Government will help Singaporeans age gracefully: PM Lee

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government will continue to help seniors age gracefully and with peace of mind.

Joining some 1,200 seniors in his Teck Ghee division’s Active Ageing night, Mr Lee said staying active is the best way to keep healthy, both physically and mentally.

He said the Teck Ghee Active Ageing night is part of the National Wellness programme, started two years ago, to keep elderly Singaporeans active through various activities.

Mr Lee said the response has been very good, with nearly 200,000 seniors taking part in the programme.

Within the Teck Ghee division alone, almost 5,000 seniors are involved.

And Mr Lee’s advice to them is to take advantage of all government schemes to stay healthy.

He said: "We have the Community Health Assist scheme so if you need to see a GP or you need to see a dentist, you can go to a GP or a dentist and you can get your treatment subsidised, you don’t have to go to a polyclinic.

"We have the Seniors’ Mobility Fund to help pay for equipment so it can help you to get around whether it’s a ramp, whether it’s a wheelchair, whether it’s a special walking stick, which gives you support and this evening we have 14 residents who are receiving help from the Seniors’ Activity Fund and will be receiving wheelchairs and other walking aid devices.

"If you are not sure whom to help, then please call, come to see us at the grassroots, we will help you, or come to my MPS, or come to the Agency for Integrated Care which is done by the Ministry of Health and we have many programmes to support our seniors.

"So don’t worry, take care of yourself, eat healthily, exercise, and you’ll be able to enjoy yourself and grow old well in Ang Mo Kio and I think all over Singapore too."

— CNA/ck