at the environment and other factors that might affect their health.”
The community nurses also work closely with Montfort Care, which offers social or emotional support services for the elderly. Both parties refer residents to each other when the need arises.
Take, for instance, Mdm Kek Eh Nau, 79, who looks after her husband who has dementia. Yu Ru noticed this was taking a toll on her.
“It can be quite suffocating to face the husband alone all the time in the house, if she’s not out in the community and engaging with other people,” she said.
So now, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Mdm Kek – with her husband and helper in tow – will walk two blocks to Montfort Care’s Fit For Life programme, have a good stretch, and play games with other seniors.
Community nurse & Mdm Kek Eh Nau hubby
Mdm Kek Eh Nau, 79 (in pink shirt) and her husband (in wheelchair) doing the Montfort Care programme.
Gary Mok, 37, a case worker who helps to lead the programme, said that having the community nurses means extra pairs of eyes to look out for the elderly residents.
“Since the nurses came, medical care has become more accessible to seniors who are more vulnerable and isolated. We do a lot of joint visits, and a lot of case discussion about the care plan for residents here,” he said.
What Yu Ru appreciates most about her job is the bond she shares with her residents. They evidently adore the sprightly Missy (colloquial term for nurse) – and more than one resident told CNA Insider they saw her as a granddaughter.
Having earned their trust, Yu Ru hopes to change the way the elderly see their health, and empower them to take better care of themselves.
“And I will be there as a friend, a community nurse, to journey alongside them.”
Community nurse Goh Kung Hong
Source: cna/yv
For Chinatown’s chronically-ill seniors, nurses like 27-year-old Chua Yu Ru - who make their rounds not in a hospital but in HDB blocks – are making the difference between pain and declining health, and a better-managed life
Community nurse with Kek Eh Nau, 79
Community nurse Chua Yu Ru, 27, helped Mdm Kek Eh Nau, 79, find some respite from caring for her husband with dementia.
08 Sep 2019 06:15AM
Share this content
Bookmark
SINGAPORE: The floor of Mr Hoh Ah Kaw’s one-room flat was sticky, and there was a lingering dampness in the air.
His bed sat awkwardly two feet from the door, clothes hanging from a pole above it, but amid the cramped clutter of old furniture, what caught Ms Chua Yu Ru’s eye were boxes and boxes of eye-drops sitting atop a dresser. They were all unopened.
It took a while before the frail 79-year-old finally admitted to her that he had no one to help him apply the eyedrops to his cataract-ridden eyes.
“He told me his hand had no strength to press the bottle,” said Yu Ru, a 27-year-old senior staff nurse. So for months, he had simply resigned himself to skipping the four daily applications that the doctor had prescribed.
It is residents like him who spur Yu Ru to spend her days pounding the ground on her daily rounds as a community nurse in Chinatown, looking out for the ailing elderly residents – many of whom live in rental flats – and doing her best to help keep them out of hospital.
Community nurse & Mr Hoh Ah Kaw
Senior staff nurse Chua Yu Ru with Mr Hoh Ah Kaw, 79. (Visuals: Say Xiang Yu and Christy Yip)
Suffering from assorted chronic conditions, from diabetes and hypertension to congestive heart failure, many are fatalistic about the situation, and tend to neglect doctors’ orders, their medication, or even seeking help.
“Many times, due to not being sure who to approach or where to seek help, the residents do not get the treatment that they need - or they are not even aware they have certain conditions,” she said.
Some of the elderly think that just because they are old and sick, life is just like that.
"But we can be the voice telling them that life is still worth living, and help them change the way they approach their health," she added.
In Mr Hoh’s case, Yu Ru helped him obtain an eyedrops applicator that lets him apply the medication with an easy push of a button. Once a week, she visits to check that he has been doing it right.
Community nurse & Mr Hoh Ah Kaw eyedrops
Yu Ru follows up to ensure Mr Hoh is using the eyedrop applicator she obtained for him.
As the population ages, more nurses like her are being stationed within neighbourhoods across Singapore. Yu Ru works out of two community nursing posts in Chinatown – one at Banda Street and another at Jalan Kukoh – set up by the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Though these posts, located at Senior Activity Centres, are set up for standard checks like blood-pressure readings, it quickly becomes clear that the heart of these nurses’ work goes beyond the clinical.
As CNA Insider trailed Yu Ru on her rounds, she stopped many times to greet eager residents. Like the elderly uncle who, from two floors above, spotted her familiar white uniform and trolley bag of medical supplies, and waved excitedly.
“Come visit me soon!” she called back to him.
“Have you eaten?” she asked another resident in Hokkien. “Kopi ga dai” – coffee with more condensed milk, he told her.
“Ga dai?!” Yu Ru exclaimed in mock disbelief, making a mental note to watch for signs of diabetes at his next check-up at the nursing post.
Community nurse & Ga dai Uncle
Yu Ru and fellow nurse Murni Nadhirah frequently stop to chat with residents.
It’s these relationships they spend time building that makes the elderly residents more likely to listen to the nurses’ advice, and to trust them with deeply personal matters.
Said Yu Ru: “They don’t just see me as a nurse. They see me as family. And I think it comes from seeing that we are genuinely here to help them for the long term.”
Community nurse & resident market
WHY COMMUNITY NURSING?
Prior to becoming a community nurse last year, Yu Ru worked in SGH’s general surgery ward for four years.
The work was by nature fast-paced – wound dressing, serving medication, discharging patients. In most cases, she saw the patient just once. So it was those who kept coming back that made Yu Ru stop to think.
They were diabetic patients, vulnerable to infections in the lower limbs, and requiring amputation when wounds went unchecked. One would come in for a toe amputation, and Yu Ru would do her due diligence to teach the patient how to take care of their wound at home.
But a few months later, the same patient would be back for a forefoot amputation. And later on, below-knee amputation.
Seeing such patients broke her heart, she said. “I felt that what I was doing as a surgical nurse seemed limited at that point in time.”
Community nurse on rounds
Making the rounds as a community nurse, with medical supplies in tow.
In 2016, inspiration came when Yu Ru joined a medical mission trip to rural Papua New Guinea, where access to healthcare was limited and her team brought medical services to the remote villages instead.
It made her wonder. “Rather than being at this end of the spectrum where I’m just fighting fires and preventing further complications, could I go to the other end where I teach (patients) about diabetes or how to value their health?”
She took up an Advanced Diploma in Nursing, specialising in chronic disease management. And when she completed her studies in 2018, SGH was fortuitously setting up community nursing posts as part of the Ministry of Health’s nationwide plan to bring healthcare closer to home.
Yu Ru grabbed at the opportunity for a transfer. “It was what I really wanted, and I never expected it to happen in such a timely manner,” she said.
Community nurse & Mr Khoo Chey Boh sarsi
Yu Ru checks Mr Khoo Chey Boh, 74, who has chronic heart failure, at the Jalan Kukoh nursing post. She spends more time following up with patients and monitoring their health now than she did as a surgical nurse.
Across Singapore, there are now 70 nursing posts set up by various hospitals, 23 of which are run by SGH. Yu Ru was posted, along with five other nurses, to kickstart Chinatown’s two nursing posts.
A year on, the two posts are among SGH’s busiest. The one at Jalan Kukoh, for instance, sees about 110 residents a month.
INTERVENING EARLY
When Yu Ru is not at the post, she’s making as many as six home visits in a day in the Outram catchment area, which comprises China Square, Chinatown, Pearl’s Hill and People’s Park.
These visits often help Yu Ru spot environmental factors that affect a resident’s health, or detect symptoms of illnesses early, which she says is the “biggest benefit of community nursing”.
WATCH: What a community nurse does (8:17)
One of her regular visits is to 69-year-old Abas Mawas, who has diabetes and end-stage kidney failure.
When Yu Ru first met Abas – whom she affectionately calls “Datuk” (grandfather in Malay) – he had an open wound on his big toe that needed regular dressing.
But what was a minor injury became a major infection, and the toe turned gangrenous.
Community nurse & Mr Abas Bin Mawas aka datuk
Mr Abas Mawas, 69, is diabetic and sometimes has trouble controlling his diet, which Yu Ru helps monitor.
These warning signs were all too familiar to Yu Ru, and she pleaded with Datuk to check himself into the hospital immediately. If he amputated his toe on time, it could stop there; otherwise, the infection could spread in his bloodstream and his entire foot might have to go.
Datuk, however, badly wanted to attend a family member’s wake, and would not be convinced.
“At that point in time, I had to respect his decision,” Yu Ru said. “I’d rather he knew that I was there for him whenever he was ready to go to the hospital.”
Indeed, within a few hours, Datuk changed his mind and called her, and she rushed over from another home visit to arrange for an ambulance.
For that, Datuk is forever thankful. “If she didn’t save me, maybe this foot also would be no more,” he said.
Community nurse & Abas Bin Mawas toe
His left foot is now missing a toe, but it could have been the entire foot, if not for Yu Ru's timely intervention.
THE COMPLEX TAO OF RELATIONSHIPS
Chatting with residents in Hokkien, Cantonese and a bit of Malay, Yu Ru is “kaypoh” in asking about their social lives, how many children they have, so on – as these factors can contribute to their state of health.
Many look forward to her visits; living alone, hardly visited by family if at all, their spirits get a lift from the companionship and smiles that she brings.
"It is helpful for me that I have somebody to talk to once in a while," said Mdm Indrah, 69.
When they come, it boosts us... makes you want to eat your food, eat your medicine, and live for one more day.
Community nurse & Mdm Indra hug
Mdm Indra, 69, lives alone and was depressed after her sister died earlier this year. She gets a "boost", she says, whenever the nurses visit.
But forging relationships has been a more complex undertaking than Yu Ru had imagined – especially in her early days as a community nurse.
“At first, I thought most people would be excited that there was fully-subsidised healthcare brought right to their doorstep,” she said.
But when her team went knocking on doors to introduce the slew of new healthcare services available, some were not interested. They would say they did not need doctors, or that they only used traditional Chinese medicine.
This was a jarring experience for the nurses. “In the hospital, they come to you to seek treatment. Over here, we have to coax them to come for check-ups.”
Community nurse Chua Yu Ru 1
Getting residents to trust them and to accept their care was more complicated than she'd thought it would be.
And even when the nurses won the residents over, the relationship might still hang by a thread – something Yu Ru “learned the hard way”.
One of her first few cases was a man with poorly controlled diabetes. He agreed to let Yu Ru check his blood sugar levels every day, as requested by his doctor.
During these check-ups, Yu Ru would often ask what he had eaten, and his responses were always about noodles and kueh, precisely the food he should avoid. Yu Ru suspects it was her negativity that eventually drove him away.
“He would always hear me say not good, not good, not good,” she said. So after two months, he stopped coming altogether. “He decided for himself that eating well is much more important.”
