The People's Action Party Seniors Group will be leading a discussion in Parliament next week on how to help the elderly age with dignity.
The group has filed a motion to debate the issue. Topics to be covered under the motion include redefining ageing in the workplace, helping seniors monetise their property and helping them become more digitally savvy.
Other ideas to help seniors age well include offering them more housing solutions, strengthening community support, providing more help for caregivers and encouraging volunteerism.
The debate is expected to take place on one of the Parliament sitting days next week.
In a statement yesterday, the group said Nee Soon GRC MP Henry Kwek had filed the proposal for the issue to be considered.
He is supported by five other PAP legislators: Dr Lily Neo (Jalan Besar GRC), Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC), Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson), Ms Rahayu Mazham (Jurong GRC) and Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC).
Once the motion is tabled, all MPs will be allowed to weigh in on the debate.
Formed in 2013, the PAP Seniors Group is an advocacy group within the ruling party that champions issues concerning seniors. For example, it called in 2016 for the national disabilities insurance scheme ElderShield to be made compulsory.
Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, who chairs the group, said he believes the elderly play a valuable role in society.
"Our vision must be one where Singaporeans live long and age well," he said.
There is much that can be done to strengthen support for seniors to age well, and work has begun in this area, he noted in a statement.
He added: "We will take the lead to rally our community to foster an environment where our seniors can thrive. It involves all of us and this is one vision that can be (realised)."
Mr Kwek, who filed the motion, said ageing can offer "positive possibilities".
He added: "We can unleash this 'silver dividend' of the energy and wisdom of seniors through smart policy and community efforts."
He noted that this is a good time to take stock of progress made since the Government launched the Healthcare 2020 Masterplan in 2012 and the Action Plan for Successful Ageing in 2015.
In recent months, the issue of the elderly has been in the spotlight.
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat has said that Budget 2018 will feature more support for seniors as Singapore faces a rapidly ageing society.
Today, about one in eight Singaporeans is aged 65 and above. By 2030, the figure will be one in four.
This will lead to greater healthcare spending over the long term. In Budget 2017, $10 billion was allocated for healthcare expenditure. The amount is expected to go up to at least $13 billion by 2020.
Mr Heng said last month that seniors face diverse worries, from healthcare needs to loneliness to finance, and the Government "will have to think about looking at the issues in a more cross-disciplinary way, across agencies and ministries".
