Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 42

Working with Various Client Groups
that have been built up over time. How these expectations among family
members are played out determines the outcome of care arrangements
which depends too on the demands of the physical care. A family is generally
able to fulfil its obligation of day-to-day care for the young and old but
arrangements fall apart wh en, say, a family member is struck down with a
debilitating condition. While not that uncommon, families are not primed
to cope with such situations. Having ready access to a range of services to
provide care and support including befriending services can be helpful.
There is room to increase and improve the range of services. Whether
they are provided privately or by the Government is less of a concern than
ensuring that they are accessible and affordable. For the family, the general
expectation is for one to at least be physically present if he/ she is unable to
help out monetarily.
SUBSIDIES: MediShield Life will extend basic covering to every Singaporean
and will bring relief to most in the sandwiched generation or middle-income
group who could experience twice the anxiety for both the young and old
that they are obliged to be responsible for. The subsidy, which is being
finalised, is very finely tuned and it remains to be seen how different groups
will react to the amount set aside for them.
All subsidies are to some extent about redistributing revenue from taxes.
There is a conundrum here. The middle-income group pays taxes and needs
subsidies. Again, they are “sandwiched’’. They may or may not be able to
access reliefs and rebates depending on where the eligibility criteria are
drawn. As a principle, it is good to keep the tax burden on the middleincome low, so that they get to keep what they earn as much as possible.
Subsidies have to be balanced with the design of taxes. The philosophy
of targeting benefits at the most important needs of the poor and the
middle-income groups is a good one. As we understand the demands on
the sandwiched generation, extending subsidies and benefits beyond the
very poorest will become logical. If this is so, a structure of more intentional
subsidies is needed to enable families to carry the load of care and for a
longer period. This should be done within the family environment rather
than to support costly institutions.
SAFETY NET: The safety net for the sandwiched generation will depend
on how society views the ageing and the aged. Being Asian buys us some
time in respecting old age and the contributions of people through the
course of their life. There is still readiness on the part of families to take
on the care of family members. On the part of individuals, there is now
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