Homes for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many homes are there currently that cater for adults with intellectual disabilities and what are their respective capacities; and (b) in the past three years, what has been the average waiting time to get into such homes.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social and Family Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim) (for the Minister for Social and Family Development): Madam, Adult Disability Homes cater to adults with disabilities requiring long-term residential care. They also provide short-term respite care for caregivers. There are six Adult Disability Homes providing 650 places for adults with intellectual disability.

Over the past three years, the average waiting time between referral to enrolment into Homes ranged between six and 12 months. The waiting time is dependent on a number of factors, including availability of a space in the home, urgency of need, caregivers' specific preferences and readiness for assimilation into a residential care environment. For those requiring urgent admission, the typical waiting time is less than a month.

Besides Adult Disability Homes, there are other residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities. These include the Adult Disability Hostel and the Community Group Home for those who are higher functioning. For adults with intellectual disabilities who, with some support, are able to live with their caregivers, MSF also funds home-based and community-based care services.

MSF will continue expanding the range of home, community and institutional-based care options to meet varying needs of adults with disabilities. For example, by end-2017 there will be a new Adult Disability Home located at Sembawang Walk with a provision of 180 places.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I think all will agree with me that taking care of those with intellectual disabilities is very challenging, and to wait for six to 12 months is a very long wait. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary that for such cases, is there any possibility to further shorten the waiting time?

Recently, I met with a resident whose caregiver had just passed away. The family had been hunting around and could not find a home for their brother, who is intellectually disabled.

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: I thank the Member for the question. We recognise the growing demand for adult care services due to the aging population, shrinking family size and increased life expectancy of persons with disabilities.

Overall, we are planning to increase the number of places to 1,600 by 2018. We are also reviewing the continuum of services to our clients and care-givers so that we can care for these people with better facilities and services. So, if the Member is interested to locate one in Nee Soon South, we can explore such an avenue.