Focus on Step-Down Care (National Day 09 Rally)

Today’s National Rally brought up various key issues and I will highlight one PM Lee spoke on ramping up step-down care. (more can be read here)

This is in response to the challenges brought about by our rapidly aging population, which need no reminder. The entire framework of care from doctors, nurses and caregivers; the physical infrastructure; patients’ individual responsibility as well as the necessary healthcare financing was touched upon in his speech.

Even earlier this year, a special report on elderly care and nursing homes was published in Straits Times to highlight this pressing issue. Nursing home beds are in severe shortage and private nursing homes charge anywhere between S$1,000 – 4,000 per month (refer here for fees and charges at one home).

It is likely our existing Eldershield (the affordable yet insufficient severe disability insurance scheme for long term care of seniors in old age) will undergo a facelift review. Let’s see what our Ministry of Health will unveil in time to come, and how the private insurance schemes in the market will respond to provide enhanced value to our seniors (and ourselves eventually as we all age with passing time).

In case you are unaware, severe disability for long term care refers to the inability to perform at least 3 of the 6 Activities of Daily Living.