While it was demoralising at first, Yu Ru did not let herself become jaded. Since then, she has learnt the need to “pace (herself) with the residents” before she can help them.
“Coming from the ward, I’m so used to being the one who instructs,” she said.
As much as we are eager to provide the best care for them, they may not be open to accepting advice just yet.
A year since she last saw that resident, Yu Ru managed to touch base with him recently. This time, she simply asked about his well-being.
“I’m waiting for that moment where he’s open to us again,” she said.
Community nurse & Goh Kung Hong bed bugs
Yu Ru helping Mdm Goh Kung Hong, 66, with the paperwork to apply for financial assistance with her medical bills. Their work as community nurses goes beyond just the clinical.
SIMPLE THINGS COUNT
Dr Lee Wai Sian, a family physician at the Outram Polyclinic, lauds the holistic care that community nurses provide “beyond the clinical setting”.
Some of the most helpful ways to ensure that residents stay healthy, for example, is to repack their medication in a way that’s easy for them to access; and to help them organise their paperwork (to avoid misplaced appointment letters that lead to missed check-ups).
“Due to a variety of reasons such as physical decline, memory difficulties, lack of medical awareness, and inadequate social support or finances, it can be challenging for some elderly to manage their health on their own,” Dr Lee said.
When faced with multiple pills to take, various instructions to follow, and in some cases, six months’ worth of supply to handle, the elderly can find it daunting to even begin unpacking the medication they’ve brought home.
Community nurse & pills
The different pills and the complicated dosages can be daunting - some end up not taking their medication at all.
In Datuk’s case, he was given nine types of pills to take at different times of the day – some on different days of the week.
So the first thing Yu Ru did to help was to sort out his medication in labelled pill boxes, and make the instructions easy to follow: A sun symbol for pills to be taken in the day, a moon for night, the numbers 1 to 7 representing Monday to Sunday, which Datuk found easy to follow.
Yu Ru also followed up on subsequent visits to ensure he had taken his medication and re-packed them correctly.
Community nurse & pill boxes
Datuk's medication is sorted out in pillboxes with easy-to-understand labels.
TAPPING OTHER HELPING HANDS
Though Yu Ru and her colleagues may not have the same resources as they did in the hospital - such as being able to tap immediate medical advice from doctors - they can call on community partners to supplement their care for the residents.
One such partner is the Kreta Ayer Seniors Activity Centre.
When a resident doesn’t show up for an appointment, Yu Ru can count on the centre’s volunteers to point her to their usual hangouts – like the time she went looking for one and found him eating his favourite oyster omelette.
In turn, she alerts the centre when a resident needs their services.
On a home visit to Mdm Goh Kung Hong, Yu Ru found out that the 66-year-old had difficulty sleeping due to a bed bug infestation. The thought of bed bugs scared Yu Ru, but she braced herself, took pictures of the traces, and sought help from the centre manager to arrange for fumigation immediately.
Community nurse & bed bugs
Yu Ru taking pictures of the bed bug infestation.
Such things may seem a stretch of a nurse's duty, but she says it’s part of the job. “We not only nurse them, we look at the environment and other factors that might affect their health.”
The community nurses also work closely with Montfort Care, which offers social or emotional support services for the elderly. Both parties refer residents to each other when the need arises.
Take, for instance, Mdm Kek Eh Nau, 79, who looks after her husband who has dementia. Yu Ru noticed this was taking a toll on her.
“It can be quite suffocating to face the husband alone all the time in the house, if she’s not out in the community and engaging with other people,” she said.
So now, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Mdm Kek – with her husband and helper in tow – will walk two blocks to Montfort Care’s Fit For Life programme, have a good stretch, and play games with other seniors.
Community nurse & Mdm Kek Eh Nau hubby
Mdm Kek Eh Nau, 79 (in pink shirt) and her husband (in wheelchair) doing the Montfort Care programme.
Gary Mok, 37, a case worker who helps to lead the programme, said that having the community nurses means extra pairs of eyes to look out for the elderly residents.
“Since the nurses came, medical care has become more accessible to seniors who are more vulnerable and isolated. We do a lot of joint visits, and a lot of case discussion about the care plan for residents here,” he said.
What Yu Ru appreciates most about her job is the bond she shares with her residents. They evidently adore the sprightly Missy (colloquial term for nurse) – and more than one resident told CNA Insider they saw her as a granddaughter.
Having earned their trust, Yu Ru hopes to change the way the elderly see their health, and empower them to take better care of themselves.
“And I will be there as a friend, a community nurse, to journey alongside them.”
Community nurse Goh Kung Hong
Source: cna/yv
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Grey nomads 'getting into all sorts of trouble' sees record number of flying doctor callouts
PHOTO The RFDS operates 20 aircraft from nine operational bases from across regional Queensland. SUPPLIED: ROYAL FLYING DOCTORS SERVICE
Underprepared grey nomads touring the outback — sometimes with significant illnesses — have contributed to a Queensland flying doctor base recording its busiest two months ever.
And the Charleville Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) base is on track for its busiest year yet with over 1,200 flight hours already recorded this year.
Over the same period last year the crew, based 900 kilometres west of Brisbane, had only flown 1,080 hours.
"For the last three months we've exceeded our previous months' records," said Charleville manager of clinical and base operations, Joanne Mahony.
"It's actually the flying time that that has increased each month."
An increase in RFDS flights for older patients is a trend across the country.
PHOTO The Charleville base looks like it will recording its busiest year yet, with 1,200 flight hours already recorded for the year. SUPPLIED: ROYAL FLYING DOCTORS SERVICE
He said there were a couple of factors at play — more older travellers and aging regional communities.
"From 2014 to 2017, we conducted just under 22,000 aeromedical retrievals for those aged 65 years or above," Dr Gardiner said.
"About 18,000 of these were non-Indigenous, and just under 4,000 were Indigenous. We suspect it's related to an aging population."
Between 2014 and 2017, the RFDS conducted over 900 retrievals for heart attacks.
"So those are very acute cases that you can't often prepare for, really," Dr Gardiner said.
"The next on the list was fractures, fractures of the femur often related to falls and trips and those sorts of things."
Outback tourism success
On top of a severe flu season, a rise in outback tourism has been keeping the Charleville RFDS team busy.
"There's a lot of tourists, a lot more tourists, especially in the last few years that have been passing through," Ms Mahony said.
PHOTO The RFDS is often called to accidents on remote cattle properties, landing on gravel airstrips and treating people in the field. SUPPLIED: ROYAL FLYING DOCTORS SERVICE
With a lack of health services available in small grazing communities, when passing travellers become unwell, particularly those with chronic illnesses, the RFDS is radioed in.
Over the past 10 years, the Charleville RFDS base has seen a 45 per cent increase in aeromedical flights.
Travellers in the 'last month of their life'
The increase in medical emergencies involving tourists with existing health problems is a trend throughout the region.
"We see it all the time, and it never ceases to amaze me how people have their expectations of what's going to be available in the remote outback," said Dr Clare Walker, president of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland.
"It doesn't necessarily match the reality.
PHOTO The outback Queensland region welcomed 965,000 visitors in the year ending March 2019. ABC SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND: NATHAN MORRIS
The biggest cohort of tourists to outback Queensland are from interstate, growing by over 12 per cent over the past three years.
Dr Walker also said a lot of them were not properly insured.
In Longreach, where Dr Walker is based, there has been significant jump in presentations by out-of-towners.
"The numbers through the Longreach hospital emergency department has been somewhere around the range of 20 per cent in the last month above what we did last year," Dr Walker said.
"And I think a lot of that has been tourists."
$40,000 for final flight home
Relocating people with serious medical conditions can be expensive.
"Just recently, we had a traveller from interstate who was very unwell and he ended up paying $40,000 for a care flight to get him interstate, back home with loved ones, for the last stages of his life," Dr Walker said.
PHOTO The Big Red Bash music festival near Birdsville is one event that draws tens of thousands of people. ABC SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND: NATHAN MORRIS
She encouraged anyone from interstate heading west with medical conditions that needed treatment to be prepared.
"If someone comes to us and they have a heart attack we can fly them with the flying doctors to Brisbane, but that's where the service for the state ends," Dr Walker said.
Aging regional towns
Dr Walker said the severe drought that much of the region continues to face has seen many young people leave.
PHOTO The RFDS employs over 400 people across Queensland. SUPPLIED: ROYAL FLYING DOCTORS SERVICE
"The families and the younger folk are generally the ones that have moved away, certainly from the central-west region, when there's been less work because of the drought," she said.
"[It] does mean that our average age is even higher.
Underprepared grey nomads touring the outback — sometimes with significant illnesses — have contributed to a Queensland flying doctor base recording its busiest two months ever.
And the Charleville Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) base is on track for its busiest year yet with over 1,200 flight hours already recorded this year.
Over the same period last year the crew, based 900 kilometres west of Brisbane, had only flown 1,080 hours.
"For the last three months we've exceeded our previous months' records," said Charleville manager of clinical and base operations, Joanne Mahony.
"It's actually the flying time that that has increased each month."
An increase in RFDS flights for older patients is a trend across the country.
"It's pretty consistent throughout rural and remote Australia that our aeromedical retrievals are increasing for older people," said Dr Fergus Gardiner, the director of research and policy at the RFDS.
He said there were a couple of factors at play — more older travellers and aging regional communities.
"From 2014 to 2017, we conducted just under 22,000 aeromedical retrievals for those aged 65 years or above," Dr Gardiner said.
"About 18,000 of these were non-Indigenous, and just under 4,000 were Indigenous. We suspect it's related to an aging population."
Between 2014 and 2017, the RFDS conducted over 900 retrievals for heart attacks.
"So those are very acute cases that you can't often prepare for, really," Dr Gardiner said.
"The next on the list was fractures, fractures of the femur often related to falls and trips and those sorts of things."
Outback tourism success
On top of a severe flu season, a rise in outback tourism has been keeping the Charleville RFDS team busy.
"There's a lot of tourists, a lot more tourists, especially in the last few years that have been passing through," Ms Mahony said.
"But this year's been particularly busy with tourists passing through western Queensland."
With a lack of health services available in small grazing communities, when passing travellers become unwell, particularly those with chronic illnesses, the RFDS is radioed in.
Over the past 10 years, the Charleville RFDS base has seen a 45 per cent increase in aeromedical flights.
Travellers in the 'last month of their life'
The increase in medical emergencies involving tourists with existing health problems is a trend throughout the region.
"We see it all the time, and it never ceases to amaze me how people have their expectations of what's going to be available in the remote outback," said Dr Clare Walker, president of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland.
"It doesn't necessarily match the reality.
"We see a lot of people with significant illnesses, sometimes even in the last month of their life, travelling to some seriously remote places with very few services and without very much preparation."
The biggest cohort of tourists to outback Queensland are from interstate, growing by over 12 per cent over the past three years.
