As a caregiver, you
may frequently encounter some common terms, services, assistive
schemes or healthcare policies. This glossary provides an
explanation of these terms as they are used in Singapore.
Activities of Daily Living
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
refers to the basic tasks that a
person performs everyday without
needing assistance, such as washing,
feeding, toileting, transferring,
dressing and mobility.
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Advance
Medical Directive
An Advance Medical Directive (AMD)
is a legal document that you sign in
advance to inform the doctor
treating you (in the event you
become terminally ill and
unconscious) that you do not want
any extraordinary life-sustaining
treatment to be used to prolong your
life.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Assistive
Technology Fund
The
Assistive
Technology
Fund can be
used to
acquire,
replace,
upgrade or
repair
assistive
technology
devices.
These
devices
include
wheelchairs
and hearing
aids.
The Fund
does not
support the
purchase of
medical
devices and
consumables.
Click
here
for more information from the SG
Enable, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Autologous Blood Transfusion
In event that you are scheduled for
surgery and might require a blood
transfusion during the procedure,
you can choose to donate blood for
your own use beforehand. Such
a blood donation is known as
Autologous Blood Transfusion (ABT).
Click
here
for more information from the Health
Sciences Authority, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Befriending Service
Befriending Service is essentially a
good-neighbour programme with the
aim of promoting the general
emotional and psychological
well-being of seniors living in the
community, through facilitating
community participation. Its primary
objective is to reach out to all
lonely seniors living in the
community so as to relieve the
loneliness, isolation and boredom of
the homebound or single seniors, and
assist them in coping with the daily
demands of life.
Click
here for befriending service
listed on HealthNetCafe - Online
Caregivers' Resources, Singapore.
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Caregiver
A caregiver is someone who provides
unpaid care and support to a family
member, relative, neighbour or
friend who is dependent due to
disabilities or health conditions.
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Caregivers Training Grant
The Caregivers Training Grant (CTG)
allows caregivers to tap on a $200
annual subsidy to attend CTG-approved
training courses so that they can
better care for their loved ones.
Click
here
for more information from the Singapore
Sliver Pages.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Car Park Label Scheme For Persons
with Physical Disabilities
The Car Park Label Scheme enables
eligible persons with physical
disabilities to park in handicap
parking lots by displaying a special
vehicle label.
Click
here
for more information from the SG
Enable, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Chronic Disease Management Programme
The Chronic Disease Management
Programme (CDMP) allows the use of
Medisave to help pay part of the
outpatient cost, and reduce out of
pocket payment for patients.
The programme was launched in Oct
2006. Till date there are a
total of 20 conditions under the CDMP:
|
- |
Diabetes |
- |
Osteoarthritis |
|
- |
Hypertension |
- |
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia |
|
- |
Lipid disorders |
- |
Anxiety |
|
- |
Stroke |
- |
Parkinson’s disease |
|
- |
Asthma |
- |
Nephrosis/nephritis |
|
- |
Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease |
- |
Epilepsy |
|
- |
Major depression
|
- |
Osteoporosis |
|
- |
Schizophrenia |
- |
Psoriasis |
|
- |
Dementia |
- |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
|
- |
Bipolar disorder |
- |
Ischaemic heart disease |
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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ComCare Fund
The ComCare Fund was established in 2005
and it provides sustainable funding for
assistance programmes for low-income
Singaporeans.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Social and Family
Development, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Community
Development Councils
The Community Development Councils (CDCs)
were formed in 1997 to strengthen
community bonds and foster social
cohesion through its “ABC” mission,
i.e. Assisting the Needy, Bonding
the People and Connecting the
Community. Guided by its mission,
the CDCs develop and implement
programmes that identify emerging
needs in the community and address
community needs such as caring for
vulnerable, silver community,
environment, and community health to
build a caring and cohesive
community.
Click
here
for more information from the
People's Association, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Community Health Assist Scheme
The Community Health Assist Scheme
(CHAS) enables all Singapore Citizens,
including Pioneer Generation and Merdeka
Generation cardholders, to receive
subsidies for medical and/or dental care
at participating General Practitioner
(GP) and dental clinics.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Community Hospitals
Community Hospitals are intermediate
healthcare facilities. They
cater to patients who are fit for
discharge from acute hospitals, such
as Singapore General Hospital and
National University Hospital, but
require continuing inpatient
convalescent, rehabilitation,
nursing and respite care.
Admission to community hospital is
referred by doctor from acute
hospitals, specialists or clinics.
All admissions must qualify
the preset admission criteria.
Click
here
for a list of hospitals and medical
institutions in Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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EASE Programme (Enhancement For Active
Seniors)
The EASE Programme provides subsidies
for installation of grab bars, ramps,
and slip-resistant treatment to existing
floor tiles.
Click
here
for more information from the
Housing & Development Board.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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ElderShield
ElderShield is an affordable severe
disability insurance scheme which
provides basic financial protection to
those who need long-term care,
especially during old age. It
provides a monthly cash payout to help
pay the out-of-pocket expenses for the
care of a severely-disabled person.
