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Tech that detects falls to be offered to all HDB households after pilot at Queenstown Health District It is just one of many tools and systems being tested at the district, before deciding which can be implemented or installed in housing estates islandwide to improve residents’ quality of life. SINGAPORE: Technology that detects when a person has fallen at home and notify their family members will soon be offered to all Housing and Development Board (HDB) households. The pilot for the project was conducted for two months in Queenstown, the site of Singapore’s first Health District co-developed with the National University Health System (NUHS). It is just one of many tools and systems being tested at the district for potential use in housing estates to improve residents’ quality of life. HOW THE TECH WORKS Sensors are able to detect a resident's fall. If the resident does not get up within one minute, an alarm will sound to alert others nearby. Another, more advanced device uses Lidar, which scans for movements with light detection and ranging, and can sense and record the moment a person standing upright suddenly falls onto the ground. Those living alone can pre-set the device to send instant notifications to caregivers via a mobile app, along with the recording, when such incidents are detected. The systems were tested in the Health District from November 2022 to February 2023, and HDB aims to offer such technology to all its households across the nation later this year. “Through residents’ feedback, tech providers were able to refine the solutions … We are now stabilising the system and if all goes well, we will see how to progressively introduce this,” Dr Johnny Wong, Deputy CEO (Building) at HDB, told CNA’s Singapore Tonight on Tuesday (Feb 13). SAFETY MODIFICATIONS FOR SENIORS Apart from detection, HDB is also fine-tuning efforts to prevent falls. In Queenstown, close to 5,000 households have been modified to become safer, especially for seniors. This includes installing grab bars, non-slip tiles and ramps. Such built-in facilities will also be a staple at the district's upcoming assisted living apartments. The model could then be applied elsewhere across Singapore. In common areas, fitness and community amenities are also set to be installed so that residents can socialise and stay active. “We are piloting a social and wellness hub, which houses an active ageing centre. And we are piloting the very first ActiveSG gym within housing development, in collaboration with SportSG,” said Dr Chong Fook Loong, HDB’s group director of research and planning. “Along the way, we want to test every intervention – on what works, what doesn't work, and what we need to improve further, as part and parcel of this journey to create a healthy town.” SELECTING INTERVENTIONS Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) source for, test, develop and evaluate such interventions for households in Queenstown. Professor Dean Ho, head of the biomedical engineering department at the NUS College of Design and Engineering, said that over 200 technologies were rigorously tested and evaluated before being narrowed down to the essentials. “We want to make sure we help understand what the residents are going through and deploy the best interventions that can help them,” he said. “We have to ensure that it's the right technology, it's cutting edge, it’s accessible and it’s validated. And ultimately, it can be truly adopted at scale.” One such tool, for example, helps a user to unscrew a bottle using one hand. It is designed to help those who have lost muscle strength, such as stroke survivors. Physiotherapy through gaming is another ongoing project, including a button-pressing console that tests a user’s reaction. It aims to provide light exercise for those with stiff shoulders. Other technologies that help residents monitor their health, such as vital signs and chronic conditions, are also being tested. “We have residents whose mobility is a challenge. We want to have digitally enabled solutions which perhaps can be done right from a mobile phone, that can monitor stress, respiratory rate. Then we can start to pinpoint residents that perhaps need some extra attention,” said Prof Ho. Such technologies will be trialled in the district in the coming months. SHARED CARE CONCEPT The district is also piloting a shared care team concept with social services agencies such as Lions Befrienders to provide social care for seniors. Volunteers visit residents with a listening ear and check on their well-being and needs. For one such resident, 82-year-old Yin Chee Keong, such visits are precious moments. “I feel lucky and I'm very touched. Because I do feel lonely at times. At night when I'm about to sleep, when I don't have someone to talk to,” he told CNA. Mr Yin gets weekly checkups on his vital signs and overall physical health at a Lions Befrienders community health post located right at his block. Such sites, helmed by NUHS healthcare teams, are typically set up in active ageing centres in neighbourhoods so that residents do not have to travel too far. Healthcare professionals visit once a week, while social workers based at the centres follow up with residents. Nurses and volunteers share updates on each resident’s physical, mental and social well-being as part of a personalised care plan to help them stay healthy. “Shared care is our way of working more closely with social partners to ensure that we consider a more holistic picture of their health needs,” said Ms Antoinette Goh, a nurse clinician at the NUHS Regional Health System. “For example, the care team decides that it will be good for a resident to start measuring blood pressure, but the resident doesn't know how to do it, or needs a bit more nudging. The social team can then remind them or provide some guidance on the ground.” Healthcare professionals and social workers said preventive care is the best way to ensure the seniors’ well-being. “When we do preventive work upfront … the going to hospitals, nursing costs, medical costs are going to be reduced once we go upstream and ensure that people stay as healthy as possible,” said Ms Karen Wee, executive director of Lions Befrienders. QUEENSTOWN HEALTH DISTRICT The Health District @ Queenstown is the nation’s first that supports residents’ well-being across their life stages through tools such as better design and community programmes. The initiative by HDB, NUHS, NUS and their partners aims to build a living environment that supports residents’ physical, social, and mental well-being, and help them lead more active and fulfilling lives. “We have four key objectives. One, we want to provide healthy living for all ages through good urban designs and use of technology. Second, to provide productive longevity, where people can continue to work, volunteer, co-create, and lifelong learning,” said Dr Wong. “Third, we want to promote intergenerational bonding. With good community support, one can live longer and have a better mental state. Lastly, we want all our residents to be able to live independently and age in place for as long as they can, in HDB towns.” https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/queenstown-health-district-tech-seniors-detects-falls-health-hdb-4126056 getting ready for an ageing population.

