MSF appoints 2 new subsidised Senior Home Care service providers

SINGAPORE: From December 17, there will be another 400 more subsidised places for senior home care to help families with frail elderly and persons with disability.

This comes as the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) expands the subsidised Senior Home Care services from mid—December, by appointing two new private sector providers —— ECON Healthcare Group and Lentor Residence.

Currently, eligible users of the Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) services receive mean—tested MSF subsidies.

These subsidies will be extended to eligible users of the two new private sector operators.

Families with a frail elderly or person with disability, and with monthly per capita household income of up to S$2,200, can qualify for the subsidies.

They can expect to receive government subsidies ranging from S$12 to S$150 per week.

MSF said with this extension, families will benefit from more choices and greater support in home care for frail seniors and people with disability.

The expansion of Senior Home Care is in line with MSF’s long—term plan to extend home care services to about 4,000 elderly and people with disability by 2016.

It will also help families with frail elderly and people with disability who may need home care services when the mandatory day off for foreign domestic workers is implemented in January.

Today, about 350 families are served by three VWOs, namely NTUC Eldercare, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities and TOUCH Community Services.

Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Madam Halimah Yacob, said: "This expansion of subsidised home care services through the appointment of two private sector providers is in line with our long—term plans to expand home care to cater to our ageing population.

"More immediately, it will also benefit families who need home care services for their elderly or disabled family members when their domestic workers have their mandatory day off."

Caregivers, families and persons needing care can contact the Centre for Enabled Living at 1800—8585—885 or visit www.cel.sg.

— CNA/lp