The following are plans of three agencies for strengthening social safety nets and giving people peace of mind about being able to pay for their basic needs and healthcare costs.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

• Help patients transition more smoothly as they move from acute hospitals to long-term care facilities and their homes during the recovery process.

• Ensure each Singaporean hasa regular family doctor who knows his health needs best.

• Add more than 10,000 beds in acute hospitals, community hospitals and nursing homes.

• Add more than 7,000 places to community care and home-care services, such as senior daycare centres.

• Develop standardised private Integrated Shield health insurance plan, which will build on MediShield Life.

• Implement the Action Plan for Successful Ageing for seniors to live more fulfilling lives.

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT

• Encourage marriage; provide early support to vulnerable marriages and families.

• Review laws and policies to better protect the elderly suffering abuse or neglect.

• Streamline standards in welfare homes for the destitute.

• Better coordination by Social Service Offices in planning and delivering help to needy residents.

• More childcare places that are affordable and of good quality.

• Support for children from low-income families in their early years.

NATIONAL POPULATION AND TALENT DIVISION IN PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

• Encourage family-friendly workplaces.

• Support fathers so that they can play a more active role in bringing up children.

• Balance economic vitality and the needs of the ageing citizen population and workforce.