Singapore Citizens and Permanent
Residents with Medisave accounts are
automatically covered under ElderShield
at the age of 40.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Family Service Centres
Family Service Centres (FSCs) are based
in the community to provide help and
support to individuals and families in
need. They are staffed by social
service professionals. There are 47 FSCs
located in HDB towns around Singapore.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Social and Family
Development, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession
The scheme enables families who employ
full-time
foreign domestic workers (FDW)
to look after their loved ones with
disabilities to pay a lower monthly
concessionary FDW levy of $60 (instead
of $300).
Click
here
for more information from the Agency for
Integrated Care, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Holistic Healthcare
A system of total patient care that
considers the physical, emotional,
social, economic, and spiritual needs of
the person, the response to the illness,
and the impact of the illness on the
person's ability to meet self-care
needs.
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Home Caregiving Grant
The Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) replaces
the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) Grant
from October 2019.
The HCG is a $200 monthly cash payout to
support your loved ones with at least
permanent moderate disability, i.e.
always require some assistance to
perform 3 or more Activities of Daily
Living (ADLs).
This grant can be used to defray the
costs of caregiving expenses, such as
the costs of eldercare and caregiver
support services in the community, or
hiring of a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW).
Click
here
for more information from the Agency for
Integrated Care, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Hospice Care
A system of family-centred care designed
to provide comfort and support to
patients and their families so as to
maintain a satisfactory life style
through the terminal phases of dying.
Hospice services can be home based, day
care or inpatient:
Hospice home care provides care and
support to the terminally ill patients
and his family at his or her residence.
Hospice Day Care provides social and
rehabilitative programmes that enhance a
person's quality of life. It
helps to keep your loved ones at home
for as long as possible, and prevents or
delays admission into a hospice.
An inpatient hospice provides pain
management and treatment for terminally
ill patients who are in the final stages
of their illnesses.
Click
here
for hospice and palliative care services
listed on Singapore Hospice Council's
website.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Human Organ Transplant Act
The Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA)
allows for the kidneys, heart, liver and
corneas to be removed in the event of
death from any cause for the purpose of
transplantation.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Interim Disability Assistance
Programme for the Elderly
Interim Disability Assistance Programme
for the Elderly (IDAPE) is a government
assistance scheme providing financial
help to needy and disabled elderly
Singaporeans, who were not eligible to
join ElderShield when it was launched in
2002 because the had exceeded the
maximum entry age or have pre-existing
disabilities.
Should you qualify, IDAPE will provide
you $150 or $250 a month, for a maximum
period of 72 months.
Click
here
for more information from the Agency for
Integrated Care, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Intermediate and Long-Term Care
Intermediate and long term care (ILTC)
services are typically required for
persons who need further care and
treatment after being discharged from an
acute hospital as well as
community-dwelling seniors who may be
frail and need supervision or assistance
with their activities of daily living.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Means-Test
Means-test is a method to calculate the
subsidies you will receive from the
government when you use eldercare
services. It ensures that patients
from lower-income households receive
more subsidies than those from
higher-income households.
Click
here
for more information from the
Agency for Integrated Care,
Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Medical Fee Exemption Card
This card covers
standard medical and hospitalisation treatments at public
healthcare institutions (including polyclinics) and intermediate
and long-term care (ILTC) institutions for needy residents of
MOH-funded nursing homes, or MSF-funded sheltered and disability
homes.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Social and Family
Development, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Medifund
Medifund is an endowment fund set up by
the Government to help needy
Singaporeans. Medifund is a safety
net for patients who face financial
difficulties with their remaining bills
after receiving Government subsidies and
drawing on other means of payments
including MediShield Life, private
Integrated Shield Plans (IPs), Medisave
and cash.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Medisave
Medisave is a national medical savings
scheme which helps individuals put aside
part of their income into their Medisave
Accounts to meet their future personal
or immediate family's hospitalization,
day surgery and certain outpatient
expenses.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Medishield Life
MediShield Life is a national basic
healthcare insurance scheme which cover
all Singaporeans and Permanent
Residents, including those who may
already have a serious medical
condition.
MediShield Life replaced MediShield from
1 Nov 2015.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Nursing Homes
Nursing Homes provide
care for seniors or any sick person who requires regular nursing
care and who is not able to be cared for in his/her own home.
These Nursing Homes are either run by voluntary welfare
organisations or by private nursing home operators.
Caregivers who are
taking care of their seniors in their own homes can seek
respite by
sending their loved ones to the nursing homes for a short period
if they need to have a break from their daily caring task.
Click
here
to use E-care Locator from the Agency for Integrated Care
(Singapore) to locate a nursing
home near your place.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Palliative Care
Palliative care involves treatments
designed to relieve or reduce intensity
of uncomfortable symptoms but not to
produce a cure. It is a holistic
approach that cares for one going
through the last stages of his life.
