Old and home alone

This post came out from The Straits Times (17 August 2015)

The number of old people aged 65 and above who live by themselves has nearly tripled over the last 15 years to 42,100 last year, up from 14,500 in 2000. The elderly make up about a third of all one-person households here. Sociologists interviewed said such solo elderly households are more prevalent now due to factors such as an ageing population and changing family structures resulting from a low birth rate, rising divorce rate and estranged familial relations. Others simply desire more personal space and independence.

Whether some senior citizens live alone as a result of forced circumstances or choice, some studies suggest that they are more likely to fall ill or die before their time. A local study published in June this year explored the relationship between loneliness, social isolation and mortality risk and found that loneliness is associated with a higher mortality risk among the elderly in Singapore.

Between 2007 and 2011, at least 50 elderly people have been found dead in their homes. Yet, the study's authors were also quick to point out that in a densely populated city state like Singapore, where the healthcare system is good and children often live close by, living alone does not imply social disconnection or lack of support from children.

The issue of the rising number of isolated seniors was flagged back in 2012 by Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, then Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports. She said then that the reach of Senior Activity Centres, which provide recreational and social activities for the elderly, needs to be widened as they are located at the void decks of selected one and two room rental blocks. They now also cater to those not living in rental flats.

Ms Peh Kim Choo, director of Hua Mei Centre for Successful Ageing at Tsao Foundation, said this trend of seniors living alone has implications for the national vision of the old being able to age comfortably at home in the community. "Will they be able to access help and support easily when a crisis happens at home, or will they be shipped off to a nursing home the minute conditions arise?" she asked. "The existing gaps are not so much a lack of services but how these services are coordinated and working in tandem with healthcare and psychological care services."

Last year, The Straits Times broke the news about a new eldercare system aimed at better supporting vulnerable old people. Under this, Singapore would be divided into zones with each one overseen by a cluster operator. The idea is that having a single operator overseeing community services in each zone will entail better coordination and less wastage of manpower.

Thoughts:

1. One key issue that most people experience is that agencies are not speaking to each other, and thus, giving the impression that the system is not well supported and coordinated to make access of services easier to residents. 
2. Such a statement can be linked to issues relating to a lack of national central database to check further, lack of open-ness among agencies to share data, and lastly, missing a strong hand to get all agencies to comply and work together.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big