https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/old-person-smell-body-odour-sweat-2-nonenal-ageing-383531 Why does evolution create this unique odour in seniors? And yes, it's a thing. Even the Japanese have a word for it. You don’t have to have a canine’s superior olfactory system to know that we emit different odours at different stages of our lives. Babies, for instance, naturally smell pleasant even as they produce explosive diapers and regurgitated milk. During puberty, it's what smells like teen spirit – usually reminiscent of onion and sweat – that is likely to be the scent du jour. Your personal smell-scape changes again in your senior years and it’s not because you’ve adopted a new cologne or perfume. We’re talking about the “old person smell”, which you might have caught whiffs of in the just-vacated MRT seat, lift, taxi interior or if you live with elderly parents or grandparents: An amalgamation of Axe brand oil, moth balls and an unmistakable greasy, grassy odour. The smell is so distinct that the Japanese even has a term for it: Kareishu, which means the smell of gaining years. WHAT CREATES BODY ODOUR IN THE FIRST PLACE? Your personal brand of odour comes down to the sweat and substances that your body produces, said Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Science Centre Board’s chief executive. Generally, you have two kinds of sweat glands: Apocrine sweat glands (in hair-bearing areas such as the armpits and genital area) and eccrine sweat glands (everywhere on the body, including the palms and soles). “Apocrine sweat tends to contain more lipids and proteins, while eccrine sweat is mostly composed of water and electrolytes,” he said. “When bacteria break down these substances, the resulting odours can vary. Bacterial action on the lipids and proteins in apocrine sweat leads to the characteristic body odour.” If you're wondering what lipids are, they are an ingredient in sebum, the same pimple-causing stuff you’ve been fighting in your adolescent and adult life. “Sebum primarily comprises lipids, triglycerides, wax esters, squalene and cellular debris. When exposed to air and bacteria, these components can undergo oxidation and breakdown, resulting in a slightly oily and sometimes musty smell,” said Assoc Prof Lim. HOW DOES THE “OLD PERSON SMELL” COME ABOUT? A few things can give rise to this unique odour; one of which is 2-nonenal. A study on subjects between the ages of 26 and 75, noted that this colourless, insoluble, unsaturated aldehyde was detected only in those aged 40 years and older. Incidentally, 2-nonenal is the same compound found in aged beer and buckwheat, and has been described to smell greasy and grassy like fat and cucumber. The smell-inducing 2-nonenal is a by-product of omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid after oxidation, said dermatologist Dr Eileen Tan from Eileen Tan Skin Clinic & Associates, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. "Age-related body odour likely has nothing to do with personal hygiene," said Dr Tan. According to the study, omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid’s level in skin-surface lipids is found to increase up to six times with age. However, the cause of the increase is not clear. Another factor is sweating less. If there’s one good thing that comes out of getting older, it’s that you’ll sweat less, according to a 2021 study published in Skin Research And Technology by the International University of Health and Welfare in Narita, Japan. This could be caused by the age-related loss of collagen, which means your skin isn’t able to prop itself up as well as before. As a result, the sweat glands get compressed against the skin’s surface, making it harder for sweat to come out. (On a side note, this is also why seniors tend to suffer from heat exhaustion as they don’t sweat as much as younger people to regulate their bodies’ temperature.) Less sweat means less bacterial action, which then affects your body's odour. Furthermore, sebum production may also “decrease or change in composition, contributing to an altered scent”, said Assoc Prof Lim. These bodily changes, combined with diet, health conditions, medications and genetics, contribute to the unique “old person smell” characterised by “a more musty or stale scent”, he said. “The distinct scent typically becomes noticeable in later adulthood, around 60 years old or older” and can be set off and intensified by those aforementioned factors, said Assoc Prof Lim. WHAT’S THE EVOLUTIONARY PURPOSE OF THE "OLD PERSON SMELL"? Much like how we try to guess someone’s age by studying their appearance for physical attributes such as wrinkles and grey hair, odour could be another thing we unconsciously sniff out. In a study by Professor Johan Lundstrom, a brain science and cognitive psychologist from Monell Chemical Senses Center, volunteers were able to pick out the middle-agers based on smell alone. “It might be a way to distinguish the sick from the healthy – not overt sickness but underlying cell decay," said Prof Lundstrom. "The older we get, the more natural decay we have. But no one really knows why animals or people have this ability." Assoc Prof Lim agreed that the old person smell is evolution’s way to signal ageing and health. “Some theories suggest it could play a role in signalling social behaviours potentially linked to age-related immune changes.” CAN WE MINIMISE IT? Ageism may play a role in discriminating against the old people smell. In fact, the first study highlighted in this article found that people generally didn’t mind the odour and even found it less unpleasant and less intense than younger individuals and middle-agers – until they were told that the odour came from older people. Incidentally, the test subjects found that middle-aged men smelled the worst. If you are bothered by the smell, “maintaining a balanced diet rich in antioxidants and staying hydrated may help reduce the intensity of the old person smell”, said Assoc Prof Lim. “Additionally, using skincare products that promote skin health and moisture retention can be beneficial.” "Any scented products will help to mask the smell", said Dr Tan. Or try soaps that contain tannin-rich persimmon extract and let us know; it is said to dissolve 2-nonenal and help in eliminating odour. Or simply rock your personal brand of eau de toilette.

