His father with dementia vanished near home. How can Singapore keep these seniors safe?
As the numbers of dementia cases rise in Singapore, more families will face the challenge of keeping loved ones safe without restricting their lives. Talking Point looks at Japan’s approach and how responsibility of care can be shared.
As Singapore's population ages, dementia cases are on the rise, with an estimated 100,000 individuals currently living with the condition. The numbers are expected to grow to 152,000 by 2030. Dementia can cause individuals to become disoriented or lost, even in familiar surroundings. In Singapore, an average of two people with dementia go missing each month, with some going missing for extended periods.
This can leave families in a state of worry and panic, as seen in the case of Ian Chan, whose father with dementia vanished near their home in December. Despite extensive searches, Chan's father was found dead in a park about 300 metres from their residence. This highlights the challenges families face in keeping their loved ones with dementia safe without restricting their lives.
In Japan, a country with the world's second-oldest population, cities are taking innovative steps to help keep people with dementia safe. The host of Talking Point, Munah Bagharib, visited Kobe, Japan, to learn about the city's support measures, which include free dementia screening for residents aged 65 and above, subsidised GPS trackers accurate to within 50 metres outdoors, and 20 safety stickers with QR codes for families to display.
These measures aim to help keep people with dementia safe and prevent them from wandering off, potentially saving lives.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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