Speech By President Halimah Yacob At Keppel Corporation’s Donation Ceremony With Dementia Singapore

Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman, Keppel Corporation,

Dr Ang Peng Chye, Chairman, Dementia Singapore,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies & Gentlemen

Good afternoon. I am happy to be here today to receive the generous donation from Keppel Corporation on behalf of Dementia Singapore.

Last year, during World Alzheimer’s Month, I urged everyone to do their part and lend a helping hand to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families as we build a Dementia-Friendly Singapore. I am heartened that Keppel has stepped up and pledged its support for Dementia Singapore over the next three years. Thank you, Keppel!

Keppel is no stranger to philanthropy. Since 2012, it has been working closely with charities and educational institutes in caring for the underprivileged, promoting education, and protecting the environment. Keppel is also a strong supporter of President’s Challenge, donating over $2.8 million across a decade to uplift communities in need. In recent years, Keppel has made significant donations to support integrated care for kidney patients. They also developed the Keppel Coastal Trail at Labrador Nature Reserve and committed over $5 million to provide support to communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore.

Keppel’s support for dementia is timely. In Singapore, it is estimated that one in 10 seniors aged 60 and above has dementia. With an ageing population, and more people expected to have dementia, the continuous commitment and support from businesses and corporate partners would contribute towards the nation’s effort to support persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

The needs of caregivers cannot be overemphasised. Caring for persons with dementia is almost a 24-hour, seven-day a week responsibility. My late mother had dementia and I saw how the condition affected her confidence, as well as the strain it had on my elder sister who was her main caregiver. Back then, services relating to dementia care and support were not as widely available as they are today. Now, centres such as Dementia Singapore help individuals with dementia remain engaged, slowing down the progression of this uncurable condition. Such early intervention is critical.

Social Service Agencies (SSAs) are also key partners in dementia care. In this regard, Dementia Singapore has been partnering Government agencies – such as the Ministry of Health, Agency for Integrated Care, National Council of Social Services and Health Promotion Board– to increase awareness on dementia, and to deliver quality, relevant, and innovative community services, and initiatives. For example, Dementia Singapore runs the Community Outreach and Community Intervention teams that reach out to seniors to provide information on dementia as well as intervention and support to persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

In addition, it partnered AIC to develop dementia-friendly home designs for HDB flats, and the CARA application, a digital platform that provides persons living with dementia and their caregivers with easy access to resources and support. Dementia Singapore also worked with public transport operators to make our transport hubs more dementia-friendly.

Notably, Dementia Singapore has also taken on the important role of a sector enabler. The Dementia Singapore Academy has been providing training not just to families in need, but also consultancy to other SSAs as it strives to raise the capability and capacity of dementia care nationally.

The task at hand, however, is not just Dementia Singapore’s alone.  A truly Dementia-Friendly Singapore can only be achieved when everyone plays our part. For a start, simple everyday acts of kindness, empathy, encouragement, and support towards persons living with dementia and their families will go a long way in reducing the stigma surrounding the condition. In some countries, I note that people would come together as a neighbourhood to support persons with dementia. For example, common points within the neighbourhood, such as the supermarket and police station, are identified and supported by members of the community who assist individuals with dementia, especially those who may have strayed from their homes. I hope that we will be able to reach this level of public-spiritedness in our community too.

I look forward to the collective efforts of the people, public and private sectors to build a Dementia-Friendly Singapore that would allow us to normalise conversations about dementia, reduce associated stigma and achieve greater awareness and support for persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

All these can only be made possible through a whole-of-society effort. Let us forge ahead together towards a Dementia-Friendly Singapore.

Thank you.