18 hours ago
Forum: Make bus journeys easier for elderly passengers and their caregivers
As a caregiver to elderly parents in their 80s, I find that taking public buses with them can be stressful.
Each journey comes with a set of worries. At the start, I have to make sure they board safely and hope they can find a seat before the bus moves off. I also have to remind them several times not to stand up before the bus comes to a full stop. When alighting, I need to support them.
Sometimes, buses do not stop close enough to the kerb, leaving a large gap. My parents have difficulty crossing these gaps or navigating big steps. Once, we had to alight onto patches of uneven grass, and I was afraid they would fall.
I greatly appreciate drivers who wait for seniors to be seated before they drive off, as well as those who try to slow down gently before stopping, and stop their vehicles close to the kerb.
I hope that these gestures can be the norm rather than the exception as Singapore becomes a super-aged society. Small changes like these would keep the elderly safe and comfortable, and ease the stress on caregivers.
Yeo Kah Yoke
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