LONGEVITY BONUS OR LONGEVITY CRISIS?

From Straits Times 19 April

The International Monetary Fund )IMF) has just released its Global Financial Stability report 2012. The report carries a warning of the rising healthcare costs of ageing. An underestimation of the average life span by a mere three years can translate into additional trillions of dollars in pension and healthcare costs for the global economy.

Graphics from Straits Times April 7.

How Singapore is preparing for ageing

The top three countries with the fastest growing ageing populations in the world are Japan, Germany and Singapore. In Singapore, the number of residents aged 65 and above increased from 7.2 per cent in 2000 to 9.3 per cent last year. By 2030, this will rise to 19 per cent.

Malaysia may not be on the list of world's fastest ageing populations, but it certainly holds the record for having the world's biggest civil service - 1.4 million Malaysians work in the public sector. Just imagine how much this will cost the government (and the tax-payers) in pension payments when these civil servants retire.

For other issues related to the "longevity bonus", do listen to this roundtable discussion held at Standford University. It's 90 minutes long, but worth spending the time if you have the interest. Some of the issues raised include:

~ social / financial security
~ job opportunities
~ medicare / healthcare / care-giving
~ nursing / retirement homes
~ transportation
~ lifelong learning
~ women's role / dominance in ageing
~ discrimination
~ inter-generational divide
~ social media (the 65+ are the largest growing cohort on Facebook)

The solution lies primarily in education. We all want to enter our golden years physically fit, mentally sharp, and financially secure, don't we? This awareness should be instilled as early as possible, and as part of the school curriculum.

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TEACH OUR SONS AND GRANDSONS TO RESPECT WOMEN - IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO DO SO

The Straits Times of Singapore yesterday published a list of 44 men who allegedly had sex with an underage girl. This is the first time I have come across a list like this made public. If you think the men are probably serial rapists, thugs, paedophiles or perverts, think again. Included on the list are a school principal, a former police superintendent, military officers, a lawyer, businessmen and people in finance and other professions.

Recognize any name? Probably not a name you want to be proud to know.

The alleged mastermind of the online website that offers women (and also the teenager in question) for sexual services was earlier charged last November for living off the earnings of his bevy of 'social escorts'. If you think he must have a past criminal record or a history of psychological disorders, think again. According to the news report, "he had studied in Britain and worked in multinational firms, including Shell International Petroleum where he was an adviser to the chairman, Motorola where he was a channel sales manager and Virgin Mobile where he made general manager."

What drove these men, whose ages range from 21 to 48, to have sex with a 16-year old? She could have been the same age as their sister or daughter. Many of these men are married with children. The lawyer for some of them is portraying his clients as victims of a "hardcore prostitute". The men can come up with all sorts of reasons and excuses for their actions, but the law is the law. No one is above the law. Not even former PM of Italy Silvio Berlusconi who is currently facing charges of having paid for sex with an underage girl. He's old enough to be the teenager's grandfather!

I think a lot has to do with respect. And this works both ways. Girls must be taught to respect themselves, and be worthy of respect. Boys must be taught to respect all girls and not take advantage of them. This teaching has to start at home, if not through heart-to-heart sessions, then through good role-modeling. If young parents are too busy building their careers, then the grandparents should step in.

Any comments on how we should teach our children to respect women?

(Update: The Straits Times has just added another four more men to the list, including a former executive director of the Singapore Environment Council and a former top banker with a global private bank. Will there be more names to come???)

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LOOK FOR THE SUNSHINE BEHIND THE GRAY CLOUDS

Let's not deceive ourselves. None of us are getting any younger. At best, some of us have managed to slow down the ageing process through healthy living. The worst thing we can do is to mark each birthday with a sense of gloom and depression. Isn't it better to count our blessings than count the number of years left of our life span?

Some of you are probably muttering "What blessings? I am retired and without an income. My savings are running out. I still have children in college and elderly parents to support. I have loans to pay off. I am a physical and mental wreck. My doctor tells me I have diabetes and high blood pressure. I have aches and pain all over. AND YOU TELL ME TO COUNT MY BLESSINGS???"

