Singapore bats for better public geriatric care facilities

Even after topping global health rankings.

Singapore is looking for ways to improve its step-down facilities for elderly patients, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the Human Capital Summit in Indonesia.

The prime minister said that the facilities are crucial for elderly patients may be unwell but do not require intensive medical treatment.

Step-down care facilities consist of community and chronic sick hospitals, nursing, psychiatric rehabilitation and sheltered homes, in-patient hospice institutions, day rehabilitation, dementia day care, and psychiatric day care centres.

Step-down care facilities cater to patients who need inpatient convalescent and rehabilitative care, but do not have families or caregivers to look after them at home.

Singapore recently topped the World Bank Group's Human Capital Index, which ranks 157 countries based on health, education, and survivability measures.