An Ageing Population Calls for Restructure of Healthcare System
contributed by Gracie Xiang, >60 Design Centre Corporate Services
With over 25% of its population above the age of 65 years old, Singapore, like many other developed countries around the world, has a growing grey population. In 2007, one in 10 persons is aged 60 years old or above. By 2050, two in 10 persons will be aged 60 years or above. Retirement age has correspondingly also increased to 75 years old.
This graying phenomenon leads to a rising demand for a healthcare system that relies on advanced home diagnostics to cater to the special dietary preferences of the elderly and centralized advanced geriatric health management systems in public hospitals.
Prime Minister Lee in his recent National Day Rally Speech said that an ageing population calls for a restructure of the whole healthcare system in Singapore. Step down care is currently largely provided by voluntary welfare organizations, but government will step in to deal with an increase in the number of elderly patients.
One key step is to link up acute hospitals with community ones where patients can receive treatment at the acute hospital and then recuperate at the community hospital. In doing so, patients will get appropriate care, save money and also free up beds in the acute hospital for more acute cases which need to be treated.
Another government initiative would be to work on upgrading home care so that caregivers and maids looking after the elderly patients can benefit from some professional training. Family doctors will also play a stronger role in monitoring and supervising care given.
To improve the quality of life, assistive technology will become increasingly necessary to help the aged stay in the workforce longer and lead independent lives.
Assistive technology is any device or piece of equipment, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Such assistive technologies will see prominence as Singapore transforms its healthcare system to be more homebased.
Development of technologies to keep people well and moving the healthcare system from the hospital to home will also see growth in new computer based technologies and innovations in sensors, software and wireless technologies that can allow such vital information as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and sleep patterns to be tracked remotely.
Broadband internet connectivity that allows the data to be shared real time between the seniors and healthcare professionals, as well as amongst family members and caregivers who deliver the majority of the homebased care to seniors.
Increasingly in the future, we will see more collaborative efforts between the public and the private sectors to design innovative technologies that will facilitate and manage the growing ageing population in Singapore. There are market opportunities for products ranging from IT enabled assistive technology, mobility aids and self help aids, medical kits and alarms to a wide array of elderly friendly products.
With the government's commitment to make healthcare more affordable for all and to remain at the forefront of healthcare provision as the regional centre of medical excellence, there is high interest for both sectors to keep abreast of latest developments and to invest in the emerging technology, to maintain Singapore's edge in providing quality medical care for the aged.
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