(PHOTO CREDIT: TRAFFIC LIGHT © Lidian Neeleman | Dreamstime.com)

At all times, do use the available traffic lights when crossing roads. Be careful of pedestrian crossings and make sure the car has stopped before going ahead. And when crossing the road without an available traffic light, do be alert and gauge the time needed to cross. If you have a walking cane or can’t walk as fast, then wait till the road is clear of cars, then cross the road. I recently saw a man who wasn’t walking very well cross a busy road and he failed to gauge the time needed and he barely missed a car whizzing by him. According to an article in “Weekend Today” newspaper, elderly pedestrians are at most risk. The number of elderly pedestrians who died in accidents fell from 28 in 2008 to 20 last year, however, 13 of them were killed as a result of jaywalking. So when crossing, don’t be impatient as you could risk your own life.

With the destructiveness of natural disasters, we often hear about the children and their suffering, but it also affects other segments of the population, including the elderly. Case in point – the earthquake on May 12, 2008 in Sichuan, and the elderly were one of the most vulnerable populations affected. Community Alliance, a Chinese independent, not-for-profit public interest organisation, which aims to create a more enabling environment for China’s elderly, stepped in to help the elderly in Sichuan to rebuild their lives and their community. The group is planning to hold an international conference on disaster relief for the elderly in May this year, in Beijing. For more information, go to the group’s website.

(PHOTO CREDIT: DAILY MEDICATION © Scott Rothstein | Dreamstime.com)

Imagine living beyond 100 by just popping a pill. The thought of living longer and still look good, and be healthy can be an allure to just about anybody. Would you go for it? According to an article from The Daily Telegraph, UK, which appeared in Today newspaper, this may not be so far-fetched. There is a drug, designed to mimic the actions of three genes that aid longevity, that could be ready for testing within three years. This follows the discovery of the three genes – two that increase the production of good cholesterol in the body, thereby reduces stroke, and the third helps prevent diabetes. People with the gene variants are also less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

The pill is the next area, and according to the article, several labs are in the process of creating it to trigger the same effects as the genes. We already are living longer than we used to and years pass, we will likely live even longer. Is living longer a good thing or are we just messing with what life is – that people need to die and babies need to be born to replace the numbers. This could be a huge population increase, are we prepared for that?

(PHOTO CREDIT: SMILING SENIOR WOMAN © Kathy Wynn | Dreamstime.com)

As we get older, I feel we need to look at forgiving people, especially family members. I have seen it with my own eyes what such destruction can do to a family unit and am blessed that things have changed for the better. When family members don’t talk, don’t stay angry with them for long as you never know what could happen to either party and then you regret the decision that was made. There is no turning back and no way to put things back the way they are. Move forward, appreciate each person’s differences and learn to find a compromise. I know families that that in itself may be tougher than necessary. We can’t trade our families but we can certainly focus more on their good points rather than their bad points. Don’t we ourselves have bad points too! No one is perfect. As we get older, family togetherness is integral and needed and a pleasure to see. I am blessed by my own family and I hope the miracle can spread to your own families too

(PHOTO CREDIT: CARS WAITING ON THE LINE © Maigi | Dreamstime.com)

You know the assumption that older drivers make lousy motorists? Well guess what, it is untrue. According to a report that was detailed in “My Paper”, January 10, 2010, drivers over age 70 are no more likely to cause crashes than other drivers, and are considerably safer in their driving than younger drivers. The report was published recently by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), UK’s road safety charity. The Institute cited that just 8 percent of drivers are over 70 and they are involved in around 4 percent of injury crashes. However, of the 15 percent of drivers in their teens and 20s, 34 percent are involved in injury crashes. The article said the older people depend on their cars and the ability to drive gives them “better mobility and access to more activities”. The Institute added that instead of preventing older people from driving, there should be an effort to make them more aware of the risks they face and offer them driving assessments to help them cope with these risks. Greg Lewis of Age Concern and Help the Aged said in the article that only convincing reasons should stop those beyond the age of 70 from driving. “An elderly person’s risk of being killed or suffering a serious injury as a result of a road crash is between two and five times greater than the risk facing a younger person because of the old person’s increased physical frailty,” Lewis said. Here’s another stereotype about seniors that should go out of the window!

