Keppel donates S$1 million to strengthen dementia care programmes in Singapore
Amid an ageing population, the need for such services ‘continues to grow’, says CEO Loh Chin Hua
[SINGAPORE] Keppel Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Keppel, has pledged S$1 million over the next three years to Dementia Singapore in support of the social service agency’s dementia care programmes.
Unveiled on Friday (Sep 5), the donation marks a renewal of the partnership between Keppel and Dementia Singapore, which began in 2022. It also coincides with the 35th anniversary of Dementia Singapore, established in 1990 as the Alzheimer’s Disease Association.
“The dementia care landscape has evolved quite a bit since then, but so have the needs of those impacted by the condition,” said Dementia Singapore CEO Jason Foo.
While some have pointed out the agency’s growth over the past 35 years, Foo added that this is a reflection of the “demand created by the rising numbers of persons with dementia in Singapore”.
A survey by the Institute of Mental Health found that there were about 73,918 persons aged 60 and above with dementia here in 2023, compared with 51,934 just two decades earlier.
Keppel CEO Loh Chin Hua similarly noted that with an ageing population in Singapore, the need for dementia care services here “continues to grow”. Estimates from the Ministry of Health show that more than 152,000 Singaporeans will have dementia by 2030.
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Loh said the renewed partnership between Keppel and Dementia Singapore will “further strengthen the support system for persons with dementia and their caregivers, and expand access to support for members of the public who may encounter challenges with dementia or dementia care”.
Half of the amount donated will go towards subsidising attendance fees for clients in need at Dementia Singapore’s four New Horizon Centres.
These facilities, located in Bukit Batok, Jurong Point, Tampines and Toa Payoh, offer daycare services and support for persons with dementia, as well as relief for caregivers. More than 170 received subsidies from Keppel’s last pledge, Dementia Singapore said.
The remaining S$500,000 will support Dementia Singapore’s other initiatives. These include the agency’s helpline, as well as Voices for Hope, a 10-week programme that aims to combat stigma by empowering persons with dementia and caregivers to share their stories, needs and views.
Looking forward, Foo said there is “still a lot to do and a long way to go”, adding that the agency will “explore the possibilities” of artificial intelligence (AI), in addition to searching for new therapies and new models of care.
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