PCF to start senior care centres

The PAP Community Foundation (PCF), which has run kindergartens across the country for decades, is moving into the care of the elderly.

PCF, the charitable arm of the People's Action Party, will soon launch a senior care centre in Simei, the first of 10 to 15 such centres it hopes to open within five years, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

The centres will provide seniors with care services, and help support working family care givers.

Mr Lee was speaking at the annual PCF Family Day at Universal Studios Singapore.

With the number of people here aged 65 and above expected to triple by 2030, eldercare is becoming a major concern.

In the 1960s, the PAP set up the kindergartens (which have been under PCF since 1986) to offer good, affordable education. Now, its new senior care centres aim to offer daycare and rehabilitation services for the elderly at affordable rates.

PCF, which runs 350 pre-school centres, has expanded its scope to meet Singapore's evolving needs, said Mr Lee. It also offers student care services to help working parents.

"This is how we can help to build a fair and just society: A society where everyone can have the fullest opportunities to succeed, where each one of us plays a part in serving the community, where we all move ahead together, and build a brighter tomorrow together," he told the audience.

They included members of the PAP Seniors Group (PAP.SG), The Straits Times reported on its website.

SENIORS GROUP

The group was launched in December to better address the needs of senior citizens and signal the party's commitment to caring for the elderly.

It is chaired by Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, with Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong as adviser.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong, who is also executive committee chairman of PCF, said it is responding to the growing demand for eldercare services.

"We decided that PCF should go beyond its core pre-school services to look at taking care of our elderly, especially those in the more vulnerable groups," he was quoted as saying.

This article was first published on Sep 29, 2014.
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