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When the govt is the best paid in the world and enjoys uninterrupted 1-Familee rule for half a century? Where's the logic? 
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Aug 27, 2008
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Keep elderly active, engaged <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Lee Hui Chieh
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The government is funding the Wellness Programme, which involves setting up one-stop health screening and exercise centres in the heartlands for the elderly, and the Council for Third Age, a body that organises activities for the elderly. -- ST PHOTO: FRANKIE CHEE
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KEEPING the elderly active and engaged in the society is key to reducing suicide rates of the senior citizens, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng said in Parliament on Wednesday.
This is one of the Government's top priorities for the elderly, besides ensuring their financial security and health care, he said, in response to a question from Nominated Member of Parliament Eunice Olsen.
And it cannot be done just by the state, but also by the family and the community, he added.
Suicides among those aged 65 years have risen - from 69 in 2006 to 87 last year.
In particular, the rate among those aged 75 and above was almost two times higher than those between 40 and 54 years.
Mr Lim pointed out that suicide in the elderly was often caused by 'depression and a sense of hopelessness or lack of meaning in life', which could be triggered by many reasons, including loneliness and social isolation, ill health and the loss of a spouse.
'There is no substitute for family in giving the elderly, or in fact everyone of us, a sense of purpose, meaning and joy to life,' he said.
Family and friends should look out for signs of depression in the elderly, and get sufferers to seek help early. On the Government's part, it is funding the Wellness Programme, which involves setting up one-stop health screening and exercise centres in the heartlands for the elderly, and the Council for Third Age, a body that organises activities for the elderly.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Aug 27, 2008
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Keep elderly active, engaged <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Lee Hui Chieh
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
The government is funding the Wellness Programme, which involves setting up one-stop health screening and exercise centres in the heartlands for the elderly, and the Council for Third Age, a body that organises activities for the elderly. -- ST PHOTO: FRANKIE CHEE
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
KEEPING the elderly active and engaged in the society is key to reducing suicide rates of the senior citizens, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng said in Parliament on Wednesday.
This is one of the Government's top priorities for the elderly, besides ensuring their financial security and health care, he said, in response to a question from Nominated Member of Parliament Eunice Olsen.
And it cannot be done just by the state, but also by the family and the community, he added.
Suicides among those aged 65 years have risen - from 69 in 2006 to 87 last year.
In particular, the rate among those aged 75 and above was almost two times higher than those between 40 and 54 years.
Mr Lim pointed out that suicide in the elderly was often caused by 'depression and a sense of hopelessness or lack of meaning in life', which could be triggered by many reasons, including loneliness and social isolation, ill health and the loss of a spouse.
'There is no substitute for family in giving the elderly, or in fact everyone of us, a sense of purpose, meaning and joy to life,' he said.
Family and friends should look out for signs of depression in the elderly, and get sufferers to seek help early. On the Government's part, it is funding the Wellness Programme, which involves setting up one-stop health screening and exercise centres in the heartlands for the elderly, and the Council for Third Age, a body that organises activities for the elderly.
