Investment in Infrastructure to Support Social and Economic Development as Population Ages

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Health what are the infrastructure investments that have been implemented or are being implemented to support our social and economic development in the face of an ageing population.

Madam, we take a whole-of-Government approach in preparing ourselves in the face of an ageing population. Launched in 2015, the Action Plan for Successful Ageing outlines the national blueprint to help Singaporeans age well and age confidently, with strong family and community support. The Ministerial Committee on Ageing oversees and coordinates these efforts.

First, to sustain our economic vitality and help Singaporeans adjust to the changing economy, the Government has been investing in continuing education and training (CET) infrastructure to help our older workers remain employable. Singaporeans can access heavily-funded CET programmes to upskill and reskill throughout their lifetime.

There are also professional conversion programmes to support mid-career switches for PMETs. Many new initiatives have been introduced under SkillsFuture, such as skills-based modular courses. The Government also supports ageless workplaces through the WorkPro scheme which provides funding support for companies to redesign jobs for older workers. In addition, workplace health programmes have been put in place to keep mature workers healthy.

Second, we are investing in infrastructure and programmes to cater to the social needs of seniors. HDB has provided more housing options for seniors, such as 2-room Flexi flats, and offered the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme to make the home environment safe for our seniors. We are also setting up "Active Ageing Hubs", which are one-stop day centres for seniors which provide active ageing services for seniors.

Third, we have been expanding our health and aged care infrastructure as outlined in Healthcare 2020. Since 2012, we have added 2,500 hospital beds. We also expanded our nursing home and community facilities, by adding 3,400 nursing home beds and 5,600 home and centre-based care places.

Fourth, we are systematically refreshing our housing estates, transport system and parks to make our city senior-friendly. All new public housing estates already have barrier-free designs. A $40 million Accessibility Fund has been established to incentivise owners of existing private sector buildings to improve accessibility. We have enhanced road safety for seniors and improved access to public transport. We are experimenting with "therapeutic gardens" and we welcome seniors to our parks to enjoy the sunshine, the greenery and nature, and to stay healthy and active.

The Government will continue to plan ahead to ensure that infrastructure developments keep up with the needs of an ageing population. But preparing for the future involves not just infrastructure investments. We also need all citizens to work together to create inclusive workplaces and community to support our seniors.