Their medicine may be to blame: Patients who claim they developed gambling and sex addictions after taking Parkinson's medication are offered settlement by drug company http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2867232/Drugs-company-offers-settlement-patients-allegedly-developed-gambling-sex-addictions-taking-medication-Parkinson-s-disease.html

https://mothership.sg/2022/03/fried-banana-seller-death-penang/ A 74-year-old fried banana seller in Penang fainted suddenly while cooking at her hawker stall on Sunday (Mar. 13). As a result, she fell into the wok containing hot oil and suffered severe burns to her face and body, later succumbing to her injuries. Pain was so intense she couldn't speak According to Malaysian Chinese daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh, the incident occurred around 3pm on Mar. 13. The elderly woman — identified as Zhong Bixuan — was frying bananas when she suddenly fainted, falling into the wok of hot oil. Her head and upper body were plunged into wok full of hot oil, resulting in severe burns on her face and body. A resident described the elderly woman as feeling like her body was being stabbed by thousands of hot needles, and added that the pain was so intense that Zhong could not speak. Zhong was then rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, where she passed away later that night. Had been in the business for over 30 years Zhong had been selling fried bananas for more than 30 years, Kwong Wah reported. Her second son, Chen Zhenping, told media that his mother had been working in the hawker stall with his 80-year-old father at the time of the incident. When asked whether he would take over his mother's stall, Chen explained that he is currently managing his own stall in Seremban. Thus, he will temporarily close his mother's stall and then make plans in the future. Top photos via Kwong Wai Yit Poh.

