SUBSIDISED NURSING HOMES

Column: 51

SUBSIDISED NURSING HOMES:

(Waiting places): 16.

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Health how many persons are on the waiting list for places in subsidised nursing homes particularly those offering dementia care and what is the affordability of such care in Singapore.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Sir, there are around 8,600 nursing home beds in Singapore, of which about 4,800 or 56% are subsidised beds. Most nursing homes can take in patients with dementia. Dementia covers a wide range of disabilities and differs in different degrees of complexities.

The number of patients on the waiting list for subsidised nursing home fluctuates. For example, during the past year, it ranged from 68 to 193. But at any one point in time there were about 100 vacant beds available in subsidised

Column: 52

nursing homes for placement during the same period. Some mismatch occurs as some patients have specific preferences such as location, operator and sometimes even diet. Some waiting is perhaps also sensible to minimise nursing home admission becoming too convenient a substitute for taking care of the elderly within the family. The majority of patients on the waiting list are placed within a month.

Care is generally affordable as my Ministry provides the nursing homes with an operating subvention to help the lower income patients pay for their bills. For those who are more needy, Medifund is also available to assist.

That said, the demand for long-term care is growing with the ageing of our population, and this will pose a continuing challenge for us. We are investing more resources, including manpower, to expand the nursing home sector to meet the rising demand. We will also help upgrade the skills of the nursing home staff so that they can provide a higher service level and be more competent to care for patients with greater severity, particularly those with dementia.

Singaporeans can also help to play a part. First, stay active to delay or avoid the onset of long-term disability. That is why the Ministerial Committee chaired by Mr Lim Boon Heng actively promotes active ageing and there will be a series of wellness programmes being implemented at the community level. I hope the elderly Singaporeans will come and join in. It is for your own good. Second, subscribe to ElderShield and its supplements to ensure that we are better able to pay for any long-term care. Third, care for our elderly at home for as long as possible, so that they can be in the company of their families and friends.

Ms Sylvia Lim (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, I wonder if the Government

Column: 53

would be reviewing the means test criteria for Government subsidies because, currently, I understand that it is quite common for the average monthly bill of a nursing home patient to reach around $2,000 a month. And the current means test actually looks at per capita income of the household not exceeding $1,000 in order to qualify for the subsidy and this takes into account gross pay, which actually the CPF portion cannot be used to pay for the nursing home fees. So I wonder if the Government would consider perhaps relaxing the means test criteria so that more people can get some of the Government subsidies for the nursing home stay.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Sir, we do review means test criteria not just for nursing home but generally, because with wage adjustments and cost inflation, it is necessary to do so. The key point is what is the subvention for. In the case of Medifund, we are aiming at assisting the bottom 20%-30% of the population. So, a short answer is "yes", we do review and adjust them as necessary. I think, on compassion, you cannot find a more compassionate Health Minister.