1 I am very happy to be here for this ground breaking ceremony of Bright Vision Community Hospital & Nursing Home. This occasion marks another major initiative taken by the Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services in providing long term care for the elderly sick.

2 Singapore’s population is ageing rapidly. Today, we have about 220,000 people aged 65 years and above, which makesmaking up about 7% of our population. By 2030, the number of elderly will increase to about 800,000. This means that about 18% of our population, or one out of five persons, will be above the age of 65.

3 Contrary to popular beliefs, the majority of our elderly are fit and healthy, enjoying a good quality of life. This is borne out by surveys on the elderly. The 1995 National Ssurvey of Senior Citizens on -------- (??) indicated that the majority of our elderly (85%) had assessed themselves to be in ‘good health’ and only about 9% reported that they had, during the past one year, been hospitalised. About 34% also indicated that they received regular treatment from doctors for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, stroke, rheumatism and arthritic conditions.

54 With improvements in health and health care facilities, the elderly are expected to live even longer and grow older. The number of old-old, i.e. those very senior Singaporeans aged 80 75 years and above will increase. Today, about 1446,60086,000 persons are , 65 years or more,above the age of 7580 years. We can expect the number of very senior Singaporeans to increase to about 300,000240,000 persons (or 30%) by 2030.

6 3 My Ministry has formulated a comprehensive plan for the provision of health care services for the elderly. Our objective is to keep the elderly as functionally independent for as long as possible. To achieve this, my Ministry has mapped out the following strategies:

• Promote good healthy habits to prevent and delay the onset of chronic diseases such stroke and diabetes - a national disability prevention programme for the elderly, integrating strategies involving individuals, health care professionals and the community will be drawn up.

• Provide effective treatment and rehabilitation through the acute and community hospitals

• Develop community-based health services to provide support to the family care givers

• Provide residential care for those who cannot live in their own homes

5 However, it is also true that generally, a person's health does deteriorate with age. The elderly, especially the old-old, will therefore need more health care than the general population. This would mean an increased need for health care facilities, especially long term care in community hospitals, chronic sick hospitals, nursing homes, day rehabilitation/day care centres, and home medical and home nursing services.

6 Let me stress that the pAs most of the elderly prefer to live with their families, they should be cared for in their homes as long as possible. This is also very much in line with our value system, which places the primary responsibility of caring for our elders on the family.

7 The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Health Care for the Elderly, in its report released in February this year, identified home care services as a major gap in the total healthcare for the elderly today in Singapore. Home care include services such as

• Home medical care – where doctors visit their patients in their homes to provide medical consultations and treatment and

• Home nursing care – where nurses provide nursing care in the patients’ home.

8 We will need to expand the supply of these services. In addition, the elderly are likely to require other services, such as home supportive care by home helpers to provide meal delivery, respite care, personal hygiene, home management, laundry and escort for medical appointments.

9 My Ministry is working with various voluntary welfare organizations to identify and set up the various needed types of community health care services. The aim is to enable the elderly to continue to live at in their own homes and in the community for as long as possible, and to avoid premature institutionalisation or hospitalisation.

10 Nevertheless, we recognise that despite all the care and support that the sick elderly may receive in the home, there may come a time when they will require institutional care. In re While a small number will require medical care in acute hospitals, most are more likely to need nursing care. This can be provided adequately and less expensively in nursing homes, resulting in lower cost burdens on their family members. My Ministry has therefore stepped up its plans to develop and build nursing homes. This year, 2 nursing homes have already been completed, and one is presently under construction. Another 5 projects, including the this Bright Vision Community Hospital & Nursing Home, are at various stages of planning and will begin construction soon. These 5 nursing homes, when completed in 2 years' time, will provide an additional of 1,150 beds.

11 Providing health care for the elderly population in Singapore is a big challenge. It is not desirable nor possible for the government to do this on its own. Because of the highly varied needs and family circumstances, it is preferable for the community, and in particular, the VWOs, to partner the government in meeting this challenge. I am therefore glad that today, close to 80% of residential care services are provided by the VWOs. As we know, caring for the elderly sick demands a high level of motivation and compassion. VWOs, with their spirit of altruism, and supported by a network of dedicated volunteers, will be able to add warmth and the human face to such services.

12 Let me close by commending the Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services for taking up the initiative to develop a community hospital cum nursing home. The Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services has been an important partner in the provision of health care services to the elderly and the less fortunate. It provides a wide range of community and health services, and this is its largest project. I can assure the organisation and its supporters and staff that the government certainly appreciates their tremendous contributions. You can be assured also, that your organisation ewe my Ministry will continue support to work in partnership and assist you in your endeavoursproject to provide health care services for the elderly.

13 With that, let me end by wishing the Bright Vision Community Hospital and Nursing Home all success in this important project.

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