I AGREE with Dr Lee Siew Peng ("Isolating elderly not the
solution"; last Saturday). Singapore prides itself as an excellent
example of social integration, where people of diverse cultures and
religions can live, work and socialise together, and it is
unthinkable that the elderly need to be isolated in special
townships.
Dr Lee is correct that the real solution is to focus on the
needs of the elderly with regard to the design of housing, the
provision of services and amenities and support such as help with
ordering and delivery of bulky groceries, changing of light bulbs
and fixing of leaky taps.
The Association of Management Corporations in Singapore (Amcis)
formed a not-for-profit company last Wednesday, known as Amcis
Seniors, dedicated to providing such services to the elderly at
subsidised rates.
In addition, Amcis Seniors will also group the needs of the
elderly to purchase such items as health supplements, and so on, on
a bulk basis to help reduce the cost of living for seniors.
As a start, 8 per cent of the gross revenue of the company would
be set aside specially for the welfare of the elderly, which could
include topping up of the Medisave account for retirees.
Francis Zhan
Group CEO
Association of Management Corporations in Singapore