(PHOTO CREDIT: MOTHER AND DAUGHTER © Chiyacat | Dreamstime.com)

I couldn’t agree more that there should not be elderly and/or elderly-only enclaves and that various people in different age groups should live together. The elderly could benefit greatly from having the young around as would the young benefit from the elderly. A “Today” newspaper article dated January 13 spoke of a Multi-Generational Living Scheme in HDB’s SkyTerrace@Dawson where there are not only studio apartments but also four- and five-room flats for extended families. Though elderly would want some independence, they also could use the company of others. Already, HDB or the Housing and Development Board encourages young couples to live near their parents, by doubling their chances when they ballot for a new flat. According to the newspaper article, those buying a resale flat can apply for a higher CPF housing grant of $40,000. Having strong family ties is a crucial when one gets older and with different generations living together, there would be a better understanding and appreciation of the elderly

Just noticed that MSN is doing a poll on the sexiest post-60 stars and Harrison Ford is at this point leading the pack at 78%, with Richard Gere and Sean Connery lagging behind. Kudos on this! Who says you can’t be sexy after 60? Others who made it on the list include: Sam Hui, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alan Tam, Michael Douglas and Patrick Tse. Sorry Jack but Sean has my vote

I just got through a book today that I would like to recommend to agelessvoice readers. It was a recommendation from a friend and it is called “The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. It is a fantastic book about a boy’s triumph and determination to have a better life for himself and for his family. Through his incredible persistence, despite not having money and being called a “madman”, he managed to build a windmill which provided light in his house without the usual kerosene lamps and helped rotate a pump for water and irrigation. The latter provided his family with a year-round garden of tomatoes, Irish potatoes, cabbage and soybeans. The story is set in Malawi and I got a new appreciation for how tough people there live with having only one meal a day with famine being hit and not enough money left, suffering from cholera or having to walk a distance to school. Living in Singapore, we don’t have these problems and we need to realise how fortunate we are. The book is a reminder of how good we have it and we commend this boy (the author) as we really want him to do well. Read it, you wouldn’t put it down until the end.

I would like to highlight a few companies in Singapore who are making in-roads to help seniors in employment. First off, is POSB and their work in the POSB Active Neighbours programme. It is a great programme that has helped 60 seniors (like 62-year-old Betty Lee above) who were deployed to POSB branches islandwide earlier this year. They assist customers, especially their peers, with banking transactions and encourage the use of self-service banking services. It is interesting to note, 75 percent or over 40 of the pioneer batch of 60, are aged 50 and above, while 20 are above 60 years old. Due to the success of the programme, POSB is planning to double the number next year to 120 Active Neighbours. They are now taking in applications. You can go to their branches from now till 12 December and collect a form. If you have applied before, you need not re-apply as the bank will review the previous applications received.

Another company who deserves some credit is Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, who was in the news as they are looking for mature, friendly and empathetic Singaporeans to fill more than 300 vacancies in the new hospital in Yishun. The positions are for housekeeping staff and patient assistants, who will help in the operating theatres, provide financial counselling and transport patents, among other duties. The hospital is run by public-health group Alexandra Health and will open in phases next year. For more details, call the hotline of e2i or Employment and Employability Institute who is screening jobseekers at 6474 3777.

One last company who also deserves a special mention is Maybank Singapore who has become the first bank to, together with its unions, sign a policy on the re-employment of older workers based on the latest tripartite guidelines, according to Weekend Today newspaper. They will provide pre-retirement counselling 12 months before employees turn 62 and give three months’ notice about their re-employment status. Also should there be no job match within the organisation, the bank will help them find work outside. If all fails, the bank will offer them a one-off Employment Assistance Payment. In addition, the bank has also decided not to apply the discretionary wage cut of up to 10 percent when staff turn 60. Kudos to all these companies. I hope others can learn and follow suit!

(PHOTO CREDIT: COMPUTER USERS © Higyou | Dreamstime.com)

A look into the proposed Tripartite Guidelines on the Re-employment of Older Workers that were drafted with feedback from employers and unions. According to an article in Today newspaper, for workers performing well and in good health, but yet are not re-employed after they hit the retirement age of 62, the draft Tripartite Guidelines recommended that employers offer a one-off payment called the Employment Assistance Payment (EAP). Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong reiterated that this is not a form of welfare, but is meant for the workers who cannot be rehired as they seek employment in other places within three months – the average time it takes to get a new job, according to another article in Today newspaper.

Other terms of the draft guidelines is that employers should prepare their workers for re-employment no less than a year ahead of retirement age and offer a re-employment contract at least three months before retirement. The draft is now available for public consultation. The draft guidelines will be the “foundation” for the 2012 legislation and according to the Minister in the newspaper article, they will help companies understand re-employment, “offer practical solutions to help them put in place the necessary systems and processes, and ultimately, establish the norms for re-employment”.

See the terms at www.reach.gov.sg.