THE GOVERNMENT will spend $18 million over the next five years to develop community-based care and support services for the elderly and their caregivers.
The money will be used to set up six new day care centres (DCCs) and 22 new seniors activity centres in Singapore.
The Ministry of Community Development, Youths and Sports (MCYS) is consulting community leaders and service providers to finalise the location of these facilities.
With one in five in Singapore expected to be 65 years and older in 2030, up from one in 12 today, the demand for community-based social and care services is likely to grow.
According to MCYS, the number of seniors requiring assistance in at least one of six activities of daily living is estimated to double to 71,000 in 2020.
There are 22 MCYS day care centres for seniors who are frail, with six more in the pipeline.
MCYS said it has reeceived encouraging feedback from families that their elderly benefit from the social interactions at DCCs.
'Family caregivers also appreciate daycare services as it enables them to return to work or obtain respite care services as and when necessary,' it said in a statement on Thursday.
Of the $18 million, $13 million will be used to upgrade Seniors Activity Centres (SACs), which serve as a first touch-point where elderly residents can receive social support, participate in activities and meet other seniors.
MCYS will build 22 new ones, bringing the total number to 41 by 2013.
The SACs, which are run mainly by Voluntary Welfare Organizations, work with local community partners, such as the grassroots organizations, the Community Development Councils and other eldercare service providers.
