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5. National Policies on Ageing and Long-term Care in Singapore
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
- Chapter
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150 KALYANI K. MEHTA© 2002 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore 5 National Policies on Ageing and Long-term Care in Singapore A Case of Cautious Wisdom? Kalyani K. Mehta Introduction In the context of the Asia–Pacific region, Singapore represents a unique case of a rapidly ageing, geographically small nation characterized by its multi-ethnic and multi-lingual population. According to the 2000 Population Census, there were about four million people in Singapore, of whom 3.263 million were citizens or permanent residents (Government of Singapore Census of Population, 2000), living in the city–state’s total area of about 660 square kilometres. The three major ethnic groups are the Chinese, Malays and Indians comprising, respectively, 79 per cent, 14 per cent and 6 per cent of the total population. The remaining 1 per cent consists of smaller groups such as Japanese, Eurasians and others. The four official languages in Singapore are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. While it is well-known that Singapore has one of the fastest ageing populations in the Asia–Pacific region, the speed of the demographic ageing process has been less emphasized. What 150 Reproduced from Ageing and Long-Term Care: National Policies in the Asia-Pacific, edited by David R. Phillips and Alfred C. M. Chan (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2002). This version was obtained electronically direct from the publisher on condition that copyright is not infringed. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Individual articles are available from SINGAPORE: NATIONAL POLICIES ON AGEING 151© 2002 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore TABLE 5.1 Singapore: Number and Proportion of Older Personsa 1999 2000 2020 2030 No. aged 65+ (in thousands) 235 312 529 796 Proportion aged 65 +* 7.3 8.4 13.1 18.9 Median age (years) 33.4 36.9 39.3 41.2 Dependency ratio (DR) 42.0 38.7 44.9 56.4 DR (Young) 0–14 years 31.7 27.1 25.9 26.9 DR (Old) 65+ years 10.4 11.6 19.0 29.5 a Figures for 2000–30 are estimates. Source: Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Ageing Population (1999). a Figures for 2000–30 are estimates. Source: Inter-Ministerial Committee on Health Care for the Elderly (1999). 0 5 10 15 20 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 all over 65 only 65-74 only over 75 developed countries experienced over a period of 80 to 100 or more years is being experienced in less than half the time in a number of countries such as Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore (Mehta 1999; ESCAP 1996a; Phillips 2000b). Figure 5.1 provides a graphic illustration of the rapidity of the demographic ageing process in Singapore. Table 5.1 summarizes Singapore’s demographic projections to 2030. FIGURE 5.1 Singapore: Persons Aged 65 and Above as a Percentage of the Total Populationa [34.238.138.162] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 21:48 GMT) 152 KALYANI K. MEHTA© 2002 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore The development of policies on ageing In the early 1980s, the Singapore Government began to recognise the likely impact an ageing population would have on society. In June 1982, a thirteen-member committee, The Committee on the Problems of the Aged, was appointed and it marked the beginning of the government’s thrust to implement counter-measures in anticipation of the attendant problems of a demographically ageing population. The committee commissioned the first National Survey of Senior Citizens in 1983, the results of which were published in the Report of the Committee on the Problems of the Aged in 1984. In tandem with the government’s approach and philosophy of foresight and visionary planning, in 1984 an Inter-Ministerial Population Committee was set up. In 1988, the National Advisory Council on the Aged was formed to undertake a comprehensive review of the status of ageing in Singapore. One of the key recommendations proposed by the Advisory Council was that a National Council on Ageing should be set up with the character and authority of a statutory board to plan and coordinate policies and programmes for older persons effectively. Other proposals included raising the retirement age from 55 to 60, as continued employment provides a sense of worth, dignity and financial independence to older persons; adjusting the seniority-based wage system so that more older people will be employed; expanding and strengthening public education programmes for older...