By MP for Punggol East SMC, Lee Li Lian
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 12 March 2015]
This is a topic I have brought up in last year’s COS and I’m re-raising this because I have yet to see any progress. Both the Eldershield and Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE) need tremendous improvement.
[1]Singapore citizens and Permanent residents with Medisave are automatically covered by Eldershield at the age of 40.IDAPE is a means-tested government assistance scheme meant for elderly citizens who suffer from severe disability and who are not eligible for ElderShield because of their age or existing disabilities.[2]
[3]Currently Eldershield 400 provides a payout of $400 per month for up to 72 months. [4]The last reform done for Eldershield was in Sep 2007. [5] IDAPE provides $150 per month for per capita household income of $1800 and below and $250 per month for per capita household income of $1801 – $2600.
In the case of IDAPE, the monthly subsidies of $150 and $250 are too low. This only marginally covers the cost of supporting an elderly person who is severely disabled and needs constant and specialised care. The payout period of six years is also short considering life expectancy has gone up and the elderly person may live for many years with his or her disability, with an unlikely chance of additional income or means. I call on the government to review both the subsidies and payout period.
Next, I would like to touch on the topic of Senior Care Centres. As an aging society, there is a growing demand for such services. These centres provide a range of aged care services, such as day care, dementia day care, day rehabilitation and basic nursing services. [6]In a written PQ reply on 21st Oct 2013, Minister announced plans to develop 39 more senior care centres by 2016. I would like to find out what is the progress of these developments, how many people are on the waiting list and what is the average waiting time to get into a senior care centre?
[1]https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/costs_and_financing/schemes_subsidies/ElderShield.html
[2] When ElderShield was launched in September 2002, those who (a) were 70 years and above, or (b) had pre-existing disabilities were not insurable as their premiums would have been very high and unaffordable.
[3]https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/costs_and_financing/schemes_subsidies/ElderShield.html
[4]https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/pressRoomItemRelease/2007/eldershield_reform-launch_of_public_consultation_and_eldershield_tender.html
[5]https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/costs_and_financing/schemes_subsidies/Interim_Disability_Assistance_Programme_For_The_Elderly.html
[6] http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00005141-WA¤tPubID=00005228-WA&topicKey=00005228-WA.00005141-WA_1%2BhansardContent43a675dd-5000-42da-9fd5-40978d79310f%2B