St Luke’s ElderCare aims to raise $30m to serve over 45,000 beneficiaries
Published on
08 Nov 2024
Published by
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE – St Luke’s ElderCare (SLEC) aims to raise $30 million over the next five years to serve more than 45,000 beneficiaries, as Singapore moves towards becoming a super-aged society.
This is three times more than the 15,000 seniors it now serves across 31 locations in Singapore.
The $30 million Community Transformation Fund will go towards six areas, including improving quality of care for elders, training and upskilling staff, and scaling up programmes.
SLEC’s plans were announced on Nov 7 at its 25th anniversary gala dinner at Pan Pacific Singapore, attended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Donations to the fund will be matched dollar for dollar by the Government.
By 2026, Singapore will be a super-aged society, with more than one in five citizens aged 65 and above. By 2030, this figure will become one in four, comprising about one million elderly citizens.
The community care provider said “transformative” efforts are needed to meet the increasing needs of Singapore’s ageing population.
One of the initiatives that will be supported by the fund is the revamp of its 12 active ageing centres to conduct speciality programmes to cater to the interests of seniors, such as aquatic exercises, cycling and pottery.
Another focus area is the refurbishment of more centres to offer spaces that are functional and aesthetically pleasing to create a welcoming environment for seniors.
Under the fund, SLEC will work with experts from institutes of higher learning to mentor staff and drive research, such as a current project with the Singapore Institute of Technology to develop texture-modified, visually appealing meals for seniors with swallowing difficulties.
The community care provider also aims to train and upskill more professionals, volunteers and caregivers through its CommCare Academy, one of the nine learning institutes within the Agency for Integrated Care’s learning network. The CommCare Academy has trained close to 3,200 people since its inception in 2022.
The new fund will support the academy in equipping senior staff members to adapt to new roles and facilitating new employees’ career transitions into the care sector.
SLEC added that collaboration between community care partners, which funding will support, is also important to transform the sector.
For example, it has partnered Fei Yue Community Services to co-run an active ageing centre in Bukit Batok East, which will open in 2025.
SLEC chairman Ho Yew Kee said the reality of Singapore’s ageing population presents many challenges but also immense opportunities.
He added that the organisation is at a pivotal point to enter the next phase of growth and community care transformation.
“We cannot just do the same. The profile of our elders is changing – they are living longer, ageing healthier, more highly educated, and more affluent and demanding. We need to enhance our model of care,” Professor Ho said.
“We need the collective effort of an entire nation and community to care for the elders. Your support is priceless.”
To donate to the Community Transformation Fund, go to https://priceless.slec.org.sg/donate
Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that Singapore will have more than one in five residents aged 65 and above in 2026. This is incorrect. It should be citizens.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Reproduced with permission.
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