Amidst all the gloom around the world and bad road behavior we see on our roads here, there are still good vibes happening around once in a blue moon. Spotted on 25th of Nov 2020 along Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, the footage from this camera car shows it arriving at the traffic lights to see that the lane on his right was stationary even though his lane was moving. As the lights went green, he must have wondered why the first lane remained stuck. Upon reaching the stop line, we could see why as a kind-hearted Traffic Police officer could be seen helping an elderly cross the road. The lady would have taken some time to cross as the lights had already turned red before she even had time to reach the other side of the road. Naturally, neitzens were full of praise for Mr. TP officer on some Facebook pages ...

Hope for humanity.. Most people get maid to clean the faecs of their elderly parents, let alone a stranger's it. http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/good-samaritan-helps-clean-faeces-elderly-man-toa-payoh- Good samaritan helps to clean faeces off elderly man in Toa Payoh -- PHOTO: - See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/good-samaritan-helps-clean-faeces-elderly-man-toa-payoh-#sthash.LltFERqJ.dpuf SINGAPORE - Ms Noriza A. Mansor, 49, was a total stranger to Mr Tan Soy Yong, 76, who had soiled himself while grocery shopping. But that did not stop the bedsheet promoter from reaching out to help the elderly man. She cleaned off the faeces on Mr Tan, bought him a new pair of shorts and even accompanied him home. This act of kindness took place last Tuesday at the FairPrice supermarket at Toa Payoh HDB Hub, and was reported today in The New Paper. Ms Mansor, who works at the supermarket, had noticed that people around her were pinching their noses and looking uncomfortable about a foul smell in the air. She went about trying to locate the source of the stench, and found that it was coming from Mr Tan, who was standing at a cashier's counter with faeces on his shorts and shins. There was also a small lump of faeces on his sandals. Mr Tan had soiled his pants while grocery shopping with his wife, Madam Lee Bee Yian, 76, who was in a wheelchair. "No one was helping him even though he looked so pitiful," Ms Noriza told The New Paper. People were steering clear of Mr Tan and even his wife was complaining about the problem he had created, but Ms Noriza rose to action. She bought him a new pair of shorts from a store opposite the supermarket, and went to the FairPrice staff toilet to get a pail of water and some tissue. She then got Mr Tan to change into the clean shorts and asked him to sit on a nearby brick ledge, while she knelt before him and started to wipe the faeces off him. She also rinsed out his dirty sandals. All the while as she did so, she kept talking to Mr Tan. "I was telling him not to worry and that he would be clean very soon," said Ms Noriza, a divorcee with five children aged 10 to 25. When she was done, she accompanied the elderly couple back to their flat in Potong Pasir, before heading back to work. Ms Noriza's kind act was observed by currency trader Goh Rong Ren, 32, who was rushing off to a dinner appointment with his friends that day when a passer-by asked him to help Ms Noriza and the elderly couple. He helped to pay for the couple's cab fare home, and was so touched by Ms Noriza's compassion towards Mr Tan that he wanted people to know about what she did. He then got his friend to contact The New Paper. "Her selflessness towards a total stranger moved me. It was pure and unadulterated kindness," he said. [email protected] - See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/good-samaritan-helps-clean-faeces-elderly-man-toa-payoh-#sthash.LltFERqJ.dpuf

Wow... that's a lot https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/study-finds-1379-a-month-needed-to-meet-basic-living-standard-for-single-elderly

Really more than words... https://sg.news.yahoo.com/viral-dhl-driver-stops-vehicle-074324560.html

