Speech by Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Falls Awareness Day, Saturday 19 May 2012

Good morning.

2. I am happy to join you today at the Falls Awareness Day, and to launch the partnership between Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Standard Chartered Bank under the Bank’s Silver Lining initiative. It is good to see many of you here on a Saturday morning taking part in various exercises and activities. I am particularly delighted to see our residents take time to accompany their parents and grandparents to learn more about falls prevention at this carnival.

Importance of Falls Prevention

3. As the saying goes, “Health is Wealth”. It is even more important for our senior citizens to take good care of themselves and stay healthy.

4. One particular area that our seniors must pay attention to is falls prevention. As we age and our bodies become frail, we are more likely to fall and result in serious injuries. We may have to be hospitalised and suffer lasting physical impairment, and as a result, can no longer lead independent and active lives.

5. The good news is that seniors and their caregivers can reduce the risk of falling by paying attention to a few simple things.

a) First is exercise. Some seniors may think that it is better for them not to go out of the house or not to exercise so as to minimise the risk of falling. This is not true. Seniors can and should continue to take part in appropriate exercises so as to maintain strength and balance, which will reduce the chances of falling.

b) Second is good diet. This includes taking enough calcium to strengthen our bones, reducing the chances of fractures in the event of a fall.

c) Third is good vision. Seniors can prevent falls by having a good pair of correct glasses so that they can clearly see where they are walking.

d) Fourth is medication. Seniors and their caregivers should be careful after taking medication that can, for example, cause drowsiness or giddiness.

e) Fifth is a safe home environment. By making simple efforts to make the home elder-friendly, clutter-free and well-lit, we can also prevent falls at home.

Bringing Health to Seniors’ Door-step

6. On the part of the government, we want to help our seniors age in place. We do not want to treat seniors only when they are hospitalised. Instead, we want to proactively bring information, services and facilities to the community to help keep our seniors healthy for as long as possible so that they will not need to be hospitalised in the first place.

7. This is exactly what TTSH tries to achieve under its “Stepping Out into Active Life” programme. Under this programme, TTSH reaches out to seniors living in one- to two-room rental flats, screens them on their falls risk, and provides regular exercise and education programmes over a one-year period to help reduce their risk of falling.

8. The Stepping Out programme started in 2009, and TTSH has since introduced this programme to seniors living in Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh and Potong Pasir. There are plans to bring this programme to other areas such as Balestier, Boon Keng and Beach Road. TTSH has worked with VWO organisations to screen close to 1,000 seniors in the community to date, and more than 50% of those screened have also benefitted from follow-on geriatric assessment, regular education and exercise sessions. I am happy to share that about 50% of seniors who have undergone the interventions under this programme have improved their balance and walking distance after six months.

9. Of course, we cannot totally eliminate falls in the community. As our senior population increases, we will also be bringing rehabilitative services into the community, close to homes, so that seniors who have suffered falls can be supported and rehabilitated back to health quickly. We will need the support of residents in the community, for more of such facilities in the future, so that we can better serve them and their loved ones.

Conclusion

10. Let me end by thanking Tan Tock Seng Hospital and its partners for organizing this carnival. I also commend Standard Chartered Bank for committing 1,500 volunteers and $300,000 to support the Stepping Out programme over the

next three years. This is a very good example of how we can work together to create a supportive and inclusive community for our seniors. I hope that everyone here today will have a fruitful and enjoyable day.

11. Thank you.

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