Eunice / To what extent should the Singapore government be responsible for taking care of the elderly?

The Singapore government may be expected to take care of the elderly if they are not financially supported. As Singapore faces the problem of an ageing population, special attention may be expected to be given to the elderly because they make up the basis of Singapore’s society. They are also the weaker group of people who need more support in their old age after retirement, therefore monetary benefits are expected to be given to them so as to ensure that they can survive financially. An example of monetary support given to the elderly is the ElderShield insurance scheme. It provides basic financial protection which helps to pay off the expenses for the care of a severely-disabled person above the age of forty through monthly cash payouts. This ensures that the welfare of the elderly is taken care of. However, the Singapore government should not be solely responsible for taking care of the elderly to the extent that the country’s resources are drained because of the growing dependence on the government. The government is responsible for the welfare of Singaporeans but the family unit should work hand in hand with the government to ensure that the elderly are well taken care of. Working children of the elderly who have a stable income should be responsible for providing financial support for their elderly parents. Support from the government should only come in when the family unit itself is unable to solve the financial problems so that the government’s monetary funds can be channeled to improve on other areas such as the education system. Therefore, the Singapore government should not be responsible for taking care of the elderly to the extent that it drains the limited amount of resources, or when the elderly can be dependent on other sources like their family members.