Dr Walker also said a lot of them were not properly insured.
"Sometimes they get picked up and taken out by the flying doctors and they've left behind a spouse that can't drive a vehicle," she said.
"They can't afford to tow and they get into all sorts of trouble."In Longreach, where Dr Walker is based, there has been significant jump in presentations by out-of-towners.
"The numbers through the Longreach hospital emergency department has been somewhere around the range of 20 per cent in the last month above what we did last year," Dr Walker said.
"And I think a lot of that has been tourists."
$40,000 for final flight home
Relocating people with serious medical conditions can be expensive.
"Just recently, we had a traveller from interstate who was very unwell and he ended up paying $40,000 for a care flight to get him interstate, back home with loved ones, for the last stages of his life," Dr Walker said.
"I've actually seen that more this year than I have done in the past. There's been a few patients that have said that this was on their bucket list — the Birdsville races, or this or that."
She encouraged anyone from interstate heading west with medical conditions that needed treatment to be prepared.
"If someone comes to us and they have a heart attack we can fly them with the flying doctors to Brisbane, but that's where the service for the state ends," Dr Walker said.
Aging regional towns
Dr Walker said the severe drought that much of the region continues to face has seen many young people leave.
"The families and the younger folk are generally the ones that have moved away, certainly from the central-west region, when there's been less work because of the drought," she said.
"[It] does mean that our average age is even higher.
"So we do see a lot of age-related chronic disease problems, probably more so than we did in years gone by."
Posted about 10 hours ago
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Funny that all the old farts are kpkb about CPF, no pension etc,,,,when the big question is ' Who did they vote for?' and when working,,why never ask PAP to tax them ang mor land rates so they can get pension? Anyway who ask these old farts to live that long?
Elderly man tells the SDP, “How do you expect an 80-year-old to continue working? Just return our CPF to us”
“Return us our CPF savings. You can put my picture up. I am not afraid”, he exclaimed
Photo: Fb/Chee Soon Juan
Author
Obbana Rajah
Date
October 24, 2019
Category
Featured NewsHome NewsSocio-Political
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In a video uploaded by members of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan, an elderly man spoke out about having their CPF funds returned to them earlier so that they can use the money to help their children with some of their financial burden.
In talking to volunteers from the SDP, the man said, “How do you expect an 80-year old to continue working? Just return our CPF to us”.
“We can use the CPF savings to help our children start a small business, for example set up a coffeeshop. They can at least have some form of security and don’t need to fret about getting tough jobs like being a driver. If the government continues to withhold my CPF savings, will I be able to see it when I pass away? Do you think we can still walk around at the age of 68?”, he asked.
Saying that he just wanted to help his children with his CPF savings, he mused about how much a fresh university graduate could possibly earn.
- Advertisement -
“How much CPF savings can he or she accumulate? Second point, once they buy a house, the savings become zero right away. Then start saving again, get married and the savings will become zero again”, he added.
Touching on the issue of marriage and starting a family, the man said, “You dare to have children? Who dares? Child subsidy? A woman getting pregnant is a commitment forever”.
“Return us our CPF savings. You can put my picture up. I am not afraid”, he exclaimed.
The end of the video the SDP shared the following statement: “This coming GE, say NO to the PAP withholding our CPF savings”.
The issue of CPF is a big one, and during the SDP’s Pre-Election Rally (October 19) at Hong Lim Park, vice-chairman John Tan spoke about how people’s CPF money was retained even after its maturity. /TISG
Elderly man tells the SDP, “How do you expect an 80-year-old to continue working? Just return our CPF to us”
“Return us our CPF savings. You can put my picture up. I am not afraid”, he exclaimed
Photo: Fb/Chee Soon JuanAuthor
Obbana Rajah
Date
October 24, 2019
Category
Featured NewsHome NewsSocio-Political
Share
- Advertisement -
In a video uploaded by members of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan, an elderly man spoke out about having their CPF funds returned to them earlier so that they can use the money to help their children with some of their financial burden.
In talking to volunteers from the SDP, the man said, “How do you expect an 80-year old to continue working? Just return our CPF to us”.
“We can use the CPF savings to help our children start a small business, for example set up a coffeeshop. They can at least have some form of security and don’t need to fret about getting tough jobs like being a driver. If the government continues to withhold my CPF savings, will I be able to see it when I pass away? Do you think we can still walk around at the age of 68?”, he asked.
Saying that he just wanted to help his children with his CPF savings, he mused about how much a fresh university graduate could possibly earn.
- Advertisement -
“How much CPF savings can he or she accumulate? Second point, once they buy a house, the savings become zero right away. Then start saving again, get married and the savings will become zero again”, he added.
Touching on the issue of marriage and starting a family, the man said, “You dare to have children? Who dares? Child subsidy? A woman getting pregnant is a commitment forever”.
“Return us our CPF savings. You can put my picture up. I am not afraid”, he exclaimed.
To his comments, Dr Chee said, “This is your voice. It is coming with us into Parliament”.
The end of the video the SDP shared the following statement: “This coming GE, say NO to the PAP withholding our CPF savings”.
The issue of CPF is a big one, and during the SDP’s Pre-Election Rally (October 19) at Hong Lim Park, vice-chairman John Tan spoke about how people’s CPF money was retained even after its maturity. /TISG
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- Jun 27, 2018
- Messages
- 29,462
- Points
- 113
Another BS article, the solution is Soylent Green them..than no issues... Soylent Green..it's for people
Commentary: Living with dementia, anguish and guilt plague families caring for loved ones
Families often learn to adapt to new physical needs, but are ill-equipped to deal with the emotional resolve the condition demands, says Melissa Chan, Head of Community and Outreach at Homage, a health-tech social enterprise in Singapore.
An elderly woman is being helped while walking on the road. (Photo: TODAY)Share this content
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SINGAPORE: Earlier this year, our team received a distress call from a client Aysha*.
Her 70-year old mother, Madam Wahidah*, had refused to offer daily afternoon Salah (Islamic prayers) unless she had taken a shower.
Aysha had already given her a shower and reminded her so, but Madam Wahidah did not remember and was unconvinced.
Madam Wahidah, who never misses her daily prayers, grew agitated. In a moment of anger, she locked herself inside her bedroom.
After hours of persuasion, apologies and patience, Aysha finally convinced her mother to unlock the door.
For the rest of the week, this agonising episode repeated with Aysha finally engaging us for professional assistance, since it was compromising her ability to get to work.
The care professional was able to convince Madam Wahidah to open up and freshen herself. She also discovered the root of Madam Wahidah’s temperamental episodes.
Madam Wahidah’s memory was fading. This acknowledgement was devastating to her. Her repeated insistence was her way of convincing herself that her memory was intact.
But her daughter Aysha’s difficulty in understanding her mother’s mental anguish, due to the progression of dementia, and the increased dependence on others, gave her greater grief.
An elderly woman passes the time outside her home. (File photo: REUTERS/Damir Sagolj)
DEMENTIA’S PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL
Madam Wahidah displayed the earliest signs of dementia - forgetfulness and occasionally repeated behaviour.
As dementia progresses, changes in mood, behaviour and personality become more common. Feelings of withdrawal, communication issues and impaired social behaviour can arise. Persons with dementia may even forget the names of their loved ones and their personal attributes.
READ: Missing items, temper tantrums and life shifts: One woman’s journey in caring for her mother-in-law with dementia
They begin to lose a sense of self as their memory and hold on reality fades.
Those living with dementia find their confidence and emotions challenged, and can sometimes lash out because of anger and frustration.
The Alzheimer’s Disease Association in Singapore (ADA) defines dementia as “an illness which affects the brain, causing the brain cells to die at a faster rate than normal - leading to a decline in one’s mental abilities, failing memory, deterioration of intellectual function and personality changes”.
But the challenge with dementia is also the lack of understanding of its psychological impact on families coming to terms with this disease.
READ: Commentary: The role reversal between parent and child, as ageing takes a toll on families
A couple holding hands. (Photo: Pixabay)
I have observed first-hand the severe emotional toll dementia exacts on family members as the condition progresses, leading to caregiver burnout and familial tensions.
Families often learn to adapt to new physical needs, but do not grasp and remain ill-equipped to deal with the emotional resolve the condition demands.
ACKNOWLEDGING EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES
Acknowledging, accepting and addressing the emotional challenges of this condition faced by persons with dementia and loved ones caring for them, is a critical part of effectively dealing with dementia that frequently goes under the radar.
Families must first acknowledge the physical and emotional hurdles that this condition imposes on a patient and themselves.
Our research drawn from hours of care delivered by Homage across Singapore shows that in the early to middle stages of the condition, individuals might display changes in behaviour.
In the earlier stages, this could include a level of obsessive-compulsive behaviour since routine and repetition are reassuring and can prevent mistakes.
As the condition progresses into the middle stages, individuals might shout, scold those around or even get physically aggressive, because they cannot vocalise their feelings and assert themselves.
READ: Commentary: Burden of caring for ageing parents weighs heaviest on unmarried daughters
An elderly woman in a wheelchair, pushed by her caregiver. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Such actions should prompt families to get an early diagnosis done, and look out for signs of memory lapses or withdrawal from social interactions.
More importantly, caregivers should develop an acute sense of the routines, habits and relationships that help their loved one build confidence and a sense of worth.
For most, it’s the ability to carry out daily living activities we take for granted like grooming, preparing a meal, driving, and socialising, that give them a sense of independence but may require additional support with dementia.
When they begin to experience difficulty in carrying out such tasks, they may feel irritated, confused and in some cases, engage in self-harm.
ACCEPTING AND OWNING THE JOURNEY
Accepting the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies dementia is the second step to overcoming the disease.
Three in four living with dementia feel rejected and lonely, according to a survey of 5,600 people done by ADA and Singapore Management University. More than half feel less competent because of their condition.
An elderly man walking across North Bridge Road. (Photo: Monica Kotwani)
Nearly 30 per cent also expressed feeling embarrassed in public while looking after their loved one.
These figures are alarming reminders of the deep-seated stigma our society continues to have against those with personal challenges, making it difficult to seek help in time. “Feeling awkward” to be seen with a person with dementia, is directly linked to shame, guilt and even depression.
The longer one harbours these feelings, the more difficult it becomes for the person with dementia and their caregivers to manage the condition. Acceptance of the situation allows families to finding better avenues of care and undertake pivotal changes in one’s lifestyle.
With Singapore’s life expectancy reaching nearly 85 years, many youths around us are or will be caregivers in their lifetimes. So why the shame?
The journey is demanding but can be undertaken with clarity and confidence along with the right support and attitude.
READ: Commentary: It is high time for a Ministry on Ageing Issues
Elderly in Singapore (File photo: TODAY)
ADDRESSING CAREGIVING SUPPORT
Singapore’s ageing population, smaller families and eventual increase in our dependency ratio will mean more cases of caregiver burnout.
