Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day

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SINGAPORE – Housewife Jenny Tan and her retiree husband Richard Ng, both in their 70s, feel younger than their age when they try new activities like e-sports and drone soccer at the active ageing centre at the ground floor of their Housing Board block.
The PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkle Care in Yew Tee has become their almost-daily haunt since the centre opened in 2022.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on July 13 that PCF has been stepping up in senior care, in line with government efforts to provide more support to this segment of the population and to partner organisations to do so.
The Government will continue to support families in Singapore at every stage of life, he said at a PCF Family Day event held at Singapore Expo.
Recent initiatives include financial support and parental leave for young parents with newborns, and more help for large families with three or more children.
'But these days, when we talk about family support, it is no longer just about supporting young parents with children. Because these days, our society is getting older,' said PM Wong.
With an ageing population, providing family support has to also include seniors and their caregivers, he added.
The authorities have started work on this through nationwide initiatives Healthier SG and Age Well SG, meant to keep seniors active, engaged and healthy for as long as possible, he noted.
They are also stepping up care services, such as at long-term residential facilities and at community nodes.
'A lot of this work has just started. There is still much, much more to do, and we will share more of our plans when we are ready,' said PM Wong.
He added that the Government will need partners – such as social organisations and agencies like PCF – to also play their part.
PCF is a charitable organisation founded by the People's Action Party, which PM Wong leads as its secretary-general.
PM Wong noted that PCF is already expanding its capacity to serve more seniors. A previous report said PCF will have 25 eldercare centres – senior care centres and active ageing centres – by 2027.
Madam Tan, 74, and Mr Ng, 73, are among more than 10,000 seniors currently served by 13 existing centres.
The couple have seen improvements in their general health, such as their posture, and have also made many new friends since becoming active participants at the Sparkle Care in Yew Tee. They came to know of the centre when a staff member approached them at their door.
Madam Tan, who used to just take occasional walks in the park with friends for exercise, was intrigued by the karaoke, K-pop dance and Rummy-O sessions.
When her husband retired from his job as a taxi driver, he was convinced by her to join in.
The pair have since tried out unique activities like drone soccer and are part of an informal group of senior gamers called Yew Tee Gamers. In drone soccer, players pilot drones enclosed in protective cages and score by flying the 'striker' drone through a circular goal.
They are currently training for a Counter-Strike 2 competition in October with a seniors-only category.
'We will be learning how to play Street Fighter next, and (my husband) is very excited,' said Madam Tan, in Mandarin. Street Fighter is a popular arcade game that is now available across consoles.
In his speech, PM Wong said PCF can play a unique role of fostering intergenerational bonds, as it also runs many kindergartens and childcare centres. With more eldercare centres, PCF will have more opportunities as an operator to bridge generations, he added. The theme of July 13's PCF Family Day event was Bridging Generations, Inspiring our Future.
PCF also raises funds to support different causes in the community, he added. The foundation is donating $60,000 to six charitable organisations covering seniors, children, low-income families, single mothers and those in need of mental health support.
The organisations are Blossom Seeds, Bright Hill Evergreen Home, The Salvation Army Gracehaven, Food from the Heart, HCSA-SPIN and Club Heal. Each received $10,000.
'Families have been at the heart of our nation-building journey since the very beginning,' said PM Wong.
Going forward, Singapore will be embarking on its next phase of nation-building post-SG60, he added.
'In this new phase, we will face new and more complex challenges. But I am confident that we can weather these challenges, and we can emerge stronger together.'
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction
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