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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.
Conclusion
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