An ageing population also means a higher incidence of dementia - in 2012, about 28,000 people in Singapore aged 60 and older had dementia. The number is expected to soar to 80,000 by 2030.
At the same time, the country is seeing a steadily declining old-age support ratio, from 7.4 in 2010 to 4.5 in 2019.
And in our fast-paced society, heavier professional and personal responsibilities mean less time for caregiving and meeting one’s emotional needs.
Commentary: Living with dementia, anguish and guilt plague families caring for loved ones
Families often learn to adapt to new physical needs, but are ill-equipped to deal with the emotional resolve the condition demands, says Melissa Chan, Head of Community and Outreach at Homage, a health-tech social enterprise in Singapore.
An elderly woman is being helped while walking on the road. (Photo: TODAY)Share this content
Bookmark
SINGAPORE: Earlier this year, our team received a distress call from a client Aysha*.
Her 70-year old mother, Madam Wahidah*, had refused to offer daily afternoon Salah (Islamic prayers) unless she had taken a shower.
Aysha had already given her a shower and reminded her so, but Madam Wahidah did not remember and was unconvinced.
Madam Wahidah, who never misses her daily prayers, grew agitated. In a moment of anger, she locked herself inside her bedroom.
After hours of persuasion, apologies and patience, Aysha finally convinced her mother to unlock the door.
For the rest of the week, this agonising episode repeated with Aysha finally engaging us for professional assistance, since it was compromising her ability to get to work.
The care professional was able to convince Madam Wahidah to open up and freshen herself. She also discovered the root of Madam Wahidah’s temperamental episodes.
Madam Wahidah’s memory was fading. This acknowledgement was devastating to her. Her repeated insistence was her way of convincing herself that her memory was intact.
But her daughter Aysha’s difficulty in understanding her mother’s mental anguish, due to the progression of dementia, and the increased dependence on others, gave her greater grief.
An elderly woman passes the time outside her home. (File photo: REUTERS/Damir Sagolj)
DEMENTIA’S PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL
Madam Wahidah displayed the earliest signs of dementia - forgetfulness and occasionally repeated behaviour.
As dementia progresses, changes in mood, behaviour and personality become more common. Feelings of withdrawal, communication issues and impaired social behaviour can arise. Persons with dementia may even forget the names of their loved ones and their personal attributes.
READ: Missing items, temper tantrums and life shifts: One woman’s journey in caring for her mother-in-law with dementia
They begin to lose a sense of self as their memory and hold on reality fades.
Those living with dementia find their confidence and emotions challenged, and can sometimes lash out because of anger and frustration.
The Alzheimer’s Disease Association in Singapore (ADA) defines dementia as “an illness which affects the brain, causing the brain cells to die at a faster rate than normal - leading to a decline in one’s mental abilities, failing memory, deterioration of intellectual function and personality changes”.
But the challenge with dementia is also the lack of understanding of its psychological impact on families coming to terms with this disease.
READ: Commentary: The role reversal between parent and child, as ageing takes a toll on families
A couple holding hands. (Photo: Pixabay)
I have observed first-hand the severe emotional toll dementia exacts on family members as the condition progresses, leading to caregiver burnout and familial tensions.
Families often learn to adapt to new physical needs, but do not grasp and remain ill-equipped to deal with the emotional resolve the condition demands.
ACKNOWLEDGING EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES
Acknowledging, accepting and addressing the emotional challenges of this condition faced by persons with dementia and loved ones caring for them, is a critical part of effectively dealing with dementia that frequently goes under the radar.
Families must first acknowledge the physical and emotional hurdles that this condition imposes on a patient and themselves.
Our research drawn from hours of care delivered by Homage across Singapore shows that in the early to middle stages of the condition, individuals might display changes in behaviour.
In the earlier stages, this could include a level of obsessive-compulsive behaviour since routine and repetition are reassuring and can prevent mistakes.
As the condition progresses into the middle stages, individuals might shout, scold those around or even get physically aggressive, because they cannot vocalise their feelings and assert themselves.
READ: Commentary: Burden of caring for ageing parents weighs heaviest on unmarried daughters
An elderly woman in a wheelchair, pushed by her caregiver. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Such actions should prompt families to get an early diagnosis done, and look out for signs of memory lapses or withdrawal from social interactions.
More importantly, caregivers should develop an acute sense of the routines, habits and relationships that help their loved one build confidence and a sense of worth.
For most, it’s the ability to carry out daily living activities we take for granted like grooming, preparing a meal, driving, and socialising, that give them a sense of independence but may require additional support with dementia.
When they begin to experience difficulty in carrying out such tasks, they may feel irritated, confused and in some cases, engage in self-harm.
ACCEPTING AND OWNING THE JOURNEY
Accepting the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies dementia is the second step to overcoming the disease.
Three in four living with dementia feel rejected and lonely, according to a survey of 5,600 people done by ADA and Singapore Management University. More than half feel less competent because of their condition.
An elderly man walking across North Bridge Road. (Photo: Monica Kotwani)
Nearly 30 per cent also expressed feeling embarrassed in public while looking after their loved one.
These figures are alarming reminders of the deep-seated stigma our society continues to have against those with personal challenges, making it difficult to seek help in time. “Feeling awkward” to be seen with a person with dementia, is directly linked to shame, guilt and even depression.
The longer one harbours these feelings, the more difficult it becomes for the person with dementia and their caregivers to manage the condition. Acceptance of the situation allows families to finding better avenues of care and undertake pivotal changes in one’s lifestyle.
With Singapore’s life expectancy reaching nearly 85 years, many youths around us are or will be caregivers in their lifetimes. So why the shame?
The journey is demanding but can be undertaken with clarity and confidence along with the right support and attitude.
READ: Commentary: It is high time for a Ministry on Ageing Issues
Elderly in Singapore (File photo: TODAY)
ADDRESSING CAREGIVING SUPPORT
Singapore’s ageing population, smaller families and eventual increase in our dependency ratio will mean more cases of caregiver burnout.
An ageing population also means a higher incidence of dementia - in 2012, about 28,000 people in Singapore aged 60 and older had dementia. The number is expected to soar to 80,000 by 2030.
At the same time, the country is seeing a steadily declining old-age support ratio, from 7.4 in 2010 to 4.5 in 2019.
And in our fast-paced society, heavier professional and personal responsibilities mean less time for caregiving and meeting one’s emotional needs.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2018
- Messages
- 29,462
- Points
- 113
‘Not enough for coffee’: Karung guni men, cardboard collectors hit hard as scrap prices and volume fall
An elderly cardboard collector unloads her goods for weighing at an Ang Mo Kio industrial estate. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)Share this content
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SINGAPORE: In the sweltering heat, karung guni (rag and bone) man Goh Joi Kim hauled a variety of junk off his lorry and into a metal cage. There were old standing fans, newspapers and the usual cardboard boxes.
The 71-year-old collects these items from housing estates in Hougang and Sengkang. And every two days, he goes to an industrial estate in Ang Mo Kio to sell them. It is backbreaking work that comes with little reward.
For instance, 1kg of newspapers gets him S$0.14, while the same amount of cardboard is worth a paltry S$0.05. “It’s very difficult now,” he told CNA, sweat dripping off his face. “Five cents is not enough to even buy a cup of coffee.”
Karung guni man Goh Joi Kim removing junk from his lorry. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Informal recyclers, who already contend with rising fuel prices, said newspapers and cardboard used to be worth at least S$0.20 and S$0.10 per kg, respectively.
The sector has been hit hard by falling prices of scrap material in Singapore after China banned imports of “foreign garbage” like unsorted scrap paper and plastic waste since January 2018.
The ban has led to an oversupply of scrap material like cardboard and newspapers, industry players told CNA, adding that the US-China trade war has made matters worse.
The volume of scrap material collected has also gone down, karung guni men said, citing lifestyle changes like increasing consumption of news online and a greater awareness of official recycling efforts.
PLUMMETING PRICES
Upstream, traders that buy scrap material from informal recyclers before selling them on to larger players are likewise finding things more difficult.
Tay Paper Recycling, which runs a collection point at the Ang Mo Kio industrial estate and exports the scrap to paper mills overseas, has had to slash the buying price of used cardboard by about 60 per cent to S$0.04 per kg, in tandem with falling export prices.
Scrap paper being weighed for sale at an industrial estate in Ang Mo Kio. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
“Our export price for carton boxes is about 11 to 12 cents, fluctuating more on the lower side,” its business development manager Andrew Tay told CNA. “So as any business, how much can you buy your raw material?
Mr Tay said the company was only making a S$0.01 profit on the used cardboard per kg, adding that he still needs to factor in transport and labour costs. “So, it’s really tough for us,” he stated.
READ: Sent packing: Hong Kong's elderly cardboard collectors
He attributed the falling prices to China’s ban, pointing out that the recyclables “still have to go somewhere”.
“Everybody has so much inventory and they want to sell it off. Buyers can pick and choose the cheapest and best,” he explained. “That has caused an oversupply situation (which means) prices will go down,”
READ: Why doesn’t recycling rope in the karung guni? A commentary
Furthermore, Mr Tay said China – one of the world’s major producers of finished products like plastic bottles and paper – is producing less as a result of the trade war with the US. This means there is lesser demand for scrap material as well.
“Because of the export restrictions, the need to buy scrap material reduces,” he said. “So, that causes prices to go down.”
Mr Tay called the situation a “double whammy” adding: “I assume all my competitors are in the same situation.”
Mr Goh having a discussion about his latest transaction with Ms L K Tan. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Nearby, Huat Seng Cleaning Company – a trader which sells on the scrap to larger recyclers – said the selling price for used cardboard has gone down from S$0.20 a year ago to S$0.09 now. The price of old newspapers has also fallen from S$0.20 to S$0.15.
“I have to decrease my price, or else I cannot sustain the business,” its sales development manager L K Tan told CNA, adding that profits have gone down 80 per cent over the past year. The firm now buys cardboard and newspapers at S$0.05 and S$0.14 per kg, respectively.
DECREASING VOLUME AND NEWSPRINT
Ms Tan similarly attributed the falling prices to China’s ban, adding that the slowdown in Singapore’s trade environment means the volume of scrap material collected has also gone down.
According to the latest official data, total trade decreased in September on a year-on-year basis, while both imports and exports declined in the same month.
“The market volume has gone down,” Ms Tan said, noting that business is not good. “Import and export is down, so (companies) are buying less and throwing less.”
Ms Tan using a forklift to dump metal scrap into a large container. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Ms Tan said another reason for the decreasing volume of scrap is the decreasing circulation of newspapers as news consumers shift online.
According to publisher Singapore Press Holdings, the daily average print circulation of The Straits Times newspaper went down from 263,200 in August 2017 to 232,500 in August 2018. In contrast, its digital circulation went up from 120,400 to 138,200 in the same period.
