Eligibility for caregiver support schemes to be broadened for people with intellectual disabilities, autism

The changes are aimed at those whose care needs may not be adequately reflected by assessments of their ability to perform daily activities.

A caregiver helping a senior with mobility support. (Photo: iStock)

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SINGAPORE: People with intellectual disabilities or autism who have significant care needs will be able to qualify for four government financial support schemes under broadened eligibility criteria from 2027, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Friday (Sep 4).

The change will apply to the Home Caregiving Grant (HCG), the Migrant Domestic Worker Levy Concession for Persons with Disabilities, the Caregivers Training Grant and the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme.

Currently, eligibility for some forms of caregiver support is tied to a person's ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

For example, the HCG provides monthly cash payouts to help defray caregiving costs for people living in the community who require assistance with at least three ADLs.

However, Mr Ong said there is a "small group" of people with intellectual disabilities or autism who have significant care needs but may not qualify for the grant.

“They may be able to perform the ADLs, but they have significant care needs and are not adequately reflected by an ADL assessment,” he said.

“We will therefore adjust the current policy, broaden the eligibility criteria to include such care needs of persons with intellectual disabilities or autism.”

While the government had previously received feedback to lower the HCG threshold to allow people who need help with two ADLs to qualify, Mr Ong said doing so would broaden the scope of the scheme "multiple times" and dilute its objective of directing resources towards those with higher levels of functional impairment who need assistance most.

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EIGHT CAREGIVER SUPPORT TOUCHPOINTS FROM 2027

Speaking at the Home Nursing Foundation's 50th anniversary caregiving conference on Friday, Mr Ong, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, also announced that eight aged care service providers and Enabling Services Hubs will be equipped with Caregiver Support Touchpoints from next year.

This is part of efforts to give caregivers easier access to community, emotional and moral support.

Five will be located at aged care service providers in Tiong Bahru-Redhill, Toa Payoh, Bedok, Bukit Panjang and Yishun, while another three will be at Enabling Services Hubs in Tampines, Punggol and Jurong.

Caregivers will be able to approach any of these touchpoints regardless of whether they are looking after a senior, a person with a disability, someone with dementia, or someone facing mental health challenges or a serious illness, he said.

Staff can identify caregivers' needs, explain the support available and connect them and their loved ones with appropriate services.

The touchpoints can also help caregivers establish self-care routines and contingency plans for situations where they are unable to care for their loved ones, or refer them to respite services and peer support groups.

Mr Ong said the government hopes to expand the network in future.

COMMON CAREGIVER TRAINING FRAMEWORK

A common caregiver training framework will also be introduced in early 2027.

Information on training will be organised according to caregivers’ needs at each stage of their journey, so that they do not need to search different websites to find training that is useful to them, said Mr Ong.

The Skills & Workforce Development Agency, Agency for Integrated Care and SG Enable will work with training providers to bring training closer to caregivers in the community, including at caregiver support touchpoints, under the SkillsFuture Care Programme.

Some employers are also interested in holding caregiving training sessions and lunchtime talks at workplaces, Mr Ong added.

“Ultimately, I think the most important support for caregivers is to build up the caregiving ecosystem, so that caregivers get direct support in caregiving,” he said.

“We are doing this in a decisive and robust way, anchoring care in the community and making them accessible and affordable. That is why community and long-term care is growing rapidly in terms of budget spending and manpower deployment.”

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这些改变旨在帮助那些日常活动能力评估可能无法充分反映其护理需求的人群。

一名护理人员正在帮助一位行动不便的老人。（图片：iStock）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：卫生部长王乙康周五（9月4日）表示，从2027年起，有智力障碍或自闭症且需要大量护理的人士将能够根据扩大后的资格标准获得四项政府财政援助计划。

这项变更将适用于居家护理津贴（HCG）、残疾人士外籍家庭佣工税优惠、护理员培训津贴和建国一代残疾人援助计划。

目前，获得某些形式的照护者支持的资格与一个人进行日常生活活动 (ADL) 的能力有关。

例如，HCG 提供每月现金补助，以帮助支付居住在社区中需要至少三项日常生活活动 (ADL) 帮助的人们的照护费用。

然而，翁先生表示，有一小部分智力障碍或自闭症患者需要大量的护理，但可能不符合获得补助的条件。

他说：“他们或许能够完成日常生活活动，但他们有很多护理需求，而日常生活活动能力评估并不能充分反映这一点。”

“因此，我们将调整现行政策，扩大资格标准，将智力障碍或自闭症人士的此类护理需求纳入其中。”

虽然政府此前曾收到反馈，要求降低 HCG 门槛，以便让需要帮助完成两项 ADL 的人也能获得资格，但王先生表示，这样做会“数倍”扩大该计划的范围，并削弱其将资源用于那些功能障碍程度较高、最需要帮助的人的目标。

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2027 年起八项照护者支持要点

周五，在家庭护理基金会成立 50 周年护理大会上，社会政策统筹部长王乙康先生宣布，从明年起，将有 8 家老年护理服务提供商和辅助服务中心配备护理人员支持联络点。

这是为了让照顾者更容易获得社区、情感和精神支持而采取的措施之一。

五个将设在 Tiong Bahru-Redhill、Toa Payoh、Bedok、Bukit Panjang 和 Yishun 的老年护理服务提供商处，另外三个将设在 Tampines、Punggol 和 Jurong 的 Enalling Services Hubs。

他说，无论照顾的是老年人、残疾人、痴呆症患者，还是面临心理健康挑战或重病的人，护理人员都可以接触到这些接触点。

工作人员可以识别照顾者的需求，解释可提供的支持，并将他们及其亲人与合适的服务联系起来。

这些接触点还可以帮助照顾者建立自我护理习惯和应急计划，以应对他们无法照顾亲人的情况，或者将他们转介到喘息服务和同伴支持小组。

王先生表示，政府希望未来能够扩大该网络。

通用照护者培训框架

2027年初还将推出统一的照护者培训框架。

Ong先生表示，培训信息将根据护理人员在各个阶段的需求进行组织，这样他们就不需要搜索不同的网站来找到对他们有用的培训。

技能与劳动力发展局、综合护理机构和 SG Enable 将与培训机构合作，在技能创前程护理计划下，让社区中的护理人员能够更方便地获得培训，包括在护理人员支持服务点提供培训。

王先生补充说，一些雇主也有兴趣在工作场所举办护理培训课程和午餐讲座。

“归根结底，我认为对照护者最重要的支持是建立照护生态系统，以便照护者在照护方面获得直接支持，”他说。

“我们正以果断有力的方式推进这项工作，将护理服务扎根社区，使其便捷可及且价格合理。正因如此，社区和长期护理在预算支出和人力资源配置方面都在快速增长。”

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