Okay, maybe life isn't coming up roses for some of us, but what good does counting all our misfortunes do for us? It only makes us feel even more aggrieved with our lot. We will only succeed in sinking deeper into self-pity. If we are unhappy with our current circumstances, we should do something about it. Whining never gets anyone anywhere. 

If we make the effort, we can always find something to cheer us up, something that we can be grateful for. Look at it this way. Isn't it a great feeling to be able to wake up in the morning? Shouldn't we be thankful that we can breathe on our own? Aren't we glad we have a roof over our head? And best of all, isn't it wonderful to know that we are not alone, that we have family and friends who love us?

Maybe some of us are single, divorced or widowed, and live alone. Go out and start making friends. Join a club, volunteer for a good cause. The world does not revolve around us, or owe us a living. We have to make the first move, take the first step. If we want to change our life, we have to start from within - change our mindset, our attitude. Become a new ME, a new YOU.

Know why young people view older folks as grouchy, long-winded, and cranky? Because most of us are exactly that. It's time for an image makeover, and it begins with us wanting to make that change, and then doing whatever it takes to set the wheels of change in motion.

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ENCORE CAREERS AT CHATTERS

I had lunch yesterday at a cozy, homely cafe tucked away in an obscure corner of the garden outside Parkview Square in North Bridge Road, Singapore.

What makes Chatters special is that it is run by staff all aged 50 and above with the exception of barista Kenster Yu, 31. "They need me to move heavy things around," he explains with a smile.

Chatters is managed by Silver Springs, a social enterprise founded by Helen Lim, 65, and her partner, Rowena Chin, 68. It opened its doors to the first customers in December 2009. Today, there are three Chatters outlets, including Chatters@Silver Circle that serves healthy food to the elderly at the Fenshan and Dakota Eldercare Centres and the latest Chatters@Ren Ci near Novena MRT.

Says Helen, a former human resource director and now a personal coach on encore careers, "We want Chatters to be a hub for seniors, a place where they can gather to network with other like-minded seniors. Silver Spring acts as a springboard for ideas that will bring meaning and fulfillment to seniors in their golden years."

Members of Silver Horizon were having a meeting when I dropped by yesterday.

Already one such idea has sprung into fruition. The newly registered Silver Horizon is the result of brainstorming sessions at Chatters. It is a cooperative founded by 19 seniors that seeks to promote active living and learning through customized travel programs for seniors. Membership is open to all Singaporeans and PR aged 40 and above. For more information, please email silverhorizon28@gmail.com.

From left: Charles, 62, Margarita, 64, Juanita 55, and Kenster, 31. Service with a smile, and a chat.

The next time you are in Singapore and looking for a place to eat, think of Chatters. You can be assured of good food, and friendly staff like Juanita and Margarita. It is obvious they enjoy working at Chatters. They find their days fulfilling and it makes them feel great to be productive at their age. "It's teamwork in action," says Juanita, "and PMA too - positive mental attitude", adds Margarita.

The outdoor garden. The staff may be seniors, but the customers come from all age groups.

The exterior of Chatters. The menu for the day is displayed on the board.

Seniors supporting seniors - if this theme resonates with you, do drop by for a meal at Chatters cafe.

• Chatters@Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road (opp Bugis MRT). Tel: 6297 5703
• Chatters@Ren Ci, 71, Irrawaddy Road, (near Novena MRT). Tel: 6254 9838
• Chatters@Silver Circle, Fengshan and Dakota NTUC Eldercare Centers

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EMPLOYERS STILL RELUCTANT TO HIRE OLDER WORKERS

Ron Akana is 83, and still going strong as a flight attendant with United Airlines.
(Photo: New York Times)

At an age when he should be enjoying his retirement, Ron Akana, 83, still derives joy from his work as flight attendant with United Airlines. He is silver-haired, wears bifocals and has been with the airline since 1949.

This hasn't always been the case. Back in the 1960s, air stewardesses had to retire when they reached the age of 32 or when they married or became pregnant. They were discriminated against not only for their age but also their gender. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed all that.

Today, more than 40% of the roughly 110,000 flight attendants in the United States are 50 or older. Less than 18 percent are 34 or younger. (The New York Times 17 March)

In Asia, most major airlines have done away with the upper age limit requirement. However, there are still a couple that continue to impose age restrictions on hiring flight attendants. The following information is taken from AirAsia website for flight attendant applications (highlight added). Note the emphasis on youthful good looks.