“People use the computer to see the news already,” Ms Tan said. “They never buy the newspaper, so the volume becomes less.”
A worker looks on as scrap is weighed at Huat Seng Cleaning Company. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
One karung guni man who only gave his name as Mr Tan said he used to be able to collect up to 800kg of newspapers from HDB blocks in a day. Now he only manages about 100kg.
“Now where got newspaper? All online,” he said as he hurried into his lorry before driving off.
SHIFTING TO FORMAL RECYCLING
Other karung guni men said the volume collected has gone down as companies and individuals seem to be embracing formal recycling.
A karung guni man walks past a bin for waste that cannot be recycled. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Mr Peter Shia, who collects newspapers and magazines from businesses, said he could collect 100kg of the material previously but only 10kg now a day.
“They are wrapping it up as a parcel then sending it to other countries,” the 64-year-old said. “They recycle it themselves.”
READ: 60% of Singaporean households recycle regularly, but many not doing it right: Surveys
This comes as Singapore moves to make recycling easier for the masses, with recycling bins and collection services provided at HDB estates, private landed properties and private apartments.
From April 2018, new public housing developments and non-landed private residential developments have also been equipped with individual household chutes for recyclables, while reverse vending machines have increasingly sprung up islandwide.
Mr Goh watches on as a worker picks out old clothes that can be recycled. E-waste and drink cans can be sold too. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Mr Goh said he is collecting less scrap now too. “Last time, people throw away more,” he lamented. “Now, people put it in the recycling bin.”
STIFFER COMPETITION
The challenges don’t stop there.
Cardboard collectors are facing stiffer competition from others like foreign workers who similarly collect scrap material from stores and dumpsters before selling them to traders and recyclers, said Mr Nafiz Kamarudin, founder of Happy People Helping People.
Informal recyclers turn up in lorries and motorcycles packed with collected scrap. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
The volunteer-run group supports those in need, including cardboard collectors, with meal vouchers at different eateries and outings to places like Gardens by the Bay.
“Although the shops keep the cardboard boxes at the back, it’s first-come, first-served,” Mr Nafiz told CNA. “So, a lot of these old folks will lose out if the younger ones get it first.”
Mr Nafiz said the elderly cardboard collectors he's met include an 89-year-old woman who pushes her cart from her Whampoa neighbourhood to a selling point in Toa Payoh, a 45-minute journey, every day.
Some have conditions like Alzheimer's, he said, while others travel along busy roads and jaywalk with their goods.
"You ask them: 'Aunty, why are you doing this? Isn’t it dangerous?' A lot of them will tell you: 'I live so long already, I die also no problem,'" he added.
A cardboard collector waits for her scrap to be weighed and valued. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Mr Nafiz said they still do it because “even a few cents make a lot of difference”, although they have rued the measly price of used cardboard now.
"They said it's very low," he said. "Obviously, 4 cents per kg is ridiculously low for anyone."
An elderly cardboard collector unloads her goods for weighing at an Ang Mo Kio industrial estate. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)Share this content
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SINGAPORE: In the sweltering heat, karung guni (rag and bone) man Goh Joi Kim hauled a variety of junk off his lorry and into a metal cage. There were old standing fans, newspapers and the usual cardboard boxes.
The 71-year-old collects these items from housing estates in Hougang and Sengkang. And every two days, he goes to an industrial estate in Ang Mo Kio to sell them. It is backbreaking work that comes with little reward.
For instance, 1kg of newspapers gets him S$0.14, while the same amount of cardboard is worth a paltry S$0.05. “It’s very difficult now,” he told CNA, sweat dripping off his face. “Five cents is not enough to even buy a cup of coffee.”
Karung guni man Goh Joi Kim removing junk from his lorry. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Informal recyclers, who already contend with rising fuel prices, said newspapers and cardboard used to be worth at least S$0.20 and S$0.10 per kg, respectively.
The sector has been hit hard by falling prices of scrap material in Singapore after China banned imports of “foreign garbage” like unsorted scrap paper and plastic waste since January 2018.
The ban has led to an oversupply of scrap material like cardboard and newspapers, industry players told CNA, adding that the US-China trade war has made matters worse.
The volume of scrap material collected has also gone down, karung guni men said, citing lifestyle changes like increasing consumption of news online and a greater awareness of official recycling efforts.
PLUMMETING PRICES
Upstream, traders that buy scrap material from informal recyclers before selling them on to larger players are likewise finding things more difficult.
Tay Paper Recycling, which runs a collection point at the Ang Mo Kio industrial estate and exports the scrap to paper mills overseas, has had to slash the buying price of used cardboard by about 60 per cent to S$0.04 per kg, in tandem with falling export prices.
Scrap paper being weighed for sale at an industrial estate in Ang Mo Kio. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
“Our export price for carton boxes is about 11 to 12 cents, fluctuating more on the lower side,” its business development manager Andrew Tay told CNA. “So as any business, how much can you buy your raw material?
Mr Tay said the company was only making a S$0.01 profit on the used cardboard per kg, adding that he still needs to factor in transport and labour costs. “So, it’s really tough for us,” he stated.
READ: Sent packing: Hong Kong's elderly cardboard collectors
He attributed the falling prices to China’s ban, pointing out that the recyclables “still have to go somewhere”.
“Everybody has so much inventory and they want to sell it off. Buyers can pick and choose the cheapest and best,” he explained. “That has caused an oversupply situation (which means) prices will go down,”
READ: Why doesn’t recycling rope in the karung guni? A commentary
Furthermore, Mr Tay said China – one of the world’s major producers of finished products like plastic bottles and paper – is producing less as a result of the trade war with the US. This means there is lesser demand for scrap material as well.
“Because of the export restrictions, the need to buy scrap material reduces,” he said. “So, that causes prices to go down.”
Mr Tay called the situation a “double whammy” adding: “I assume all my competitors are in the same situation.”
Mr Goh having a discussion about his latest transaction with Ms L K Tan. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Nearby, Huat Seng Cleaning Company – a trader which sells on the scrap to larger recyclers – said the selling price for used cardboard has gone down from S$0.20 a year ago to S$0.09 now. The price of old newspapers has also fallen from S$0.20 to S$0.15.
“I have to decrease my price, or else I cannot sustain the business,” its sales development manager L K Tan told CNA, adding that profits have gone down 80 per cent over the past year. The firm now buys cardboard and newspapers at S$0.05 and S$0.14 per kg, respectively.
DECREASING VOLUME AND NEWSPRINT
Ms Tan similarly attributed the falling prices to China’s ban, adding that the slowdown in Singapore’s trade environment means the volume of scrap material collected has also gone down.
According to the latest official data, total trade decreased in September on a year-on-year basis, while both imports and exports declined in the same month.
“The market volume has gone down,” Ms Tan said, noting that business is not good. “Import and export is down, so (companies) are buying less and throwing less.”
Ms Tan using a forklift to dump metal scrap into a large container. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Ms Tan said another reason for the decreasing volume of scrap is the decreasing circulation of newspapers as news consumers shift online.
According to publisher Singapore Press Holdings, the daily average print circulation of The Straits Times newspaper went down from 263,200 in August 2017 to 232,500 in August 2018. In contrast, its digital circulation went up from 120,400 to 138,200 in the same period.
“People use the computer to see the news already,” Ms Tan said. “They never buy the newspaper, so the volume becomes less.”
A worker looks on as scrap is weighed at Huat Seng Cleaning Company. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
One karung guni man who only gave his name as Mr Tan said he used to be able to collect up to 800kg of newspapers from HDB blocks in a day. Now he only manages about 100kg.
“Now where got newspaper? All online,” he said as he hurried into his lorry before driving off.
SHIFTING TO FORMAL RECYCLING
Other karung guni men said the volume collected has gone down as companies and individuals seem to be embracing formal recycling.
A karung guni man walks past a bin for waste that cannot be recycled. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Mr Peter Shia, who collects newspapers and magazines from businesses, said he could collect 100kg of the material previously but only 10kg now a day.
“They are wrapping it up as a parcel then sending it to other countries,” the 64-year-old said. “They recycle it themselves.”
READ: 60% of Singaporean households recycle regularly, but many not doing it right: Surveys
This comes as Singapore moves to make recycling easier for the masses, with recycling bins and collection services provided at HDB estates, private landed properties and private apartments.
From April 2018, new public housing developments and non-landed private residential developments have also been equipped with individual household chutes for recyclables, while reverse vending machines have increasingly sprung up islandwide.
Mr Goh watches on as a worker picks out old clothes that can be recycled. E-waste and drink cans can be sold too. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Mr Goh said he is collecting less scrap now too. “Last time, people throw away more,” he lamented. “Now, people put it in the recycling bin.”
STIFFER COMPETITION
The challenges don’t stop there.
Cardboard collectors are facing stiffer competition from others like foreign workers who similarly collect scrap material from stores and dumpsters before selling them to traders and recyclers, said Mr Nafiz Kamarudin, founder of Happy People Helping People.
Informal recyclers turn up in lorries and motorcycles packed with collected scrap. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
The volunteer-run group supports those in need, including cardboard collectors, with meal vouchers at different eateries and outings to places like Gardens by the Bay.
“Although the shops keep the cardboard boxes at the back, it’s first-come, first-served,” Mr Nafiz told CNA. “So, a lot of these old folks will lose out if the younger ones get it first.”
Mr Nafiz said the elderly cardboard collectors he's met include an 89-year-old woman who pushes her cart from her Whampoa neighbourhood to a selling point in Toa Payoh, a 45-minute journey, every day.
Some have conditions like Alzheimer's, he said, while others travel along busy roads and jaywalk with their goods.
"You ask them: 'Aunty, why are you doing this? Isn’t it dangerous?' A lot of them will tell you: 'I live so long already, I die also no problem,'" he added.
A cardboard collector waits for her scrap to be weighed and valued. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Mr Nafiz said they still do it because “even a few cents make a lot of difference”, although they have rued the measly price of used cardboard now.
"They said it's very low," he said. "Obviously, 4 cents per kg is ridiculously low for anyone."
- Joined
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Better to be Soylent Green than to be at the mercy of these age care parasites and medical corporations,,,,and live as an invalid for what?
Why the Government blocked a law forcing nursing homes to reveal staff and food budgets
By Anne Connolly, ABC Investigations
Updated earlier today at 7:10am
PHOTO: When it comes to food, a study of 800 nursing homes shows the average spend is just $6 a day. (Unsplash: rawpixel)
RELATED STORY: The simple truth at the heart of the aged care royal commission
RELATED STORY: Aged care system a 'shocking tale of neglect', royal commission finds
RELATED STORY: The secret camera in the digital clock tells a troubling story
RELATED STORY: After the slow drip of horror, a new report holds the first clue to change
Sydney's streets were thick with smoke as the blazes took hold on December 5 last year. That may explain why few noticed or cared about the final sitting day in Canberra.
