2006

Pierce Seondary Good Governance: Managing Population

Is family support a better approach than government support in taking care of elderly citizens in Singapore? [13]

Introduction Singaporeans and the government must cooperate and play their parts in order to meet the challenges of an ageing society. Singaporeans can help out by providing family support, while the government provides their own form of assistance, mostly through monetary means. Family support is a better approach than government support in taking care of the elderly because it takes care of their emotional and psychological well-being, which is something intangible that the government cannot provide for. The family unit acts as the main source of emotional, social and financial support for the elderly, and this promotes a positive attitude in them towards ageing. As such, they are more likely to remain active in the family and community. Family events such as Senior Citizens Week and Grandparents Day further reinforce the idea of happy ageing by bringing families together to show appreciation for the elderly. This also reminds everyone of their roles in creating an environment that is socially conducive for the elderly, allowing the younger generation to understand the importance of filial piety. Hence, family support injects the motivation to live well in senior citizens by demonstrating the joys of a family. Family support is therefore the better approach in taking care of the elderly. Government support is a better approach in taking care of the elderly because it is the springboard for effective family support and ensuring elderly independence. Through legislation, the government protects the interests of senior citizens in Singapore. Taxpayers can claim income tax deduction for taking care of elderly relatives, contributing to their own elderly dependents CPF retirement accounts and having grandparents take care of grandchildren while both parents are working. This encourages families to stay together, strengthening bonds and providing for the emotional needs of the elderly. The government also supports the elderly by introducing Public Housing Schemes, whereby first time buyers of government flats can get a housing grant if they buy a flat in the area their parents live. This promotes good relations between parent and child, as the child can attend to their parents needs whenever necessary. Last, the government mandates that all employees have a Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings scheme, which comprises of three accounts the Special Account, Medisave and Retirement Account. They are funds kept aside for retirement, emergency and investment purposes (Special Account), medical expenses (Medisave) and withdrawal upon reaching 55 (Retirement Account). A minimum sum must be left in their Retirement Account from the age of 62, so that CPF members can receive a monthly income to support themselves. This ensures that the elderly receive some form of financial support when they grow old, and would not have to depend totally on their children on matters of health and medical needs, encouraging self reliance and independence. Thus, the government plays a critical role in ensuring that the elderly are taken care of. By implementing certain laws and processes, it provides an avenue for family support to come into play, and also empowers the elderly to be self-reliant, hence meeting their needs. In conclusion, I disagree with the statement and am in view that government support is a better approach in taking care of the elderly. Indeed, providing family support is the ideal approach in taking care of the elderly, and is probably something every senior citizen wishes for. However, we have to accept that not many senior citizens are blessed with supportive families, given the hectic lives of working Singaporeans these days. That the government even instituted the Tribunal of Maintenance of Parents, whereby parents can go to court and seek financial support from their children, capable but refusing to do so, suggests that strong family units are not that commonplace in Singapore. Furthermore, we cannot fully guarantee that family support best serves the needs of the elderly, for they might not even have sufficient financial resources to do so, making this familial arrangement seem to be more of a burden. Thus, the government more often than not props up family support by incentivising family bonds, which is evidence that government support is a better approach than family support in taking care of the elderly in light of todays social changes.

Side 1: Yes, family support is better than government support

Side 2: No, government support is better than family support

Conclusion

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