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April 2007
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* Saturday, April 14, 2007 *

The definition of the "elder" is a leader or senior figure in a community. Since it emphasizes on the word ‘leader’, it means that we should show great respect to them. Elderly generally knows more knowledge than compared to us. They went through more things in life. Thus, we should respect them. The lives in which we today lived in partly depended on them for their past contributions. If not for them, we might now be living in the streets or even those run down houses.

It really hit me hard whenever such topic appears in the news. It simply meant one thing. The elderly are suffering while we youngsters are living in such good environment conditions. The issue on the aging population had always been a problem that Singaporeans are facing in this modern society. Factors such as: The "baby boom" generation, improved medical technology and health awareness, starting families at later age also plays an important part in the aging population.

Government policies are largely to be blamed. The implementation after the “baby boom” is a success. The government’s “2 child only” shrank the whole Singapore population. However, the happiness is considered short-lived. The "baby boom" generation, resulting from a huge surge in the birthrate following World War II and before 1961. This generation is now middle-aged. The question now is that how are we going to afford the elderly when the number of elderly is increasing significantly.

Improved medical technology and health awareness are allowing us to live longer lives. In 1995, men lived on average three years and women two years longer than ten years previously.7 Life expectancy after age 65 is now 15.8 and 19.6 years respectively, the sixth highest in the world behind Japan, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland and Canada.

Opportunities for women have increased, such as employment and travel. Many are therefore starting families at later ages than ever before, with some choosing to forego motherhood all together. Another reason for starting families later is because of the increasing length of time required to obtain a basic education. Furthermore, people nowadays are more career-minded. Money is more important than any other things. A family cannot be started when you do no have enough money. Especially in Singapore, it is even more impossible.

I refer to the Straits Times, 3 April 2007, “Divide over how much help to give elderly poor.”

It is reported that public assistances are only given to those who are too old, too ill or unfit to work. Assistances are not granted to those who fail to reach the required criteria. This simply means that when help is available, not everyone in need gets it. Even if those who gets it, they still cannot scrap through the month. People still eat plain rice drizzled with Soya sauce. So what is the difference of having the assistance when people still suffer? I feel strongly that the public assistance quantums deserve a further review.

Therefore I come to a conclusion that this current aging population is a more to burden than benefit.

Done by:
Annabel lim (10)

i am who i am
6:38 PM