Singapore Ageing Population and Volunteering Statistics and Interpretation By: Julian Choo

Notes Statistics may not always be accurate! The interpretations in these slides are my own and do not represent the views of the organisations that I am volunteering with. Hyperlink at bottom right = my source Text in yellow box = my interpretations

Number of elderly forecasted to reach 900000 by 2030 Everyone can benefit if we recognise their potential Committee on Ageing Issues: Report on the Ageing Population (2006) http://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Summary/research/CAI_report.pdf

460900 elderly in Singapore 32000 in 1/2-room flats. These are the main targets for befriending since they probably stay alone. Lions Befrienders has 600 active (minimum once in 2 weeks) volunteers, serving 3000 elderly. What about the other 29000? In fact, anyone can feel lonely…but we need more befrienders before we can even think beyond these 32000. http://www.tablebuilder.singstat.gov.sg/publicfacing/mainMenu.action

(Long Term Assistance is also known as Public Assistance/PA) Singaporeans are quite ok financially, elderly PA holders (2961) are less than 1% of the elderly population (460900) What they need more is company http://www.tablebuilder.singstat.gov.sg/publicfacing/mainMenu.action

10% of people aged 60+ have dementia Only 3% 20 years ago 28000 aged 60+ had dementia in 2012 Forecasted to increase to 80000 by 2030 Dementia rates are rising and can affect anyone. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/one-in-10-people-over-60-have-dementia-new-singapore-study-claims Nearly 21% of people aged 80+ showed signs of depression Only 10% of those surveyed lived alone Depression can lead to suicide Depression, like loneliness and dementia, can affect anyone. https://www.nuh.com.sg/news/media-articles_2349.html 126 people aged 60+ committed suicide in 2014 (27% of total suicides) 79 in 2000 (23% of total suicides) Suicide rates have increased, especially among elderly. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-seniors-in-singapore-taking-own-lives Dementia, depression and suicide rates appear to be increasing, mainly from lack of mental stimulation and social interaction. With support from friends and family, these risks can be reduced. For those who don’t have any family, befrienders can provide the next best thing.

Drop of 25 million hours since 2012 Drop of 25 million hours since 2012. Increase in “average volunteer hours” came from more committed volunteers http://www.nvpc.org.sg/individual-giving-survey

Only 36% of 17.8% of the population are volunteering at least once a month…I am not sure how much impact volunteers can make if it’s less often than that http://www.nvpc.org.sg/individual-giving-survey

Other forms of eldercare support People’s Association Agency for Integrated Care https://www.silverpages.sg/ Financial Assistance Caregivers Training Grant (CTG) Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Foreign Domestic Worker Grant (FDWG) Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession (FDWLC) Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE) Medical Fee Exemption Card Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAS) Seniors Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) Care Services Community Health Centre Dementia Day Care Home Medical Home Nursing Home Personal Care Home Therapy Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) Medical Escort and Transport (MET) Rehabilitation Day Care Senior Activity Centre