Absolute Essentials

Male/Female (Malaysian)
Age: between 20 and 35 years old

Attire:
Gentlemen- Office wear, be smart and stylish
Ladies - Office wear, strictly skirt knee length only full make-up, look stunning

Malaysia Airlines:

Requirements:

• Malaysian citizen aged between 18 to 30 years as of interview date.



Straits Times Feb 25


Whether we like it or not, and regardless of mandatory rules, ultimately, the hiring company has the perogative to reject older job applicants. Older adults are still at the mercy of employers when it comes to re-employment.

The exceptions are those who have skills, knowledge or experience that are highly sought after. Take Hassan Marican, 60, for example. He was featured in the previous blog post. He has been getting offers from blue chip Singapore companies. And there is Bobby Ng, 64, watch specialist who was offered a two-year re-employment contract by The Hour Glass when he turned 62 two years ago. He has worked on the creations of over 50 luxury brands of watches during his 15 years with the company.

From Straits Times April 10; Newsletter Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM)

Point to be taken: Develop a passion for what you do that can be translated into valuable skills and expertise that companies are willing to pay top dollar for. They won't care if you are 70 or 80. Just make sure you are still fit and in good health. When you have reached that level, you can practically name your price.

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MALAYSIA'S LOSS = SINGAPORE'S GAIN

From the Straits Times April 8

It has been almost two years now since Hassan Marican, 60, left Petronas. His career with the country's oil giant spanned 21 years, including 15 years as its President and CEO.

His exit from Petronas Malaysia to the boards of Sembcorp Industries and Sembcorp Marine and Singapore Power is a painful reminder that the brain drain from Malaysia shows no signs of abating.

Losing someone of Hassan Marican's stature is a double blow to our country. Petronas is our best corporate success story, and with Marican at the helm, Petronas can only continue expanding and contributing to our economy.

Hassan Marican was well-known for his frugality and he applied this trait to his management of Petronas. He did not suffer government interference, especially from the PMs. The friction between PM Najib and Hassan was an open secret. It probably explained why there were no serious efforts made on the part of the government to extend Hassan's contract.

The air-conditioned KLCC-Pavilion pedestrian walkway, financed by Petronas under its CSR programme. However, the walkway caters mainly to tourists.

If Hassan were still with Petronas, one wonders whether he would have agreed to Petronas funding the air-conditioned KLCC to Pavilion walkway. It cost Petronas a cool RM100 million to finance the 562-metre long and 5-metre pedestrian walkway. That works out to RM3,307 per square foot! Think of the number of houses or schools this RM100m could have been used to build.

But I digress.

In the Straits Times article, Hassan comes across as a workaholic who has a reputation as a 'penny-pinching' chief. He is quoted as saying, "Whether it involves RM1 or RM10 or RM1 million is not relevant. The expenditure must be justifiable, relevant and beneficial.

Where would you find a corporate captain like Hassan? He belongs to a dying breed. That's why his departure from our shores to Singapore is a huge loss. This June he will have another feather to add to his star-studded resume with his appointment as Chairman of Singapore Power.

During his 15 years tenure as President and CEO, Petronas grew into a top Fortune 500 firm with assets worth more than RM400 billion.

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COMING OF AGE IN THE EARLY 1960'S

The early 1960s were my coming of age years. I learned to dance and went on my first date. My grades at school took a dip when I discovered Billboard Top Hits and our own Top 10. The music came from the local radio stations, of course, and from my collection of LPs and EPs, those black vinyl records that I would play over and over again on the turn-table. We had no TV or CD players then.

If I had some money saved, I would buy Tigerbeat. It was the number 1 teen magazine then. I would cut out pictures of my favourite teen idols like Ricky Nelson and Cliff Richard, and paste them into my voluminous song-book containing hundreds of lyrics all hand-written. We had no computers then.

Just the other day I was browsing Youtube when I came across these vintage songs from the 1960s. In those days, songs were sung with emotion and lyrics held meaning. A far cry from the majority of today's top hits. Here's a selection for your Sunday listening pleasure as you reminisce on the good old days when the world was your oyster and life was yours to explore.

















Then Woodstock happened in 1969, but that's another story...

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