when i read this article i think of @dach..... esp from the loneliness he exudes... on a serious note, it is a worrying trend.. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/suicides-elderly-singapore-all-time-high-sos-10565002 Number of elderly suicides at all-time high: SOS TODAY) SINGAPORE: When Madam Tan (not her real name), a widow in her 90s, suddenly lost her son to a heart attack, she thought all hope was lost. After all, he was the only close family member she had left. Furthermore Mdm Tan, a fall risk living in a rental flat, had lost all independence due to her limited mobility and weak legs. "Our care management team knew of her suicidal thoughts," senior social worker at Tsao Foundation's Hua Mei Mobile Clinic Jasmine Wong told Channel NewsAsia. So, staff from the organisation's counselling and coaching team provided her with psycho-emotional counselling and therapy, and worked with neighbours and community partners to support her daily living. With Mdm Tan refusing to go to a nursing home, the staff made frequent visits to "reassure her that life has more to offer". They continued to care for her for another year or so, until she died from cancer. But there are others who fall through the cracks. The number of elderly aged 60 and above who took their own lives peaked at 129 last year, the highest since suicide tracking started in 1991, the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) said in a release on Monday (Jul 30). This is six cases more than 2016, when 123 elderly suicides were reported. The proportion of elderly suicides has also gone up: Seniors made up 36 per cent of 361 suicides reported in 2017, compared to 29 per cent of 429 suicides the year before. “It is very worrying that many elderly are turning to suicide as the only choice to end their pain and struggles, when they should be enjoying the lustre of their golden years,” SOS executive director Christine Wong said. According to National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser, the typical profile of a senior who is more likely to commit suicide is probably someone aged 75 or above, living alone or with a spouse, and has only up to primary school education. FEAR OF BEING A BURDEN, SOCIAL DISCONNECTION AMONG REASONS These seniors might feel that life is "empty and meaningless", Dr Tan told Channel NewsAsia, stating the absence of social support or a chronic or terminal illness as some common reasons for suicide. Other common struggles include social disconnection, the fear of burdening family and friends, and daily difficulties due to physical challenges and deteriorating mental health, SOS said, citing callers to their 24-hour hotline. "These concerns predisposes socially isolated elderly to depression and suicidal thoughts when struggles go undetected and unaddressed," it added. READ: High prevalence of suicide in older adults aged 50 and above: SOS However, SOS said fewer seniors are calling in. Last year, 5,652 calls were made by the elderly, an 18 per cent drop from the 6,904 calls in 2016. This is particularly worrying given the current trend, SOS said, especially as the hotline is "favoured by the older demographic group". Of those who disclosed their age, 23 per cent of calls made to the SOS last year were by seniors aged 60 and above. Dr Tan explained that some might choose not to call in as they are not used to the idea of sharing their "innermost thoughts with others or seeking help through a hotline to speak to a stranger". "They are also thinking that no one could understand them and their situation, let alone help them," he said. What's worse is some of them might not even be aware of other forms of help. "They are probably living in isolation, have few or no friends, know only people who are just as ignorant about other forms of help, or do not see non-kin as a possible source of help," Dr Tan added. And when this happens, SOS said the elderly might feel a "strong sense of helplessness which may exacerbate social isolation". READ: 'Like a knife poking my heart': Loss, loneliness and the killing pain of elderly depressionNevertheless, Dr Tan said alternative assistance can come in the form of family members who are "caring, supportive and attentive". Volunteers who meet the elderly regularly, are seen as friends, and can link them up with trained counsellors who can provide professional help are also beneficial, he added. To that end, SOS stressed the "imminent need for stronger support networks as the number of elderly Singapore residents living alone continues to increase", pointing out that this will bring about challenges to current social support services. THE RED FLAGS Mr Simon-Peter Lum, deputy head of COMNET Senior Services under AMKFSC Community Services, said staff are trained to look out for suicidal tendencies by attending courses conducted by SOS and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), and through case conferences and case sharing sessions. Symptoms of suicidal tendencies include making preparations for death, like writing a will or giving away cherished belongings, enquiring about a sudden change in environment, and a sudden withdrawal from social interactions. Tsao Foundation's Ms Wong said red flags include physical complaints like "wa long cong tia", Hokkien for "I'm feeling pain everywhere", and self-neglect in terms of low personal hygiene and a dirty living environment. Staff should also pay extra attention to elderly who are struggling with a recent life crisis, like the death of a loved one or excessive medical bills. READ: Lonely and 'waiting to die', Singapore's elderly poor find hope in many helping handsIn one real-life case, a senior who had experienced hallucinations approached a COMNET worker and requested depression screening. "The senior was found to be at high risk of suicide and staff members accompanied him to IMH with his consent," Mr Lum said. After the senior was treated and discharged, social workers, Senior Activity Centre (SAC) staff and those with the Community Resource, Engagement and Support Team continued to monitor him through home visits and his participation at the SAC. For low-risk cases, staff provide counselling and emotional support, help them look at the positives in life, and recognise their stressors and how to manage them. "We also develop a safety plan with them and continue to monitor and follow-up until they stabilise," Mr Lum added. "We will also refer the cases to social workers where appropriate." WHAT YOU CAN DO Mr Lum encouraged family members, caregivers and volunteers to communicate with their seniors and take note of character changes and suicide symptoms for early detection. "Convey concern and allow them to express what is troubling them, empathise and support them and let them know they are not alone," he said. "Helping them to identify stressors provides a sense of relief, sharing their burden increases their ability and confidence to cope." Besides that, he added, keeping them engaged in meaningful activities will help give them purpose. "Sometimes, expressions of suicidal thoughts can be signs of the elders crying for help," Tsao Foundation's Ms Wong said. "It’s not advisable to brush the elders aside for having ‘silly, idle thoughts’ – which may well be red flags for suicide risk." Taking a senior to see a good and trusted general practitioner (GP) over the years can also help identify signs of depression, social isolation and calls for help, she said. "Indirect clues that a GP will have opportunity to identify would include repeat visits by an elder for loss of appetite and weight loss, inability to sleep and refusal to take medicine," she added. "GPs can also help to refer relevant cases to counsellors and other community partners." OVERALL SUICIDES LOWEST SINCE 2012 Meanwhile, the overall number of suicides reported last year – at 361 – was the lowest since 2012. This means that the average suicide rate dropped to 7.74 deaths by suicide per 100,000 residents, compared to 9.14 deaths from 2012 to 2016. “For the past years, our community outreach education and engagements targeted mainly youths and adults who are technologically savvy as these efforts were concentrated on various social media platforms,” SOS' Ms Wong said. “The drop in deaths by suicide in these age groups may be attributed to the concerted efforts of all social service partners and many others in the community, even members of the public who are aware of SOS suicide prevention work.” READ: New mum’s suicide casts light on struggles of working mums, coroner says READ: Facing depression – working adults battle not just demons, but also stigma Despite that, Ms Wong said the community and an individual's social support groups should continue to step up efforts and not let go "thinking that a slight decrease makes a difference on suicide prevention and awareness among the youths". Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/suicides-elderly-singapore-all-time-high-sos-10565002

