More support for caregivers in the South West District

Singapore’s population is ageing rapidly, with around one in four citizens, or 23.8 per cent of Singapore’s population, aged 65 and above by 2030.^[1] To meet increasing caregiving needs in the community, South West Community Development Council (CDC) will be enhancing its Caregiving @ South West programme to raise awareness of caregiving and provide greater support for caregivers. This will be announced at the annual South West District Meeting on 12 November 2022. The enhancements include more readily accessible resources, a series of Respite Days and increased funding support for caregivers in the South West District.

2        Minister Gan Kim Yong says, “As our population ages, the demands for caregiving will grow and the needs of caregivers have also become more diverse. By working with corporate and community partners, we hope to bring more resources and support to caregivers and their families, as well as raise the awareness of caregiving so that the community come together and do our part to look out for one another.”

3        Mayor Low Yen Ling says, “As our society ages, caregiving needs are increasing too. We are enhancing our Caregiving @ South West programme to tackle areas that are vital to the health and wellbeing of caregivers, such as their mental wellness and knowledge of caregiving skills. It’s important to care for caregivers. They form the first line of defence and support for our elderly and the vulnerable among us. We hope to lighten their caregiving load by increasing the amount of financial support and equipping them with ample training and resources. When caregivers are strengthened, the ones whom they care for are uplifted too.” Acknowledging the help of South West CDC partners, Mayor Low added, “The caregiving programme is enhanced based on the feedback gathered from our community partners. They play a key role in weaving a supportive network and community of care for caregivers and their loved ones. The CDC will continue to aggregate the knowledge, resources and abilities of our partners to meet the growing needs of caregivers.”

(A)          More Accessible Resources in the Community

4        Resources will be made more readily accessible through Carebuddy.co ↗ (opens in new tab). The caregiving learning platform by HMI Institute, supported by the South West CDC aims to aggregate caregiving knowledge, tips, and programmes from various non-profit, charity and healthcare organisations and encourage and enable caregivers to live healthily and age-in-place gracefully with dignity. It also provides caregivers with information and tips on care skills for elderly, basic caregiving knowledge and first response knowledge as well as updates on caregiving programmes provided by partners. The portal will also bring the community together through one online platform, so as to build a stronger safety net with more healthcare-trained neighbours and volunteers nearby.

5        Residents can also learn more about caregiving and the available resources in the community through the caregiving vending machine. The innovative vending machine includes a resource library that provides a wide range of resources on palliative care, nutrition, medications, as well as self-care guides for caregivers. Videos and interactive games on palliative care where residents can learn about ways to live meaningfully and gain proper closure after loss of a loved one, are included for a more immersive experience.

(B)      Caregiver Respite Day & Training for Caregivers

6        The CDC will collaborate with various partners to provide Caregiver Respite Day and trainings for caregivers. Professional caregiving services will be provided for the care recipients, while caregivers enjoy some time off for self-care and therapeutic activities and workshops curated by partners such as SAGE Counselling Centre.

7        Healthcare training will also be provided for caregivers to help them in their caregiving duties. The trainings conducted by HMI Institute will help caregivers better cope with their caregiving responsibilities. Some topics include first aid for the elderly, diet, feeding and swallowing assistance for care user and diaper changing.

(C)      Enhancements to Caregiver Support Fund

8        The risk of dementia increases with age. In Singapore, about one in 10 (amongst the elderly aged 60 years and above) suffers from dementia, and it is projected to increase to 152,000 by 2030.^[2] This is aligned with the feedback received from community partners, where there is an increasing number of residents requiring services due to onset of dementia. To better support caregivers, the Caregiver Support Fund will be enhanced to include care recipients certified to have physical or intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions and dementia. The funding quantum will also be increased to $800, to help caregivers defray caregiving related expenses.

9       At the South West District Meeting 2022, nine partners will receive the South West Caring Partners Award to recognise their contributions in 2021 to uplift the community. The list of recipients can be found in Annex A. Themed #BeTheOne, the District Meeting will showcase efforts of corporate and community partners who have worked closely with the CDC to drive initiatives in the community. It also aims to inspire collective action to address community needs to create a resilient and future-ready nation.

^[1] Soo Fang, C. (2022, September 27). S'pore's population ageing rapidly: Nearly 1 in 5 citizens is 65 years and older. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapores-population-ageing-rapidly-184-of-citizens-are-65-years-and-older ↗ (opens in new tab)

^[2] Healthhub. (2022, February 16). Your guide to understanding dementia. HealthHub. https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/679/yourguidetounderstandingdementia_pdf ↗ (opens in new tab)

Annex A - List of Partners Receiving the South West Caring Partners Awards 2021