TRANSCRIPT OF THE DOORSTOP INTERVIEW BY EMERITUS GOH CHOK TONG AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND MANPOWER, DR AT THE SENIORS’ MOBILITY AND ENABLING FUND HOME VISITS ON 29 JULY 2013 AT GOODLIFE! FAMILY SERVICE CENTRE.

Question(to Dr Amy Khor): Can you comment on the Seniors’ Mobility Fund and its accessibility?

Dr Amy Khor: Well, first of all, I am very pleased that the enhancements to the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) have been implemented very smoothly on the ground, since we rolled it out since the first of July this year. In fact from the first of July this year since rolling out the enhancement, the enhanced SMF, we have had 702 successful applications. When we revealed the scheme this year, we took in feedback from the VWOs as well as seniors, to better meet the needs using the fund. So we have actually made five key enhancements to the SMF, firstly it is under the fund to widen the range of assistive devices that can be given. So that includes of course the commutes, motorised wheelchairs, as well as even hearing aids. Secondly, we have actually implemented a simplified means testing framework, for elderly living in three-room HDB flats and smaller, so that they can automatically receive subsidies for assistive devices that cost less than $500. Thirdly, we have actually expanded the scope of the fund to also include consumables for a limited number of seniors who are receiving home healthcare services and fourthly, we have actually expanded the fund to provide transport subsidies to more elderly who attend dementia day-care day rehabilitation centres as well as renal dialysis centres. Finally, Agency of Integrated Care (AIC) has actually been working and partnering restructured and community hospitals as well as community based care providers, including senior activity centres, day rehabilitation centres, to make them become channels where our seniors can access and apply for the SMF. So currently, we have a 114 access channels, access points, island wide. That will help the seniors to be able to more quickly, and directly access the funds for the support they need through these SMF access points. I think that a shorter turnaround time, in terms of applying for and processing and approving the SMF application, also means that we can ensure a smoother and seamless transition of care for our elderly as they move from say from a hospital to community based care. We are working to encourage more community partners to come on board to become access points so that our elderly can more quickly get the support that they need through the SMF. Indeed, today, with the home visits that we have made, I am pleased that we are able to provide more assistance to the seniors in terms of a wider range of assistive devices, and we also hope that more can benefit from the consumables as well as the specialised transport that can be provided under the SMF, and we want to continue to work to see how we can review and improve our assistance schemes to make help and bring help to Singaporeans – make it nearer to them so that it is more accessible and easily available.

Question(to ESM): ESM, is a pilot programme for aging, how is it progressing?

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh: Well I am a young active senior; I want to put the enhanced mobility fund in a larger context. That is where Marine Parade comes in. I can see that the government is trying to make a senior friendly country. Therefore I offer myself, to the health ministry and other ministries, that Marine Parade could be the pilot project for this. In other words, regard Marine Parade as a country. As a small-sized country, therefore we can have programmes which could be experimented. If it works in Marine Parade, those programmes got to be multiplied in other constituencies, nationwide. If I make Marine Parade a senior friendly estate with a happy environment for them, then likewise we can do it for the whole of Singapore. So Marine Parade has worked very well with the government to upgrade the physical features of Marine Parade into senior friendly features. For example, when they cross the road, the green man will stay on for say, 18 seconds instead of 12-13 seconds, a longer period for people to cross. Then within the house, you have grab bars now, so those grab bars are being introduced to other estates. And the ramps within the homes are also there in Marine Parade and also in other estates. So what do I mean by putting the mobility programme into a larger context? We are all getting older and getting old should not be a cause for anxiety. Why are people anxious? They are anxious because of funding. Maybe lack of family support, community support, and certainly will worry very much if there is no government support. So what the government is trying to do is get the family, the community, and the government itself, to provide this support, in order to remove the anxiety element from growing old. I know, because as I said I am a young active senior, I am getting old, I also feel anxious sometimes, on whether there will be people to look after you. For me funding is not a problem but physically sometimes you need people to look after you. So where do you look for support? So this is where we are taking a holistic approach to solve the problem. In Marine Parade, I am now thinking of starting a community integrated care, for senior citizens. In other words, get the community, families and government, to see how we can approach this in total, starting with financial education, active ageing programs, and very importantly moving up to integrated care. This is where the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) is a very important new department for the government. I have had a briefing by them, we felt that it is a very important element for us to remove the anxiety of growing old so I am very glad that Dr Amy Khor and AIC are now providing equipment, devices, for people who have got old. It is not just financing. Many of those devices which exists, we do not know, old people do not know. But the people in AIC know and they can find out from them what is most suitable for them. Of course the funding must be made very very light for the people involved, and if you are under public assistance, you get them for free. So in total, we can, remove this worry of getting old in Singapore. And if we do that, Singapore will be a good place to grow old in. That is my aim as the MP for Marine Parade. Do it for Marine Parade, grow old in Marine Parade, make it the best place to grow old in, and by extension, Singapore will be a good place to grow old in.

Question(to ESM): When you talk about community and volunteer care, what else does that entail?

ESM: Well Goodlife! is an example. Goodlife! is a volunteer organisation, and of course the staff are paid, professional social workers and they run this professionally. But Goodlife! on its own, needs volunteers to help them, for example to deliver services with the help of the social professionals to the people, and they do have a team of volunteers. And now I am thinking of roping in the young old in Marine Parade – they are very active, just retired, to see how they can then help the people who are already on the old side. That is community involvement. But it must be an integrated approach and this is being worked out. The concept is going to get firmed, I am working it out in my mind – if I own volunteers, grassroots leaders, and then I have a discussion with People’s Association, Health Ministry, Ministry for Social and Family Development, and then put up a paper and hopefully get some support from the government to launch this project in Marine Parade. But it is for the country, Marine Parade will be just a pilot. I am now a little freer, so I can spend time, and how do I want to spend time? I want to spend time fruitfully, and if I can make a difference, an impact on helping the seniors, that will help the government itself, but more importantly I am more interested in making this place a good place for people to grow old in, without too much anxiety. Question (to Dr Amy Khor): Who are some of the groups of people who will receive the most help from the fund?

Dr Amy Khor: Well I think that we need to make sure that we give help to those who most need it, and we need to target the funds where it is needed, and I think the vulnerable elderly lower-income are the ones that will need the most help in terms of improving their quality of life by providing them with all these assistive devices and transport subsidies and so on, to make it easier for them to live independently for as long as possible, in the community. So I think help must be targeted and directed to those who genuinely need them.