Dear all, I happen to know this elderly, who stay at Whampoa those studio flat aka 1 room flat. Is there any society or charity group that I can refer the elderly to? Who wants to live independently. I don't think Whampoa has those emergency button like what redhill and queentown(if I am not wrong) nor people checking the status of these elderly. To be frank and upfront I am worried that even when he passes on nobody will know until the body rot and smell. Can anyone bros refer me society or organisation that is able to help this elderly. I am just seeing how I can help. Thank you for reading Rustyz

5 ordinary seniors try and befriend 5 struggling teenagers over one school term. But problems arise in the very first meeting. Can they get past the awkward gap? Would the teenagers open up at all? And would simply being old get in the way of our seniors' best efforts? Read more at: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/catch-up-tv/back-to-school If you can afford 40 minutes of time, watch this. Quite an interesting program. This is the first episode.

Exposed: The secret powerhouse processing millions in global fraud http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/22/news/companies/pacnet-investigation/index.html?iid=hp-toplead-intl dtd 22 Sep 2016 Editor's Note: Today, a Canadian payment processor named PacNet became one of the many targets of an unprecedented crackdown on global mail fraud, which will be announced later today by Attorney General Loretta Lynch. CNNMoney, which is exclusively breaking the news of this action, has spent months digging into this little-known company and the shadowy world of global mail fraud. Our investigation is below: The frauds rake in millions from the sick and elderly -- leaving them with nothing. This is a story about the little-known company that cashes the checks. And it happens victim by victim. ------------------------------------------------- As you read on (it is a very long article) it is sad to find out that many of the victims are the sick and elderly who spent their retirement funds paying fraudsters who obtained payment via this Canadian company called PacNet. Will these victims get at least some of their money back?

https://www.facebook.com/STReview/posts/1685524248332426 Sometimes I think this guy's bonus is calculated on a 'per word of nonsense' basis.

