Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS Newsletter
Other Research
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Alumni & Networks
Alumni
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
Commentaries
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Paper
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
2024 Indonesia Elections
Great Powers
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
Media Mentions
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Future Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSIS Newsletter
      Other ResearchScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to Apply
      Financial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      AlumniAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)SRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersCommentariesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PaperInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      2024 Indonesia ElectionsGreat PowersSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesMedia Mentions
      News ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
     
    • RSIS
    • BlogsHealth and Human SecurityImplications and Perceptions of Singapore’s Ageing Population

    Implications and Perceptions of Singapore’s Ageing Population

    As of June 2010, the total population of Singapore had surpassed the 5 million mark out of which 9 per cent are aged 65 and above. While low in contrast to Japan’s 23%, Singapore has the highest percentage of elderly citizens among Southeast Asian nations.

    This has become a concern for the Singaporean government as a growing ageing population is perceived to have health security implications on two levels: firstly, on the individual health of the elderly person and secondly, on the national public health system that supports them. Such issues reflect non-traditional security/ human security concerns, which emphasise the need for efficient access to resources for the well-being of vulnerable sections of society.

    Recent news reports suggest that elderly individuals become increasingly prone to numerous health risks as they age. For instance, the risk of malnutrition among Singaporeans heightens with age, with 3 in 10 elderly Singaporeans at moderate to high risk of malnutrition, making “the elderly more prone to falls and fractures, affecting their level of independence and contributing to greater healthcare costs.”  Furthermore, osteoporosis would increase thanks to a rapidly ageing population as well as potential under-diagnosis and treatment.

    It is also perceived that each of these risks places burdens upon the national public health system that takes care of the elderly Singaporean. Statistics show a drop in the number of residents aged 15 to 64 for each resident aged 65 years and over – from 9.9 in 2000 to 8.2 in 2010. This has caused concern of a rising tax burden on working Singaporeans in order to compensate for the percieved increased health costs of the elderly. Other concerns included an insufficient number of medical personnel to take care of the needs of the elderly. A major response to this concern was the announcement of the establishment of a new medical faculty at Nanyang Technological University to cater to the demand for more doctors as the number of senior citizens increased.

    However, this may constitute an overreaction to a perceived social problem. The fact that Singaporeans are living longer should not be seen as a disadvantage; instead it should be perceived as testament to the good quality of life and national health care that is enabling people to live longer lives.

    Concerns regarding rising tax burdens on working Singaporeans to cater to the increased health costs of the elderly are also overstated. Firstly, in a highly developed country with sufficient resource capacities such as Singapore, the problem is not ‘rising’ health costs, but rather the lack of awareness on utilising the available resources. For instance, elderly individuals who need healthcare coverage the most often go uncovered and long-term care schemes remain underdeveloped. As such, a degree of foresight is needed amongst families to plan for sufficient health security benefits in the future. Secondly, the assumption that the elderly are less inclined or capable of contributing to the economy is flawed:  17.2 per cent of Singaporeans aged 65 and above are still part of the national labour force and that 45 percent of Singaporeans would like to work past the official retirement age.

    Given these considerations, perhaps it is time that we began perceiving and treating the ageing population phenomenon as an opportunity to bridge existing gaps in healthcare coverage for the elderly and recognize and encourage their contribution to society and the national economy rather than labeling them a health security hazard.


    Last updated on 08/09/2010

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info