For subscribers
As more Singaporeans age with smaller families, end-of-life planning must evolve
The systems and norms continue to assume a central role for family members, even when the reality is often very different.
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
As Singapore advances its vision of ageing well, preparing for end-of-life care must reflect the realities of smaller families, and more diverse living arrangements, says the writer.
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan
When Emily (not her real name), a healthy woman in her mid-50s, chose end-of-life planning, she was not motivated by fear. It was foresight. She had watched a family member endure prolonged medical uncertainty without clear instructions. Without children of her own and never having married, she wanted to ensure that her values and wishes would be known.
Planning early, she felt, was a way of taking responsibility – both for herself and for those who might one day have to speak on her behalf.
