Ageing Research and Geriatric Medicine

Biography

Sabrina Ching Yuen Luk is an Assistant Professor in Pulbic Policy and Global Affairs at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She has completed her Bachelor degree in Social Science and MPhil at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and PhD at the University of Birmingham, the United Kingdom. Her research interests lie broadly in aging and healthcare reforms, e-government and governance in Asia, digital health, smart cit­ies and cyber security and China studies. Her recent publica­tion is financing health care in China towards universal health insurance.

Abstract

Singapore faces the challenge of rapidly aging population. According to Department of Statistics, the proportion of residents aged 65 years and over increased from 8.5 per cent in 2007 to 13.0 per cent in 2017. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 years and older. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of people being diagnosed with young-onset dementia in Singapore. The number of calls to the dementia helpline has increased by 40 per cent and attendance at caregiver support groups has also increased by 20 per cent in the nation. How to provide effective and proper care for older adults with dementia as well as assistance for their caregivers have become one of the major challenges facing the government. Since 2016, six dementia-friendly communities have been created in Singapore to provide care and support to older adults with dementia and their caregivers. Dementia-friendly communities are inclusive communities. In these dementia-friendly communities, residents, businesses, grassroots and volunteers are trained with the knowledge and skills to identify older adults with dementia, communicate with them and help them live independently and with dignity. This study examines how dementia-friendly communities are created in Singapore and their impact on quality of life of older adults with dementia and their caregivers. It also examines the implications of dementia-friendly communities in Singapore for other rapidly ageing countries.