Click
here
for hospice and palliative care services
listed on Singapore Hospice Council's
website.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance
Scheme
The Pioneer Generation Disability
Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAS) is part
of the Pioneer Generation Package, which
honours what Singapore's Pioneers have
done for the country. Under this
scheme, Pioneers who have disabilities
can receive $100 a month, which they can
use for expenses.
Click
here
for more information from the Agency for
Integrated Care, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Pioneer Generation Package
The Pioneer Generation Package is
introduced by the Singapore government
to honour and thank the pioneers for
their hard work and dedication.
The package helps Pioneers with their
healthcare costs for life.
Click
here
for more information from the
Pioneer Generation Package
official website.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Public Assistance Scheme
Singapore citizens who, due to age,
illness, disability, are permanently
unable to work, have little or no means
of income, and have little or no family
support, may apply for Public
Assistance.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Social and Family
Development, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Public Hospitals
There are 8 public hospitals in
Singapore, comprising of 6 acute
general hospitals, a women's and
children's hospital and a psychiatry
hospital. The general hospitals
provide multi-disciplinary acute
inpatient and specialist outpatient
services and a 24-hour emergency
department.
The 8 public hospitals are as follows:
1.
Changi General
Hospital
2.
Institute of
Mental Health
3.
KK Women's and
Children's Hospital
4.
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
5.
National
University Hospital
6.
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
7.
Singapore General
Hospital
8.
Tan Tock Seng
Hospital
In addition, there are 8 national
specialty centres for cancer, cardiac,
eye, skin, neuroscience, dental care and
a medical centre for multiple
disciplines.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 08 March 2018)
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Public Transport Concession Scheme for
Persons with Disabilities
The scheme provides concession card for
persons with disabilities that offers
concessionary rates for travel on public
transport.
Click
here
for more information from the SG
Enable, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Respite Care
Respite Care is a short-term care
service which aims to provide temporary
relief for family caregivers to have a
break from looking after their loved
ones at home. This is ideal for
those who have plans to go overseas for
vacation or business trip and also for
those who simply want some free time to
fulfill their own commitments or to
enjoy some leisure activities.
Most nursing homes in Singapore provide
respite care services. You may
wish to contact them directly for more
information.
Click
here
to use E-care Locator from the Agency for Integrated Care
(Singapore) to locate respite care services near your place.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Safe Return Card
The Safe Return Card is an
identification card to protect and help
persons with dementia. The card
provides a source of identification when
they are lost, and gives caregivers a
sense of security and ease of mind when
person with dementia is unaccompanied
outside of their home.
Click
here
for more information from the
Alzheimer's Disease Association, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Screen for Life
Screen for Life (SFL) is the national
screening programme that offers eligible
Singapore Citizens and Permanent
Residents (PRs) subsidised screenings,
recommended based on age and gender.
SFL aims to encourage Singapore Citizens
and PRs to go for regular screenings and
follow-up. With early detection
and appropriate intervention, we can
prevent or delay the onset of certain
diseases such as diabetes, as well as
complications related to them.
Click
here
for more information from the
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund
The Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund
(SMF) provides holistic support for elderly
Singaporeans, helping them to remain
mobile and to live independently in the
community. It also means greater
support to caregivers in caring for
their seniors at home.
The SMF subsidies the following:
1) Assistive Devices such as walking
aids, basic wheelchairs, motorised
wheelchairs and scooters, pressure
relief cushions and mattresses, commodes
and shower chairs, geriatric chairs,
hospital beds, special equipment such as
oxygen concentrators and hoists,
spectacles and hearing aids.
2) Home Healthcare Items (Consumables)
such as catheters, milk supplements,
thickeners, adult diapers, nasal tubing
and wound dressings.
Click
here
for more information from the Agency for
Integrated Care, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Step-Down
Care
Step-down care refers to care after a
patient is discharged from acute
hospital. It is the moving of care
to a different level as a patient's
condition improves but still require
further care and treatment.
Step-down care services are available
through the followings:
1. Community Hospitals
2.
Nursing Homes
3.
Hospices
4. Day
Rehabilitation Centres
5.
Homecare services such as home nursing
and home medical
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Taxi Subsidy Scheme
The scheme provides support for persons
with disabilities who are only able to
travel by taxi for school or work
purposes.
Click
here
for more information from the SG
Enable, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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Traditional Chinese Medicine
The practice of Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) in Singapore requires the
registration with the TCM Practitioners
Board and possesses valid practising
certificates. The board also
accredits TCM schools and courses, and
regulates the professional conduct and
ethics of registered TCM Practitioners.
TCM practice in Singapore is primarily
confined to outpatient care.
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VWO Transport Subsidies
The VWO Transport Subsidies support
persons with disabilities who need to
take dedicated transport provided by
Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs)
to access school and care services.
Click
here
for more information from the SG
Enable, Singapore.
(viewed on 12 May 2020)
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