Subsidies and Services for Caregivers and Seniors

21 Nov 2019
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AIC Care Consultant shares information on financial assistance schemes and Community Care services for different care needs. Find out more.


Care support such as subsidies can go a long way to help a caregiver looking after an elderly loved one with long-term care needs.

In early November 2019, AIC Care Consultant, Alan Ng, answered some questions about caregiving on the Chinese Radio station — Capital 95.8FM. Alan shares his knowledge on some of the questions gathered in “You Ask, We Answer”.
 

Alan Ng
Mr Alan Ng

Care Consultant - AIC Link @ Tan Tock Seng Hospital

As a Care Consultant, Alan helps seniors and their caregivers connect to Community Care services. He’s also on hand to answer any queries on the various care services and government grants and schemes. In Alan’s five years as a Care Consultant, he’s received many compliments for his warmth and helpfulness.

Can I apply for a subsidised hospital bed if I already received subsidies from AIC’s Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund for a wheelchair?

Mr Alan NgAnswer:

Yes. If you have not applied for a subsidised hospital bed before, you can apply for one, also under the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF). The fund provides financial support to seniors living at home, who need assistive devices such as wheelchairs, commodes and hospital beds. The fund also covers subsidies on healthcare items including milk supplements, adult diapers and wound dressings.

The senior would need to undergo an eligibility assessment to qualify for the fund. Application for any assistive devices is only once per lifetime. Here are the eligibility criteria:

Nationality Age Household monthly income Annual Value of Home
Singapore Citizen 60 years old and above $2,000 and below $13,000 and below

Can a 95-year-old get any subsidies if he or she needs help with fewer than three Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?

Mr Alan NgAnswer:

For a 95-year-old senior, he or she can utilise the Pioneer Generation (PG) Card to get subsidies for common illnesses and chronic conditions at CHAS clinics.

Beyond that, the senior may consider applying for CHAS. There are three tiers of CHAS — green, orange and blue:

Type of CHAS Green Orange Blue
CHAS Card Green CHAS Card Orange CHAS Card Blue CHAS Card
Household monthly income per person Above $2,000 $1,201 to $2,000 $1,200 and below
Annual Home Value Above $21,000 $13,001 to $21,000 $13,000 and below


When PG seniors apply for a CHAS card, their eligibility for higher subsidies will be assessed at the same time. PG seniors who qualify for Blue CHAS Card or Orange CHAS Card would generally enjoy higher subsidies for subsidised services and medication at Specialist Outpatient Clinics. These are on top of the subsidies from the PG package.

You may also wish to request a professional assessment on the senior’s ability to perform the six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The ADLs include:

Eating
Eating
 
vital signs
Bathing
 
Moving
Moving
 
Dressing
Dressing
 
Transferring
Transfer
 
Toileting
Toiletting
 

You can visit a clinic or arrange with your care provider to get a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). Please note that there may be a cost for an assessment.


Can a senior apply for care services themselves?

Mr Alan NgAnswer:

There are three main types of care services for different health conditions.

  • Care at Home is care services that take place at the senior’s home, such as Home Nursing, Meal Delivery and Medical Escort for medical appointments.
  • Care at Centre is where seniors can visit during the day and return home to their families in the evening.
  • Stay-in Care is care facilities for seniors who are unable to look after themselves or require specialised care that cannot be provided at home.

When applying for the services mentioned above, AIC will review the senior’s medical conditions and functional capabilities. They will also understand more about the family resources and care arrangement before recommending the best care option for the senior.

You can apply for care services during your medical appointments at public hospitals and polyclinics or discuss your situation with AIC via any of our touchpoints —AIC website (www.aic.sg), AIC Hotline (1800-650-6060) or AIC Link (our walk-in counters, located around Singapore).

There are other schemes and grants that may help you and your elderly loved ones to age well at home. Here’s a look at the eligibility criteria for the different schemes:

AIC Financial Schemes brochure
(Please click on the image to download the AIC Financial Schemes brochure)

Watch Alan’s interviews on Capital 95.8FM here:

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