But what happened in the Senate that day shows just how strong the ties that bind the aged care lobby and government really are.
At 9.30 that day, some crucial amendments to aged care legislation were introduced which would force nursing home to reveal how they spent their $20 billion of taxpayer funds each year — specifically, how much went to staff, food and "the amounts paid out to parent bodies".
Unlike hospital and child care centres, aged care facilities can employ as few staff as they like because there are no staff-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.
When it comes to food, a study of 800 nursing homes shows the average spend is just $6 a day.
When the crucial vote came, the Government shot it down
The Senate vote was taking place just five weeks after the scathing interim report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Among its findings of a "sad and shocking" system which was "inhumane, abusive and unjustified", the commissioners also commented on the lack of transparency in aged care, with the numbers of complaints, assaults and staff numbers all kept secret from the public.
Are you worried about aged care in Australia?
The aged care royal commission continues and so does our investigation. Let us know if you have a story or issue you'd like the ABC to look into. Email [email protected] to tell us your story.
"My amendments are all about transparency and accountability — and, boy, do we need more of this," said Senator Stirling Griff from Centre Alliance, who proposed the amendments.
When the crucial vote came, Labor, the Greens, Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie supported it. But the Government voted against it and, with the help of Pauline Hanson, the reform was defeated.
It might seem an odd choice for Pauline Hanson, who has previously rallied against the aged care sector for "rorting and malpractice", but it shouldn't be surprising that the Government voted it down.
The influence of lobbyists
The aged care industry has been successfully lobbying governments for years. The influence of the industry through government committees, thinktanks and policies is well known and is being rightly questioned at the royal commission.
For example, when the Queensland Government proposed laws requiring nursing homes to publish their staff numbers last year, the federal Department of Health sent a six-page document arguing against it, saying it might "confuse or mislead" families and "appears to create a reporting burden on providers with no clear benefits to consumers".
If you think the Federal Government's objections sound a lot like those of the aged care lobby, you wouldn't be wrong.
The staff speaking out for residents
In the ABC's biggest crowd-sourced investigation, current and former aged care workers reveal the chronic neglect, mistreatment and understaffing in facilities across the country.
In fact, the industry group Leading Aged Services Australia (LASA) argued in its own submission that few families would be interested in accessing a website with such information and that the numbers could be used "to push a particular medically based care model (which may be contrary to the preferences of residents)".
That's an argument LASA has been using for years. It's code for arguing against more registered nurses for fear it spoils the "home-like" atmosphere of an aged care facility.
Others might argue that the hundreds of stories told to the royal commission of poor wound care, misdiagnosis and failure to send sick residents to hospital may have something to do with that lack of a "medical model".
Currently there's no requirement, except in Victorian state run facilities, for an RN to be employed at a nursing home.
The aged care lobby doesn't want that to become a national trend.
PHOTO: The Senate vote was taking place just five weeks after the scathing interim report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. (Reuters: Enrique Castro-Mendivil)
'Why can't we know how many staff there are?'
The industry and Federal Government's opposition to the argument against making the staff numbers public didn't wash with the Queensland Government.
"We report the number of teachers to students in classes, educators to children in child care, why the hell can't we know how many staff there are in aged care facilities?," said Queensland Health Minister Stephen Mills, who successfully passed the legislation and says he will "name and shame" nursing homes which refuse to make staff numbers public.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will argue that the Government voted against the federal moves for financial transparency because it doesn't want to introduce any major reforms before the final report from the royal commission.
This is what neglect looks like
Hidden camera footage captured in this blind 80-year-old's room shows the cracks in quality care in Australia's multi-billion-dollar aged care system.
However, that excuse didn't stop the Federal Government from its massive reform of putting the publicly funded Aged Care Assessment system out to tender last year.
The move to privatise it was widely denounced by state ministers (including from the NSW Liberal Government), advocates and the medical profession.
But the aged care lobby groups are big supporters of the change.
They have the power and the purse strings
As the royal commission restarts hearings tomorrow in Adelaide, we're likely to hear a lot more of government and industry "aligned" views.
They will be battling the growing evidence though. Like a 30 per cent increase in complaints; studies showing our spend on aged care is well below other developed countries and that our staffing levels are at the bottom end also.
Commissioners Briggs and Pagone have called for a complete overhaul of this failing system.
Though the evidence is already there, they will face the same battle that grassroots advocates have been fighting for some time — a solidified force of industry and government who control both the power and the purse strings.
Topics: royal-commissions, aged-care, carers, health, older-people, social-policy, health-policy, australia
Why the Government blocked a law forcing nursing homes to reveal staff and food budgets
By Anne Connolly, ABC Investigations
Updated earlier today at 7:10am
PHOTO: When it comes to food, a study of 800 nursing homes shows the average spend is just $6 a day. (Unsplash: rawpixel)RELATED STORY: The simple truth at the heart of the aged care royal commission
RELATED STORY: Aged care system a 'shocking tale of neglect', royal commission finds
RELATED STORY: The secret camera in the digital clock tells a troubling story
RELATED STORY: After the slow drip of horror, a new report holds the first clue to change
Sydney's streets were thick with smoke as the blazes took hold on December 5 last year. That may explain why few noticed or cared about the final sitting day in Canberra.
But what happened in the Senate that day shows just how strong the ties that bind the aged care lobby and government really are.
At 9.30 that day, some crucial amendments to aged care legislation were introduced which would force nursing home to reveal how they spent their $20 billion of taxpayer funds each year — specifically, how much went to staff, food and "the amounts paid out to parent bodies".
Unlike hospital and child care centres, aged care facilities can employ as few staff as they like because there are no staff-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.
When it comes to food, a study of 800 nursing homes shows the average spend is just $6 a day.
When the crucial vote came, the Government shot it down
The Senate vote was taking place just five weeks after the scathing interim report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Among its findings of a "sad and shocking" system which was "inhumane, abusive and unjustified", the commissioners also commented on the lack of transparency in aged care, with the numbers of complaints, assaults and staff numbers all kept secret from the public.
Are you worried about aged care in Australia?
The aged care royal commission continues and so does our investigation. Let us know if you have a story or issue you'd like the ABC to look into. Email [email protected] to tell us your story.
"My amendments are all about transparency and accountability — and, boy, do we need more of this," said Senator Stirling Griff from Centre Alliance, who proposed the amendments.
When the crucial vote came, Labor, the Greens, Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie supported it. But the Government voted against it and, with the help of Pauline Hanson, the reform was defeated.
It might seem an odd choice for Pauline Hanson, who has previously rallied against the aged care sector for "rorting and malpractice", but it shouldn't be surprising that the Government voted it down.
The influence of lobbyists
The aged care industry has been successfully lobbying governments for years. The influence of the industry through government committees, thinktanks and policies is well known and is being rightly questioned at the royal commission.
For example, when the Queensland Government proposed laws requiring nursing homes to publish their staff numbers last year, the federal Department of Health sent a six-page document arguing against it, saying it might "confuse or mislead" families and "appears to create a reporting burden on providers with no clear benefits to consumers".
If you think the Federal Government's objections sound a lot like those of the aged care lobby, you wouldn't be wrong.
The staff speaking out for residents
In the ABC's biggest crowd-sourced investigation, current and former aged care workers reveal the chronic neglect, mistreatment and understaffing in facilities across the country.
In fact, the industry group Leading Aged Services Australia (LASA) argued in its own submission that few families would be interested in accessing a website with such information and that the numbers could be used "to push a particular medically based care model (which may be contrary to the preferences of residents)".
That's an argument LASA has been using for years. It's code for arguing against more registered nurses for fear it spoils the "home-like" atmosphere of an aged care facility.
Others might argue that the hundreds of stories told to the royal commission of poor wound care, misdiagnosis and failure to send sick residents to hospital may have something to do with that lack of a "medical model".
Currently there's no requirement, except in Victorian state run facilities, for an RN to be employed at a nursing home.
The aged care lobby doesn't want that to become a national trend.
PHOTO: The Senate vote was taking place just five weeks after the scathing interim report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. (Reuters: Enrique Castro-Mendivil)'Why can't we know how many staff there are?'
The industry and Federal Government's opposition to the argument against making the staff numbers public didn't wash with the Queensland Government.
"We report the number of teachers to students in classes, educators to children in child care, why the hell can't we know how many staff there are in aged care facilities?," said Queensland Health Minister Stephen Mills, who successfully passed the legislation and says he will "name and shame" nursing homes which refuse to make staff numbers public.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will argue that the Government voted against the federal moves for financial transparency because it doesn't want to introduce any major reforms before the final report from the royal commission.
This is what neglect looks like
Hidden camera footage captured in this blind 80-year-old's room shows the cracks in quality care in Australia's multi-billion-dollar aged care system.
However, that excuse didn't stop the Federal Government from its massive reform of putting the publicly funded Aged Care Assessment system out to tender last year.
The move to privatise it was widely denounced by state ministers (including from the NSW Liberal Government), advocates and the medical profession.
But the aged care lobby groups are big supporters of the change.
They have the power and the purse strings
As the royal commission restarts hearings tomorrow in Adelaide, we're likely to hear a lot more of government and industry "aligned" views.
They will be battling the growing evidence though. Like a 30 per cent increase in complaints; studies showing our spend on aged care is well below other developed countries and that our staffing levels are at the bottom end also.
Commissioners Briggs and Pagone have called for a complete overhaul of this failing system.
Though the evidence is already there, they will face the same battle that grassroots advocates have been fighting for some time — a solidified force of industry and government who control both the power and the purse strings.
Topics: royal-commissions, aged-care, carers, health, older-people, social-policy, health-policy, australia
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2018
- Messages
- 29,462
- Points
- 113
This is the 'cost of living' and the result of a long life span,
Theindependent
She can make S$300 a month and gives part of it to charity
Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore
Author
- Advertisement -
Singapore – An elderly lady was spotted offering tissue packets for sale to stopped vehicles and passers-by at a Yishun junction.
“This old lady without wearing mask, is seen almost daily at the junction of Yishun St 21 and Yishun Ring Road,” wrote a member of the public, Joseph Jee, to Complaint Singapore’s Facebook page on Sunday (Mar 14).
The elderly lady would knock on vehicle windows, asking drivers to buy a tissue packet while the traffic lights were red, said Mr Jee. She would also offer her item for sale to passers-by.
“This can be dangerous as she sometimes stands in the middle of the traffic junction. Can someone help?” asked Mr Jee.
- Advertisement -
In response to the post, members from the online community tagged parliamentarian Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon GRC) and Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam to assist the elderly lady.
While netizens suggested that Yishun residents pool together to purchase all her tissue packets to enable her to go home earlier, others noted this would only be a “bandage solution” . “The best option is for a Member of Parliament to step in and help her,” said Facebook user Tomoshilukitekari Merikatakita.
