We refer to the various letters (13 and 14 May 2006) appealing to the Government to do more to enable children look after their aged parents, including the relaxation of Medisave rules.

We second the views expressed in these letters and urge the Government to take immediate steps to address the issues identified by the writers of these letters, including maid levy, tax relief, Interim Disability Assistance Programme and Medisave, and to carry out its own investigations into the problems faced by children in looking after their parents. It is noted that SAGE, the TSAO Foundation and WINGS (the Women’s Initiative for Successful Aging) have expertise and experience in matters relating to successful and active aging and are in a position to provide valuable input in relation to these matters.

The issue of aging and children caring for their aging parents is of particular interest to women because, as shown in the AWARE – TSAO Report – “Beyond Youth: Women Growing Older and Poorer” (February 2005) based mainly on Census and CPF data:

a) women outlive men – in the above 80 age group, there are 1.7 women to every 1 man;

b) older women have poorer health than older men – in the above 65 age group, there are 2 semi or non ambulant women to every 1 semi or non ambulant man;

c) women have less money for their old age than men - at retirement age, men have 1.69 times more CPF balances than women;

d) mothers depend more on their children than fathers – in the 65 – 69 years age group, 78% of women depended on their children for financial support compared to 51% of men.

Given the above, it is not surprising that the cases discussed in the earlier letters involved ailing older mothers rather than fathers.

The nation has just celebrated Mother’s Day, and the society owes a great deal to the uncelebrated women who stayed at home to look after their children, and who now find themselves with no or minimal CPF monies of their own to take care of themselves in their old age.

We should review our laws and policies to see how we can further enable and encourage children to take care of their parents and to provide greater benefits for older men and women.

We are heartened by the recent changes to Medisave to cover some chronic illnesses. We trust that this is only the beginning of reforms along this line and  hope that policy makers will take the necessary action to address the urgent issues.

Corinna Lim
Chairperson, Beyond Youth Sub-Committee
Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)