Saturday, June 23, 2018

In 2009, the health minister Khaw Boon Wan suggested that Singaporeans should considering the option to send their aging parents to a nursing home in Johore, where the cost is much lower than in Singapore.

He received heavy criticism online for this suggestion. He was considered to be insensitive and inhumane for making this suggestion. Singaporeans then wanted the government to make nursing care more affordable in Singapore.

What Singaporeans did not realize is that the government was already giving heavy subsidy for nursing home care. But the cost is still high due to high rental and cost of foreign workers to take care of the aged residents. It will be difficult to reduce the high cost which is inherent in the system.

The strong negative reaction to this suggestion is largely emotional. It is not rational.

RATIONAL APPROACH
We should approach it rationally. What are the advantages and negative points about staying in nursing homes in Johore?

The advantages are:

a) Low cost of nursing home - due to lower rental and wages of nurses and other staff.

The possible negatives are:

a) Quality of care
b) Difficulty of visiting parents, due to the delays in the checkpoint clearance.
c) Not able to use Medisave

ADDRESS THE NEGATIVES
The negatives can be addressed.

The government can approve the nursing homes that have an adequate quality of care. Medisave can be used to pay the fees for these nursing homes. The government can provide a subsidy.

These approved facilities should also have facilities for families to see and talk to their aged parents remotely using Internet technology and also be assured that the parents are properly cared for.

Families can visit their parents during the off peak hours when the checkpoints are not busy. Over the longer term, the authorities on both sides should improve the clearance system to remove the delays.

JOHORE IS SAFE
This is a perception that Johore is not safe. It is largely exaggerated.

Many Singaporeans travel to Johore regularly. Some are now living in Johore. They said that Johore is quite safe in most areas. There are places to avoid, but this also applies to Singapore.

OTHER COUNTRIES
This situation is not unique to Singapore. In many high cost countries, the aged opt to stay in a nursing home in a nearby country where the cost is lower.

CONCLUSION
We should encourage our government to help develop this option by approving nursing homes in Johore that meet the standard of care, provide subsidy and allow the use of Medisave to pay for the fees.

Tan Kin Lian










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