Reporters for Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao visited the area to inquire about the elderly woman.
Residents were aware of the 68-year-old, saying she had already been selling tissue packets at the traffic junction almost every day for roughly a year.
“She would knock on the car windows of a couple of cars, ask if they wanted to buy some tissue packets from her. She sells them at S$2 for three packets. Once the traffic light turns green again, she walks back to the pavement to wait,” said a resident.
Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore
Wanbao reported that the elderly woman sold tissue packets to reduce her family’s financial burden and for charity.
She began selling tissue packets at a nearby coffeeshop but changed locations after “bad business” at the coffeeshop.
“I can make around S$300 selling tissue packets every month. I can save part of it and give a portion to charity,” said the woman.
She stressed “looking out for her own safety” whenever she was at the traffic junction and would only approach one or two cars at a time before returning to her spot on the pavement.
Regarding her missing face mask, the woman confirmed carrying one with her but would often remove it as she gets breathless quickly./TISG
Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore
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- Advertisement -
Follow us on Social Media
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Twitter
Instagram
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Reddit
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Theindependent
She can make S$300 a month and gives part of it to charity
Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore
Author
- Advertisement -
Singapore – An elderly lady was spotted offering tissue packets for sale to stopped vehicles and passers-by at a Yishun junction.
“This old lady without wearing mask, is seen almost daily at the junction of Yishun St 21 and Yishun Ring Road,” wrote a member of the public, Joseph Jee, to Complaint Singapore’s Facebook page on Sunday (Mar 14).
The elderly lady would knock on vehicle windows, asking drivers to buy a tissue packet while the traffic lights were red, said Mr Jee. She would also offer her item for sale to passers-by.
“This can be dangerous as she sometimes stands in the middle of the traffic junction. Can someone help?” asked Mr Jee.
- Advertisement -
In response to the post, members from the online community tagged parliamentarian Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon GRC) and Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam to assist the elderly lady.
While netizens suggested that Yishun residents pool together to purchase all her tissue packets to enable her to go home earlier, others noted this would only be a “bandage solution” . “The best option is for a Member of Parliament to step in and help her,” said Facebook user Tomoshilukitekari Merikatakita.
Reporters for Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao visited the area to inquire about the elderly woman.
Residents were aware of the 68-year-old, saying she had already been selling tissue packets at the traffic junction almost every day for roughly a year.
“She would knock on the car windows of a couple of cars, ask if they wanted to buy some tissue packets from her. She sells them at S$2 for three packets. Once the traffic light turns green again, she walks back to the pavement to wait,” said a resident.
Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore
Wanbao reported that the elderly woman sold tissue packets to reduce her family’s financial burden and for charity.
She began selling tissue packets at a nearby coffeeshop but changed locations after “bad business” at the coffeeshop.
“I can make around S$300 selling tissue packets every month. I can save part of it and give a portion to charity,” said the woman.
She stressed “looking out for her own safety” whenever she was at the traffic junction and would only approach one or two cars at a time before returning to her spot on the pavement.
Regarding her missing face mask, the woman confirmed carrying one with her but would often remove it as she gets breathless quickly./TISG
Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore
Follow us on Social Media
YouTube
Telegram
Send in your scoops to [email protected]
- Advertisement -
Follow us on Social Media
YouTube
Telegram
Send in your scoops to [email protected]
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- 113
If she didn't go for her heart surgeries she would be better off now..
Saddening story of 82 y/o elderly lends weight to Jamus Lim’s call on minimum wage - The Online Citizen Asia
The Workers’ Party (WP) elected Member of Parliament (MP) Jamus Lim earlier said in a political debate on 1 July that the Government should ensure that those who have been contributing to the nation’s economy and society for years are being taken care of, as this is a “very big part of social mobility”.
“We absolutely need to take care of our elderly that live among us. It is really a crime that we see the elderly, continue to feel that they have to work in order to make ends meet,” he said.
Dr Lim also highlighted the importance of minimum wage which he believes can bring Singapore towards greater social mobility. He further reiterated his point on Facebook on 14 July, noting that minimum wage is “not unabashedly good policy”, but rather a “good start that is also evidence-based”.
“I see this as a feature, not a bug. The point is to redistribute some bargaining power from capital to labor, and I think we can afford to chip in a little to take care of the least well-off in society. With many more buyers than min wage workers, the price effect will be small,” he remarked.
Dr Lim added that he disagrees with some people who said that the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) is a minimum wage, as he believes that the “PWM ties wages to job function” and this gives a lot of space for employers to cut corners, without redressing power differentials.
“It also leaves those who simply cannot upskill in the lurch, and earning below a living wage. The reality is that, by our estimates, 100,000 workers remain below the min wage, and so PWM is obviously not working for these people,” said the economics professor.
Based on the Ministry of Manpower, PWM “helps to uplift” low-wage Singaporeans and permanent resident workers who are working in sectors like cleaning, security and landscaping.
Meanwhile, Dr Lim’s point about the PWM seems to resonate well with the story of an 82-year-old lady, who claimed that she only earns S$20 per day working as a cleaner and dishwasher at a hawker centre situated in Tampines Hub.
The story was shared by Facebook user Meng Shuen Koh, who posted on Facebook on Monday (27 July) a series of screenshots from his Instagram story.
The FB user wrote that while he was heading to the city via MRT, an old lady who was carrying a “bulky bag” beside him tapped him on the shoulder and asked him how to go to Sentosa from Bedok. After telling her that she needs to disembark at Outram Park to change trains to Harbourfront, he proceeded to accompany her as she seems hesitated.
“She apologised to me for troubling me, and I reassured her that it’s okay, because I wasn’t meeting anybody, and I wasn’t going to do anything important anyway,” he added.
The old lady, who was referred to as “Ah Umm”, shared to him that she is a Malaysian-born citizen and currently lives in Sembawang with her two friends. She claimed that she had no “formal schooling” and only can speak Chinese.
The FB user also discovered that the old lady’s husband has passed away many years ago, while her only son died during a “heli-rappeling” exercise with the Commandos a “long time ago”.
She claimed that the Government has promised to give compensation for her late son’s death – with S$300 per month – but up until now, she has never even received “one cent” from the Government.
“Now national day coming, they ask us hang the flag. I don’t want to hang. Hang for what? My son died for this flag. This flag also never help me. How to don’t work? I will starve to death,” the old lady told him.
When he asked her why she was heading to Sentosa, she explained that her friend told her about a job there that pays S$10 per hour to wash dishes. The old lady said she works as a cleaner and dishwasher at Tampines Hub, and earning only S$5 per hour.
Aside from her hourly salary, she was given with no free meals, nor transportation allowance from the place that she currently works at. The old lady added, “Eat lunch, eat dinner already $5, already one hour of work gone. Left S$15, sometimes don’t eat better I think”.
She also revealed to him that she has had four major heart surgeries, in which each surgery would cost her about S$40,000. The old lady noted that she had to sell her house in order to pay for the exorbitant surgeries fees.
As they reached the VivoCity bus station, the FB user tried to hand S$2 to the old lady for her bus rides but she refused to take his money.
The old lady said to him, “I cannot take your money, I have my own money, I got work I have my own money”.
Upon hearing her story, he realized that regardless of her age and how her life was messed up by the nation’s system, the old lady still wants to “work more” and not even complaining to her boss about her low salary.
Indicating S$5 of salary per hour as a “slave wage”, the FB user opined that “nobody should be working menial labour for S$5 per hour”. He also mentioned about the first hob he took when he was 16 years old, he was paid S$5.50 an hour at Subway but he didn’t expect such salary still exist after 10 years.
“People always ask, ‘how will we pay for minimum wage?’ But people never ask, ‘who will end up paying the price if we don’t pay for minimum wage, and how will they pay?
“People like Ah Umm pay. They pay with their house. With their life. With their sweat, and their tears (she cried a few times when she talked to me about her son, her house, her surgeries),” the FB user added.
He noted that the ruling party People’s Action Party (PAP) has asked for a strong mandate to govern Singapore and assured Singaporeans that its PWM works. But after 50 years of the PAP’s mandate, there are still 100,000 workers remain below minimum wage, according to the WP.
“Meanwhile Goh Chok Tong and Edwin Tong say they’re not paid enough as ministers. Tan Chuan-Jin says some old people who collect cardboard to sell do it as a form of exercise,” the FB user added.
He went on to advise Singaporeans who vote for the PAP to remember those people who are also struggling to make ends meet like the old lady, noting that the future of Singapore is “more than just your future”.
“I haven’t celebrated National Day for many years. This year will be no different. I see nothing worth celebrating,” he asserted.
At the end of his Instagram story, the FB user remarked, “no public servant in Singapore deserves to be paid S$1 million per year.”
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Saddening story of 82 y/o elderly lends weight to Jamus Lim’s call on minimum wage - The Online Citizen Asia
The Workers’ Party (WP) elected Member of Parliament (MP) Jamus Lim earlier said in a political debate on 1 July that the Government should ensure that those who have been contributing to the nation’s economy and society for years are being taken care of, as this is a “very big part of social mobility”.
“We absolutely need to take care of our elderly that live among us. It is really a crime that we see the elderly, continue to feel that they have to work in order to make ends meet,” he said.
Dr Lim also highlighted the importance of minimum wage which he believes can bring Singapore towards greater social mobility. He further reiterated his point on Facebook on 14 July, noting that minimum wage is “not unabashedly good policy”, but rather a “good start that is also evidence-based”.
“I see this as a feature, not a bug. The point is to redistribute some bargaining power from capital to labor, and I think we can afford to chip in a little to take care of the least well-off in society. With many more buyers than min wage workers, the price effect will be small,” he remarked.
Dr Lim added that he disagrees with some people who said that the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) is a minimum wage, as he believes that the “PWM ties wages to job function” and this gives a lot of space for employers to cut corners, without redressing power differentials.
“It also leaves those who simply cannot upskill in the lurch, and earning below a living wage. The reality is that, by our estimates, 100,000 workers remain below the min wage, and so PWM is obviously not working for these people,” said the economics professor.
Based on the Ministry of Manpower, PWM “helps to uplift” low-wage Singaporeans and permanent resident workers who are working in sectors like cleaning, security and landscaping.
Meanwhile, Dr Lim’s point about the PWM seems to resonate well with the story of an 82-year-old lady, who claimed that she only earns S$20 per day working as a cleaner and dishwasher at a hawker centre situated in Tampines Hub.
The story was shared by Facebook user Meng Shuen Koh, who posted on Facebook on Monday (27 July) a series of screenshots from his Instagram story.
The FB user wrote that while he was heading to the city via MRT, an old lady who was carrying a “bulky bag” beside him tapped him on the shoulder and asked him how to go to Sentosa from Bedok. After telling her that she needs to disembark at Outram Park to change trains to Harbourfront, he proceeded to accompany her as she seems hesitated.
