Singapore : Elderly Dumped In Nursing Homes

Aged parents should be placed in nursing homes only as ‘last resort’ as they have better quality of life staying with family, says Balaji ;

People are placing their elderly parents in nursing homes so readily that it is getting the Government concerned about the effects of such a decision.

Nursing homes should be a ‘measure of last resort’, said Minister of State (Health and Transport) Balaji Sadasivan yesterday, because staying with one’s family means a better quality of life for the old folk.

‘If you move to the nursing home, you’re going to be in an environment that’s totally different. Look to day rehab if needed. At least when they go back home at night, they still stay with their families.’

He added that it may not be easy to make the extra effort to take parents to day care every day, ‘but on the other hand, it can be miserable if you are well and good and your family pushes you into a nursing home’.

Currently, more than 90 per cent of the 4,900 or so beds in the homes run by voluntary welfare organisations are filled, while 60 per cent of the places at day rehabilitation centres are taken.

Dr Balaji made the comments at a Walk and Wheelathon organised by the Muhammadiyah Health & Day Care Centre for Senior Citizens at East Coast Park yesterday. ;

About 50 elderly and disabled in wheelchairs took in the morning breeze at the venue, before the start of a fair to raise funds for the centre.

There are now 28 day-care centres for the elderly in Singapore, according to the website of the Ministry of Community and Development and Sports.

This is 10 more than in 2002, when there were 18 with space for 800 elderly people.

Meanwhile, from this Saturday, two health-care centres for older people will open from 8am to 5pm on weekends as well, making it easier for them to get treatment.

The centres in Toa Payoh and Geylang now operate only on weekdays, from 7.30am to 7pm.

Their new hours will allow hospitals to refer cases to them on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as allow early hospital discharges that could reduce medical bills, said the centres’ spokesman and manager, Dr Stephanie Chee. ;

A total of about 70 people turn up daily at both centres, which offer occupational therapy and physiotherapy, as well as nursing and day care.

Said Dr Chee: ‘We expect about 30 per cent of our existing clients to come on weekends.’

The centres are in Geylang Polyclinic at 21 Geylang East, and Toa Payoh Polyclinic at Block 2003 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. Subsidies are available for those with financial difficulties.

Source : The Straits Times