人在做，天在看。the daughter will get her retribution. http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/msf-looking-alleged-abuse-video?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook

FOUR elderly women suffered deep cuts, fractures and bruises at Punggol Plaza yesterday morning when the handrail of the escalator they were on suddenly stopped moving. The women, in their 70s and 80s, were just three steps from the top. As they were clutching on to the handrails, they lost their balance and fell backwards. Two ended up in a heap at the foot of the escalator, while the other two landed on the steps. Madam Kiong Mok Lan, 76, who was at the rear of the group, suffered the worst injuries. She had tried to put her hands out to stop the others from falling onto her, but the slim-built woman was unable to withstand their weight. She landed face down and fractured her left cheekbone, right hand and left leg. Her spectacles also broke, and her left eye was swollen and bruised. All the women suffered bruises and long scratches down their backs caused by the escalator's jagged metal edges. One of them, Madam Liew Poh Chan, 72, had deep cuts on both shins and was bleeding profusely. The women were taken to Changi General Hospital by ambulance, and later discharged. Madam Kiong was heading for breakfast at the mall at about 9am with her daughter-in-law's parents - Mr Yap Ah Kow, 77, and Madam Hoh Peck Tau, 72, - as well as family friends Madam Cheong Tai, 81, and Madam Liew. Mr Yap, Madam Hoh and Madam Cheong are Malaysians who came here for a holiday last Friday and were scheduled to go home today. The group had planned to visit Resorts World Sentosa after breakfast. Madam Kiong's daughter-in-law, Mrs Wendy Lim, 43, was also on the escalator, which connects the basement to the first floor. But the housewife and her father, Mr Yap, were unhurt. Career counsellor Gilbert Goh, who witnessed the incident, said he was having breakfast at a fast-food restaurant near the escalator when he heard something that 'sounded like thunder'. When he rushed out to help, he saw the four women sprawled along the escalator. 'I got a shock,' said Mr Goh, 49, a member of the opposition National Solidarity Party who had contested in the recent general election in Tampines GRC. When The Straits Times spoke to them at the hospital later, the women appeared shaken and tired. But they grew agitated when recounting the accident. Madam Hoh claimed one of the mall management officers said it happened because the women became giddy. 'She said that we are old and fell because we were feeling giddy. How is it possible that all four of us suffer from giddiness at the same time?' she said in Mandarin. Her son-in-law Andy Lim, 46, rushed to the mall after his wife told him what had happened, and asked a mall employee to test the escalator twice. Both times, he said, the handrail stopped intermittently. Mr Lim, who works in a training company, said it was 'very irresponsible' of the management to dismiss the incident as a minor one. When The Straits Times contacted the management office, an officer at first said what happened was 'normal' and just 'a big hoo-ha'. Another employee said the mall had never received any public feedback about the escalator being faulty. Yesterday afternoon, the escalator was cordoned off and inspected by workmen from a repair company. The mall said the escalators are maintained every month. Several shoppers and shop owners claimed that the particular escalator was often problematic. One shop owner, who has been there for seven years, said incidents are common. The Straits Times understands that the mall management has reported the incident to its insurance company. A check with several malls found that most service their escalators every month. VivoCity, for example, also deploys its technicians to check on escalators when it gets complaints. Faulty escalators are cordoned off and signs put up to inform shoppers they are being maintained, said a spokesman. Mr Lionel Tan, owner of FB Industries, a company which installs and maintains lifts and escalators, said accidents on escalators are common. He said escalators can stop moving suddenly when the safety switches are activated by users who stand too closely to the sides. But he said it is rare for the handrail to stop moving.

Have seen this for quite a number of weeks now. This is at Holland Drive Market, a store with a Japanese sign and lots of pictures and Japanese words. Always a large crowd of elderly people inside, listening to some sales talk. Also, there would be people outside waiting for their turn to listen to the talk. What exactly are they trying to sell to the elderly? I hope it is not a scam. See the video. https://youtu.be/83K2icQExfo

LTA has started to hire elderly aunties to setup speed traps in the bushes to catch unknowing drivers Serious ................. ?

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/most-elderly-singaporeans/1415888.html Aside from reading this as a piece for increasing the age of retirement, but somehow the numbers don't seem to match...80% confident, 37% feel little to worry, 46% ave or poor finances? Generally on the ground, I find the elderly more negative about their futures. Sitting in older estates kopi tiam can hear alot of stories... Also wondering whats the rational in determining our life starts dropping at 65?