“She apologised to me for troubling me, and I reassured her that it’s okay, because I wasn’t meeting anybody, and I wasn’t going to do anything important anyway,” he added.
The old lady, who was referred to as “Ah Umm”, shared to him that she is a Malaysian-born citizen and currently lives in Sembawang with her two friends. She claimed that she had no “formal schooling” and only can speak Chinese.
The FB user also discovered that the old lady’s husband has passed away many years ago, while her only son died during a “heli-rappeling” exercise with the Commandos a “long time ago”.
She claimed that the Government has promised to give compensation for her late son’s death – with S$300 per month – but up until now, she has never even received “one cent” from the Government.
“Now national day coming, they ask us hang the flag. I don’t want to hang. Hang for what? My son died for this flag. This flag also never help me. How to don’t work? I will starve to death,” the old lady told him.
When he asked her why she was heading to Sentosa, she explained that her friend told her about a job there that pays S$10 per hour to wash dishes. The old lady said she works as a cleaner and dishwasher at Tampines Hub, and earning only S$5 per hour.
Aside from her hourly salary, she was given with no free meals, nor transportation allowance from the place that she currently works at. The old lady added, “Eat lunch, eat dinner already $5, already one hour of work gone. Left S$15, sometimes don’t eat better I think”.
She also revealed to him that she has had four major heart surgeries, in which each surgery would cost her about S$40,000. The old lady noted that she had to sell her house in order to pay for the exorbitant surgeries fees.
As they reached the VivoCity bus station, the FB user tried to hand S$2 to the old lady for her bus rides but she refused to take his money.
The old lady said to him, “I cannot take your money, I have my own money, I got work I have my own money”.
Upon hearing her story, he realized that regardless of her age and how her life was messed up by the nation’s system, the old lady still wants to “work more” and not even complaining to her boss about her low salary.
Indicating S$5 of salary per hour as a “slave wage”, the FB user opined that “nobody should be working menial labour for S$5 per hour”. He also mentioned about the first hob he took when he was 16 years old, he was paid S$5.50 an hour at Subway but he didn’t expect such salary still exist after 10 years.
“People always ask, ‘how will we pay for minimum wage?’ But people never ask, ‘who will end up paying the price if we don’t pay for minimum wage, and how will they pay?
“People like Ah Umm pay. They pay with their house. With their life. With their sweat, and their tears (she cried a few times when she talked to me about her son, her house, her surgeries),” the FB user added.
He noted that the ruling party People’s Action Party (PAP) has asked for a strong mandate to govern Singapore and assured Singaporeans that its PWM works. But after 50 years of the PAP’s mandate, there are still 100,000 workers remain below minimum wage, according to the WP.
“Meanwhile Goh Chok Tong and Edwin Tong say they’re not paid enough as ministers. Tan Chuan-Jin says some old people who collect cardboard to sell do it as a form of exercise,” the FB user added.
He went on to advise Singaporeans who vote for the PAP to remember those people who are also struggling to make ends meet like the old lady, noting that the future of Singapore is “more than just your future”.
“I haven’t celebrated National Day for many years. This year will be no different. I see nothing worth celebrating,” he asserted.
At the end of his Instagram story, the FB user remarked, “no public servant in Singapore deserves to be paid S$1 million per year.”
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Minimum wage applies to Ministers only.
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If meritocracy is not one of the stipulated ground rules, it means that social mobility is a myth.
You can safely disregard all the other lofty nonsense in the Sinkie pledge too.
What fucking meritocracy??
You see those stinking ministers of Stinkapore? What cheebye merit they got for being ministers and appointing their sons and daughters and aunts and uncles as CEO CFO and MD of this and that?
What merit got that Lying Liew to be chairman and cheapskate bullying a simple maid?
What about that CECA cockroach Sonal Wadde who graduate from a Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Vishnupuri, Nanded.
That Shri Guru rubbish listed in world university as 7115 ranking, about as good as Singapore Primary 6 leaving certificate.
Yet Sonal can get her job with DBS kicking out Singaporeans from NUS and NTU
TELL ME ABOUT THE FUCKING MERITOCRACY DISPLAYED BY THE CHEEBYE PAP
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Much better for her and her siblings to Soylent Green,,,they will actually be better off as their suffering will end,,,please bring in soylent green..let ppl move on humanely and with dignity
Her 86-year-old sister is bedridden and stays in a nursing home, while her 75-year-old sister is deaf and mute.
Photo: FB/ HPHP Community
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AUTHOR
Obbana Rajah
DATE
July 9, 2021
CATEGORY
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Singapore — An 83-year-old woman, who recently had a fall and fracture, appealed to netizens for financial help to pay off her rent and bills.
In a Facebook post on popular page ‘Happy People Helping People Community’ (HPHP), on Wednesday (Jul 7), it stated that Mdm Foong lived in Lorong 1 of Toa Payoh. It added that she also has two sisters aged 86 and 75 who depend on her.
Her 86-year-old sister is bedridden and stays in a nursing home, while her 75-year-old sister is deaf and mute.
Mdm Foong previously worked at McDonald’s, but recently had a fall and sustained a distal radius fracture.
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As she is on medical leave, and also has heart problems, she is not able to work.
“Her doctor advices (sic) her to go for surgery but the risk is very high so she choose (sic) not to go for the operation”, HPHP Community wrote.
The organisation asked for donors to help pay off Mdm Foong’s rental, phone bill, electricity bill and Service & Conservancy Charges.
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The non-profit foundation added that Mdm Foong initially applied for cash grants, but her application was rejected as she was employed.
In an update to the post, the HPHP Community noted that a sponsor had been found.
The comments of the post were flooded with people who wanted to help, make a contribution, clean the house and send the elderly women food. /TISG
83-year-old sole breadwinner asks for financial help to support two elderly sisters as after a fall and fracture, she no longer works in McDonald’s
Her 86-year-old sister is bedridden and stays in a nursing home, while her 75-year-old sister is deaf and mute.
Photo: FB/ HPHP CommunityShare
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https://theindependent.sg/83-year-o...d-fracture-she-no-longer-works-in-mcdonalds/#
AUTHOR
Obbana Rajah
DATE
July 9, 2021
CATEGORY
Home NewsFeatured News
- Advertisement -
Singapore — An 83-year-old woman, who recently had a fall and fracture, appealed to netizens for financial help to pay off her rent and bills.
In a Facebook post on popular page ‘Happy People Helping People Community’ (HPHP), on Wednesday (Jul 7), it stated that Mdm Foong lived in Lorong 1 of Toa Payoh. It added that she also has two sisters aged 86 and 75 who depend on her.
Her 86-year-old sister is bedridden and stays in a nursing home, while her 75-year-old sister is deaf and mute.
Mdm Foong previously worked at McDonald’s, but recently had a fall and sustained a distal radius fracture.
- Advertisement -
As she is on medical leave, and also has heart problems, she is not able to work.
“Her doctor advices (sic) her to go for surgery but the risk is very high so she choose (sic) not to go for the operation”, HPHP Community wrote.
The organisation asked for donors to help pay off Mdm Foong’s rental, phone bill, electricity bill and Service & Conservancy Charges.
- Advertisement -
The non-profit foundation added that Mdm Foong initially applied for cash grants, but her application was rejected as she was employed.
In an update to the post, the HPHP Community noted that a sponsor had been found.
The comments of the post were flooded with people who wanted to help, make a contribution, clean the house and send the elderly women food. /TISG
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2018
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- 29,462
- Points
- 113
WP's Gerald Giam highlights elderly woman's plight being main caregiver to her sick husband - The Online Citizen Asia
The Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC Gerald Giam recently called attention to the sacrifices of caregivers after having visited an elderly couple during one of his house visits over the weekend.
In a Facebook post on Sunday (18 July), Mr Giam shared the plight of the elderly couple, whereby the wife has been toiling away as the main caregiver to her sick husband for years – despite her own medical conditions.
“The husband is suffering from multiple ailments which renders him unable to move unassisted,” he explained, adding that their children are “as good as non-existent”, in the words of the wife.
Mr Giam went on to say that while he was gathering the couple’s information to prepare appeals for financial assistance from agencies, his volunteer pointed out that it was the wife’s birthday that day.
Learn more
He proceeded to extend a birthday wish to her, but she was taken aback as she wasn’t even aware that it was her birthday.
“When I wished her ‘Happy birthday’, she was taken aback — she didn’t even realise it was her birthday! No one had celebrated it for her all these years and she clearly had been too preoccupied looking after her husband to bother much about herself,” Mr Giam recounted.
He asserted that such is the sacrifice that caregivers make for their loved ones.
Mr Giam concluded his post saying, “We as a society need to do so much more to recognise their efforts and relieve their burdens, including boosting their retirement adequacy and providing greater support for them.”
Netizens praise Mr Giam and his team for their efforts; call for more to be done for caretakers and elderly people
Commenting under the Facebook post, netizens were quick to laud Mr Giam and his team for their “dedication” and “good work”.
“This is the type of MP we need and not those going around talking about upgrading go that we can sell our unit at a higher price,” said one netizen.
Meanwhile, a few others called for “more to be done” to ensure that the welfare of caretakers and elderly people in Singapore are taken care of.
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The Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC Gerald Giam recently called attention to the sacrifices of caregivers after having visited an elderly couple during one of his house visits over the weekend.
In a Facebook post on Sunday (18 July), Mr Giam shared the plight of the elderly couple, whereby the wife has been toiling away as the main caregiver to her sick husband for years – despite her own medical conditions.
“The husband is suffering from multiple ailments which renders him unable to move unassisted,” he explained, adding that their children are “as good as non-existent”, in the words of the wife.
Mr Giam went on to say that while he was gathering the couple’s information to prepare appeals for financial assistance from agencies, his volunteer pointed out that it was the wife’s birthday that day.
Learn more
He proceeded to extend a birthday wish to her, but she was taken aback as she wasn’t even aware that it was her birthday.
“When I wished her ‘Happy birthday’, she was taken aback — she didn’t even realise it was her birthday! No one had celebrated it for her all these years and she clearly had been too preoccupied looking after her husband to bother much about herself,” Mr Giam recounted.
He asserted that such is the sacrifice that caregivers make for their loved ones.
Mr Giam concluded his post saying, “We as a society need to do so much more to recognise their efforts and relieve their burdens, including boosting their retirement adequacy and providing greater support for them.”
Netizens praise Mr Giam and his team for their efforts; call for more to be done for caretakers and elderly people
Commenting under the Facebook post, netizens were quick to laud Mr Giam and his team for their “dedication” and “good work”.
“This is the type of MP we need and not those going around talking about upgrading go that we can sell our unit at a higher price,” said one netizen.
Meanwhile, a few others called for “more to be done” to ensure that the welfare of caretakers and elderly people in Singapore are taken care of.
Share this:
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