Stomper, 70, welcomes welfare checks but says more needed to treat elderly with dignity
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A senior citizen has welcomed recent efforts by agencies to prevent undetected deaths among elderly people living alone, but said more needs to be done to address how seniors are treated in everyday life.
Stomper Francis was responding to a recent report about agencies stepping up checks on seniors who live alone.
He said such initiatives are reassuring, especially for elderly residents who may otherwise go unnoticed if something were to happen to them.
However, the 70-year-old retiree noted that not all seniors are housebound or isolated.
Referring to pamphlets left at his home by the Silver Generation Office, Francis shared: "I wasn't at home when checks were carried out because I'm an active elderly who keeps busy outdoors and at home."
While acknowledging the importance of welfare checks, he said the issue of elderly people dying alone should be looked at more holistically, including how society treats older residents.
In his view, many parts of Singapore are not designed with ageing residents in mind.
"Many elderly people struggle to cross the road in time before the pedestrian light changes," he said.
"While some junctions allow seniors to activate extended crossing times using their senior cards, this is largely limited to Silver Zones.
"This should be expanded to more areas."
Francis also raised concerns about what he described as declining respect towards the elderly.
"In my younger days, the elderly were treated with respect," he said. "We listened to them because they had lived longer, experienced more, and had wisdom to share — though, of course, not all were perfect.
"Today, however, elderly people are often stereotyped and ridiculed, especially online, whenever an accident involves an older driver.
"I have personally witnessed elderly pedestrians being shouted at, honked at, and even shown offensive gestures simply because they cross the road slowly due to weak legs or slower reflexes.
"I have stopped to let them cross even after the green man turned red, only to face abuse from impatient drivers behind me."
The Stomper questioned whether society is doing enough to support seniors in daily situations.
"We should ask ourselves honestly:
- Do we help frail elderly people cross the road when they are struggling with heavy trolleys?
- Do we allow elderly individuals using walking sticks or wheelchairs to cut the queue at hawker stalls?
- Do we offer them our seats on buses and MRT trains — or do we cling to reserved seats meant for them?"
Beyond public behaviour, Francis suggested that communities could do more to look out for elderly neighbours who live alone.
He said simple measures such as daily check-ins, observing routine habits like lights being switched on and off and when meals are prepared, or having trusted neighbours or nearby family members hold spare keys could help prevent emergencies from going unnoticed.
"The issue of elderly people dying alone is not straightforward, and it should not be reduced to blaming them for being 'isolated'," he added.
"Many withdraw because they feel like a burden — because they sense impatience, judgment, or disdain from the public.
"The elderly do not seek priority nor advantage by using their age as an excuse.
"What matters is public perception of them, and our ability to put ourselves in their shoes. To sum it up in one word: empathy.
"There is still much work to be done.
"Many in the younger generation may not understand the hardships the elderly endured to help build the Singapore we enjoy today — alongside leaders such as Lee Kuan Yew.
"If we want to prevent lonely and undetected deaths, we must go beyond systems and policies.
"We must change our mindset — and treat our elderly with dignity, patience and respect.
"Every one of us will grow old eventually — our turn will come, regardless."
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