A photo illustration by the Ministry of Transport showing a road junction at Marine Crescent with road signs for "Silver Zone". New road features aimed at improving safety are being introduced in five residential estates, under a "Silver Zone" pilot programme by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). New road features aimed at improving safety are being introduced in five residential estates, under a "Silver Zone" pilot programme by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Some of these include special road signs and markings, centre dividers and road humps, as well as speed limit reductions to 40kmh along certain roads. Works will start in early August in the first two estates - Bukit Merah and Jurong West - and are expected to be completed by the end of the year, the LTA said in a statement on Monday. The improvements were decided on after studying best practices overseas in countries like South Korea and the United States, and were announced earlier in the Committee of Supply Debate, it added. Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/new-road-features-make-five-residential-estates-safer-el

Selling a pair of boots i bought two weeks ago. Worn only once and it didnt suit me at all. Rad russel Size 44 Bought for ~$200 Looking to trade for 15 packets of 5kg rice (u can buy the jasmine rice from shengsiong, ard $100-ish) The rice will go to needy families. Please do not give me cash. I never accept cash for my charity and volunteer work. PM me if you are keen. Thanks for your kind attention Mods, can help me change topic to "WTT: Boots for needy families" paisey, confused with another charity I doing. thanks :)

An elderly man sustained injuries to his head and is now unconscious, after he was hit by a train along the MRT tracks near Expo station on Saturday afternoon. A police spokesman said a call was received at 1.43pm, requesting for assistance at the station. "Upon police's arrival, it was established that a train had hit a man along the MRT tracks heading towards Expo MRT station," added the police. The victim, believed to be in his 70s, suffered "multiple cuts on his body" and was conveyed conscious to hospital, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). A spokesman for rail operator SMRT, who was responding to queries from The Straits Times, said the victim was reportedly "seen lying close to the tracks between Tanah Merah and Expo stations" just a minute earlier at 1.42pm. Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/elderly-man-unconscious-after-being-hit-smrt-train-near-expo-station-2

An 80-year-old church caretaker who suspected his girlfriend was in a relationship with her landlord threw a kitchen knife at him in a brawl on holy ground. Lim Song Chong hurled the 20cm-long blade at 65-year-old Mr Cheong Yee Mun, who escaped being hit by hiding behind a pillar at the Glad Tidings Church. Mr Lim also threw an umbrella, a pocket knife and kitchen scissors at the retiree, who retaliated by chucking a fire extinguisher at his "very, very frail" rival. None of the projectiles hit their intended target and police arrived to separate the seniors. Lim was fined a total of $3,000 and jailed for a day on Monday after he admitted committing criminal intimidation by chasing Mr Cheong with the knife and performing a rash act by throwing it at him. Another charge of criminal intimidation and two counts of throwing the smaller knife and scissors were taken into consideration. Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/church-caretaker-80-jailed-and-fined-threatening-girlfriends-landlord-

Singapore Polytechnic and the Agency of Integrated Care and Temasek Cares have come up with a floor projection system that will help the elderly in road-crossing scenarios. Ceiling-mounted cameras will track the motion of the subject via sensors attached to an ankle, a knee and a hip (above). Singapore Polytechnic and the Agency of Integrated Care and Temasek Cares have come up with a floor projection system (above) that will help the elderly in road-crossing scenarios. Ceiling-mounted cameras will track the motion of the subject via sensors attached to an ankle, a knee and a hip. An elderly person walks along a zebra crossing, just as a car screeches to a halt to avert an accident. Such a scenario plays out every day at busy traffic junctions, resulting in potential danger to the elderly. But some seniors can soon learn how to safely cross roads, among other scenarios, at St Andrew's Community Hospital. Singapore Polytechnic has partnered the Agency of Integrated Care and Temasek Cares to come up with a floor projection system at the hospital that trains the elderly on road safety. The project comes amid a worrying trend of rising road casualties involving the elderly. In the first six months of this year, 102 elderly pedestrians died or were injured, police told The Sunday Times. Last year, the number of casualties who were elderly rose 13 per cent to 226, from 200 in 2011. Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/road-safety-training-the-elderly-20131027

Hope it was not posted before as I had done a searched under 'Elderly' and did not find any on this subject. See what I got on my facebook ......... How real in present time ....

Am helping my dad to look for a job. He is 60 and looking for a driver job. Low qualification and quite hard to find a job at his age. Heard govt encourage elderly to be in the workforce but dunno why so hard to find job. Almost impossible