SPEECH BY DR LAM PIN MIN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE GERIATRIC HEALTH CARNIVAL AND LAUNCH OF AWARENESS OF MACULAR DISEASES WEEK 2019, 5 OCT 2019

Professor Pang Weng Sun, Deputy Group CEO, National Healthcare Group

Members of the Geriatric Health Carnival and Launch of Awareness of Macular Diseases Week Organising Committee 2019

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.      It is my pleasure to join you this morning at the Geriatric Health Carnival and Launch of Awareness of Macular Diseases Week 2019 by Yishun Health.

2.   Singapore’s population is ageing rapidly and by the next decade, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 years and older. Our life expectancy at birth has risen from 83.2 years in 2010 to 84.8 years in 2017 [1], and this gift of time is cause for celebration. We are also living in better health for longer years, as shown by the Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE), which increased from 72.9 years to 74.2 years over the same period. Good health does not happen overnight and it is important for us to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle well into our silver years.

Importance of Staying Active, Healthy and Socially Engaged3.     I would like to share five simple lifestyle habits that all of us can adopt to maintain good health.

4.     First, you can maintain a healthy and balanced diet by packing more nutrient-dense foods in your daily meals to stay strong, alert and energised. The organisers have arranged a healthy cooking demonstration on stage conducted by nutritionists from Admiralty Medical Centre, and I hope that you will take home useful ideas on preparing healthier and delicious meals for your loved ones.

5.     Second, exercise regularly to feel more energised, as well as to improve your strength, balance and flexibility. For example, you can join one of the many exercise programmes such as Zumba Gold which are organised by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), work out at a fitness corner near your block, or take a brisk walk to keep fit.

6.      Third, keep your mind active and stay socially engaged, which can help to delay the onset of physical frailty and dementia. The National Silver Academy (NSA), established by the Ministry of Health (MOH), offers a diverse range of courses for seniors ranging from health and wellness to digital literacy, so there is something for everyone. We encourage all seniors to expand your knowledge or pick up a new hobby through these courses.

7.       Fourth, build on your health knowledge and know how to keep well. For example, you can attend health talks on topics ranging from chronic diseases management to mental wellness and these talks are widely available in the community. CHAMP – which stands for Coaching for Health Action Management Programme under Yishun Health – is a community intervention programme to coach residents to lead a healthier lifestyle through simple health-promoting lifestyle and dietary changes. To date, more than 3,000 participants have taken part in CHAMP.

8.     Finally, go for regular health screenings, as it is important to know your health condition, detect problems early and seek timely treatment to lower the risk of serious complications. For example, in partnership with Temasek Foundation Cares, MOH rolled out a functional screening programme under Project Silver Screen (PSS) in 2018, to help identify age-related decline in vision, hearing and oral health. Through functional screening, seniors who require assistive devices will be referred to relevant community care services and have access to affordable spectacles, hearing aids and dentures. As of July 2019, more than 55,000 seniors have attended functional screening under PSS.

9.       If we actively adopt these healthy lifestyle habits, we can all enjoy a good quality of life as we age. I hope that you can also learn more about healthy ageing habits from the programmes lined up for you at the carnival today.

Working Closely with Community Partners 10.    The inaugural Yishun Health Geriatric Health Carnival is a community effort, only made possible by the close collaboration of multiple agencies and community partners. It aims to educate seniors and their caregivers about these simple steps so they are better empowered to live well in their silver years.

11.      The carnival also aims to raise awareness and facilitate a deeper understanding of geriatric conditions and its impact on our daily lives. There are interactive booths set up by community partners to inform and educate seniors and their caregivers on relevant topics such as dementia care and falls prevention. You can also find out more about Advance Care Planning, which is a series of conversations to explore and understand your care values and preferences so that you and your loved ones can plan for later years. There will also be a series of fun exercises conducted by SportSG and many other activities to keep you moving.

Age-related Macular Degeneration  12.      As our population continues to age, we also recognise the importance of maintaining good vision to enjoy a better quality of life. Age is one of the greatest risk factors for age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition associated with ageing, which results in poor vision and significantly reduces one’s quality of life. In Singapore, age-related macular degeneration is the third most common cause of blindness and vision impairment, after cataract and glaucoma [2]. On that note, Yishun Health has also organised community-based programmes that focus on eye conditions, educating seniors and caregivers on macular diseases and its impact on vision. For example, the Community and Home Eye Screening Services (CHESS) provides eye screening services led by nurses and follow-up care services for treatable eye conditions, which allows for early detection and timely management of these conditions for residents living in the North.

13.      In support of theAwareness of Macular Diseases (AMD) Week, Yishun Health and its partners will be providing eye screening for age-related diseases at various touch points such as hospitals, community centres and participating optical outlets. The AMD Week is a collaborative effort with partners including AMD Alliance International and HPB and other organisations. Allow me to say a few words in Mandarin to our Mandarin-speaking seniors present.

14.       今天我很高兴能和大家一起参与这个有意义的活动。新加坡正面临着人口老龄化的趋势，但随着我国平均预期寿命的逐渐延长，也意味着我们的年长者将有更多时间追求喜好和理想。今天，我想要和大家分享一些健康、活跃乐龄的小贴士。我们应该养成良好的生活习惯，保持均衡的饮食,经常做运动，多交新朋友和积极参加社区活动。我们也应该参与健康知识讲座更了解如何预防或管理慢性疾病。记得定期做身体检查, 这样才能及时就医，把身体调理好。在此, 我也要呼吁大家积极参与今天的活动和视力检查。只要我们养成这些良好的生活习惯，就能够更充实地安享晚年！

Conclusion15.      In closing, I would like to emphasise that health is wealth, and one can enjoy life to the fullest with good health. I hope that the public will take the opportunity to participate in the carnival activities and the eye screenings available in various locations across Singapore in this coming week.

16.      I would like to thank Yishun Health and their partners for doing their part in raising public awareness of geriatric care and vision disorders like AMD and bringing geriatric and eye care closer to the community. I hope we can continue to work together to improve the eye health of our loved ones and those in our community. Thank you.

[1] [2] The Burden of Disease in Singapore, 1990-2017