1. THE PROBLEM OF AN
AGEING POPULATION
IN SINGAPORE
The Silver Generation
(Chapt 2: Governance – Case Study)

2. Lesson Agenda
• By the end of the lesson, you would be able to:
• Appreciate the problems that come with an ageing
society
• Analyse the measures taken by the Singapore
government to soften the impact of ageing
• Practice a source based question, making use of the
Basic Skill approach

3. What is an ageing society?
•An ageing society is one in which 14% or more
of its population is aged 65years and above.
(United Nations’ definition of Ageing)

4. Why is the population ageing?
• Low birth rates and an ageing population are issues that developed
countries are facing. Singapore’s population will age rapidly over
the next 30 years until 2030 (F)
• This is due to three main factors:
• The post-war baby boom
• Declining birth-rates means that Singapore has a higher proportion of
people aged 40 and 60years.
• Singaporeans are living longer than before because of improvements in
health and nutrition.

5. Why is the population ageing?
First reason - Post-War Baby boom:
• After the war, there was hope that there would be a
long period of peace. This lead to people starting
families and having many children.
• Children born to parents just after WW II are now
between 40 and 60 years of age.
• By 2030, these Singaporeans will be among those
aged 65 years and above.

6. Why is the population ageing?
• Second reason – Declining birth rates:
• Birth rate declining since 1970s. Proportion of young
people in Society going down.
• This was due to success of population control
measures that were in place at the start of the 1970’s.
• With declining birth rates, the proportion of young
people in the population is shrinking, while the
proportion of senior citizens is increasing.

7. Why is the population ageing?
• Third Reason – Longer Life-expectancy:
• Singaporeans are living longer that ever before. This
is because of improvements in health and nutrition.
• Singaporeans too have access to better quality and
highly advanced medical procedures and equipment.
• This increase in healthcare provision is linked to rising
standards of living and technological developments in
the health care sector.

8. Impacts of an Ageing Society
• Impact 1: Demand for Health Care and Social Services
• As a person ages, his need for healthcare and social services
increases.
• Elderly are more prone to diseases and medical conditions.
Treatments are quite costly and this raises the costs of
healthcare.
• This raises the standard of living in Singapore and reduces the
amount of money Singaporeans have to spend on themselves.

9. Impacts of an Ageing Population
• Impact 2: Strain on Working Population
• As the populations grow older, financial resources are
required to help support senior citizens.
• Taxes need to be collected from working people to pay for
these services.
• Decreasing birth rate means that there are fewer working
people. There are less working adults able to pay taxes and
this means they have to pay more taxes.

10. Impacts of an Ageing Population
• Impact 3: Reduction in Competitiveness
• Older populations are less active and physically fit
compared to younger populations.
• Productivity declines. There is less output per worker.
This reduces Singapore’s competitiveness as MNCs
may pull out of Singapore.
• They may set up in countries where there is a larger
workforce.

11. Impacts of an Ageing Population
• Impact 4: Smaller Security Forces
• Smaller number of young people to serve national
service and in the pool of reservists.
• These declining birth rates will have an impact on the
overall defence strategy in Singapore. Singapore now
has to turn to technology to make up for less
numbers of soldiers.

12. Buzz Break 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyEZII_MJDw
Why do you think the producers of the video,
developed the video?
What is the message of the video
12

13. an asset to family – looking after children
mentors for young in welfare organisations
advisors in government organisations
contribute to economy by extending career
contribute to economy by taking up
part-time jobs
?
increase in demand for goods – senior citizens
would bring about new demands
13

14. Individuals Family
should take should care
care for elderly
Many Helping Hands
Approach
Community should Government
help should
support
?
14

15. 1. Individual Responsibility
a. prepare for old age:
- pre-retirement talks
- proper diet and regular exercise
- bonds with more family ties
- regular medical check-ups
2. Family Care
- take care of elderly family member
- make house safe for the elderly ?
- make elderly feel wanted by seeking opinions
- be understanding and patient towards elderly
15

16. 3. Community Help
- community organizations could help
- social and emotional support
eg counseling, get members to talk to elderly
- health care and social services
eg health check-ups of elderly
eg recreational activities for elderly
16

17. 4. Government Support
- Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents
- court helps to seek support from children
- Central Provident Fund (CPF)
- monthly sum of money from Retirement Account
- Tax Relief
- tax relief for taking care of parents, grandparents,
great grandparents
- Public Housing Schemes
- housing grant for purchase of flat near parents’ flat
17

18. Individuals Family
should take should care
care for elderly
Many Helping Hands
Approach
Community should Government
should
help
support
18

19. Imagine what your life may be like at age 65. Who would
be looking after you? What activities would you be
participating in?
Chances are, you would be looked after by your children.
Those who are unmarried would have to rely on social
workers and other family members for love and care.
Activities you participate may be different from those of
the present senior citizens due to differences in generation.
However, health and physical constraints still have to be
considered in choosing the activities. BACK
19

20. Why would it be a disaster if companies and young
workers were taxed heavily?
Cost of living would increase. This might lead to people
deciding to leave the country and work elsewhere. The
economy would therefore be badly affected.
BACK
20

21. How do you think Singapore’s way of caring for its senior
citizens can contribute to the process of nation building?
Senior citizens being Singaporeans should be supported
by their own citizens. Such bonding is important as we
cannot rely on others for our survival. No one owes us a
living and it is important that we care and support one
another.
BACK
21

22. Nowadays, it is quite common for children to move out
of their parents’ homes when they marry. Suggest how
these children can continue to show their love and
concern for their aged parents.
Visit their parents regularly / make it a point to prepare
something the parents like when they visit / gather together
as a family / go for a outing with parents / share and seek
opinion of parents / financially support parents / listen and
be patient with parents
BACK
22

23. What do you think would be the main
source of income for Singapore’s future
senior citizens?
Insurance, CPF, savings in banks
BACK
23

24. Imagine that you are 65 years old and looking for a job.
What kind of jobs would you be interested in?
What can you do to ensure that companies would want
to employ you when you are 65 years old?
Security / social work / couselling / teaching etc
We have to keep ourselves updated and go for frequent
training.
BACK
24

25. Inference With Purpose
I
S
E
What is the key idea the cartoonist is trying to deliver?
25

26. Source G: A cartoonist’s illustration, titled “No
retirement age in Singapore”, 28 July 2010

27. Question: What is the message of this cartoon?

28. Step 1 : Identify the Characters
Who are they? What are they doing?
Skeleton = the worker Working very hard until his last breath
(Because he worked until he has turned
into bones)
Employer Is very impressed with his workers effort
Government Government is very happy because his
policy of getting older workers to work
beyond retirement is working

29. One Inference with Message
• The source tells me that the government and employers in Singapore are
keen to encourage older workers to work past their retirement age
• I know this because they are very impressed with the efforts of the
“worker” represented by the skeleton who is still holding a broom even
though he has no more life in him.
• The cartoonist is trying to show the negative aspect of working past the
retirement age. By drawing a skeleton to represent older workers he is
trying to make people aware that older workers should not be forced to
work so hard just to support themselves.
• He is very critical of the policy of lifelong employment if there are no limits
to how long a person can work.

30. Lesson Recap
• What is the definition of an ageing society?
• What are the reasons for ageing populations?
• Name 3 impacts of Ageing populations
• List the steps when covering Inference with Purpose Questions.