新加坡社會及家庭發展部長兼衛生部第二部長，主管回教事務部長馬善高，回答議員葉漢榮有關全國樂齡學苑和護理院等候時間的問題。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
葉漢榮先生：謝謝。我要問的問題是針對第二部長的。聽說社區為幫助老年人健康老化做了不少事情，我感到很欣慰。我有兩個問題。第一個是關於全國樂齡學苑（National Silver Academy，NSA）。它提供了很多老年人學習的好課程，但是實際上老年人對這些課程的了解和參與還不夠廣泛。我們應該怎樣提高老年人對這些課程的了解和參與呢？
第二個問題是，我注意到入住護理院的等待時間大約是一個月。部長提到了有臨時護理選項可供選擇。那麼，這些選項是什麼？照顧者如何才能獲得這些選項的信息？
主席：馬善高部長。
衛生部第二部長 馬善高先生：全國樂齡學苑舉辦的課程非常受歡迎。事實上，2020年有10萬個名額被使用，到了2023年增加了一倍。負責管理這個計劃的是活躍樂齡理事會。我們會和他們合作，採取一些措施，比如利用社交媒體、展覽、社區活動等方式，進一步宣傳這些課程。另外，我們還會參加一些大型的活動，比如每年的長者慶祝活動，以提高老年人對這些課程的了解。
至於護理院的等待時間，我們有一些臨時解決方案，尤其是對那些在公立醫院身體狀況穩定的人。他們可以轉到過渡護理設施，同時等待護理院有空位。每家醫院都有一個 AIC Link，提供短期和長期護理安排的建議。我希望照顧者能夠去這些中心了解更多信息。
以下是英文質詢內容：
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you. My clarifications are for the Second Minister. I am heartened to hear that there are many initiatives to help our seniors age well in the community. I have two clarifications. First is on the National Silver Academy (NSA), which offers many useful courses for learning for seniors. However, awareness of the courses and training are still quite spotty on the ground. So, how can we improve awareness and take-up rate amongst our seniors for these courses?
Second, I am glad to note that the waiting time for nursing homes is about one month. Minister mentioned that there are interim care options for those who are on the waitlist. Can he share what are these options and how can caregivers get access to these options?
The Chairman: Minister Masagos.
The Second Minister for Health (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M): I would like to say that the courses run by the NSA is doing very well. In fact, 100,000 places were taken up in FY2020 and it has doubled in 2023. The agency, or the body, that runs and takes care of this programme is the Council for Third Age and we will work with them, as suggested by the Member, to increase even more awareness about the programmes. They will do this through the usual publicity channels like social media, roadshows, community touchpoints, partnership events. For example, even the annual National Celebration of Seniors events will be one marquee event, where they will be present and to bring up the awareness of the availability of all these programmes that our seniors can meet their aspirations and their interests.
On the waiting time for nursing home, while waiting for placement at nursing home, there are ways which we can help our patients – particularly those, for example, who are medically stable in our public hospitals. They can be referred to the transitional care facilities. There, they can work out the longer-term arrangements while waiting for a nursing home to be available if they are not. There is one touchpoint in every hospital, which is the AIC Link. In nine hospitals, they are available and I hope that residents or caregivers of these patients can go and meet up with the staff at these centres, where they can provide both plans for short-term post discharge, as well as the longer-term needs of their parents or the people they are caring for.
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