Forum: Steps taken to help seniors navigate public spaces safely

We thank Ms Emily Yap Yong An for her letter “

When help is just around the corner for lost seniors – at a minimart

” (Jan 5), and agree that timely assistance and accessible touchpoints are important for seniors who may become disoriented or distressed in public spaces.

The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) takes a whole-of-society approach, involving the public, businesses and community organisations, to enable seniors, including persons living with dementia, to move about safely and independently.

One such initiative is the Dementia Go-To Points (GTPs) located at MRT stations, bus interchanges, community centres, eldercare services and retail partners.

GTPs serve as accessible touchpoints in the community, where front-line staff are trained to assist seniors, and persons living with dementia who appear lost and disoriented, by providing them support and helping them to reunite with their families or caregivers. There are over 800 GTPs islandwide today.

To enable quicker community responses in locating lost persons living with dementia, the public may use Dementia Singapore’s CARA app, which alerts users to missing persons in their vicinity.

AIC continues to strengthen public awareness so that seniors, including persons living with dementia, can navigate public spaces safely. This includes expanding community training, providing useful resources for caregivers and guidance for the public on assisting seniors who appear lost or disoriented, and supporting partners in adopting clearer wayfinding signs in the community.

Members of the public may visit 

www.aic.sg

 to learn more about available dementia support and resources.

They can also attend the interactive exhibition organised by AIC at Century Square, Tampines, from Feb 28 to March 6.

See Yen Theng
Chief, Caregiving and Community Mental Health Division
Agency for Integrated Care