Dementia affects about 40,000 people in Singapore today, and this number is expected to double by 2030 as the population ages.
The Government will spend $160 million more in the next five years on community mental health efforts.
Three dementia-friendly communities were launched in 2016 – in Hong Kah North, MacPherson and Yishun – and more will be set up. More towns will have residents and businesses trained to recognize and help people with symptoms of dementia.
Voluntary welfare organisations will also receive government help to establish more community-based teams – beyond the 36 set up with help from the Ministry of Health (MOH) since 2012 – to support people with mental health conditions and also educate the public on these issues. Meanwhile, MOH will provide mental healthcare services in polyclinics, and the National Council of Social Service will lead efforts to integrate people with mental health issues into the workplace and community.
Alzheimer’s Disease Association chief executive Jason Foo said that employment of more staff and train them to help people with mental health issues is vital, given the rising incidence of dementia.
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Source: The Straits Times, 21 February 2017