Shared stay-in senior care services now a mainstream option

Seniors can opt to share a home, with caregiving staff providing basic support

- Joyce Teo Senior Health Correspondent

More seniors who prefer to age in a community setting rather than in an institution will soon be able to share an HDB flat or private dwelling with other seniors, with basic support for daily living tasks provided by caregiving staff.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Dec 10 that the Shared Stay-in Senior Caregiving Services will become a mainstream model.

Interested companies can apply for support to facilitate their operations, including additional foreign worker quotas and more options to hire from nontraditional source countries.

They can apply for training subsidies for their caregiving staff, with up to 90 per cent of fees subsidised, MOH said.

The ministry and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) have published an industry-led Good Practice Guide for interested companies, clients and their families.

The new assisted living model adds to the options for seniors, which include nursing homes and Community Care Apartments, which are HDB flats designed for seniors that provide support for assisted living.

Speaking at the 5th anniversary celebration of St Luke's ElderCare (SLEC) Residential-Based Services on Dec 10, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said the stay-in model makes more sense than each senior hiring a domestic caregiver.

"As Singapore's population ages, we recognise that seniors will increasingly have different needs and preferences.... Wherever possible, we should support seniors to lead an active and independent life, because that is best for their well-being."