Complaints against Day Activity Centres and Long-term Care Facilities, and Cases Referred to Police

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in each of the past five years (a) how many complaints or reports have been made against (i) day activity centres and (ii) long-term care facilities; (b) how many of such complaints or reports have been investigated by the Ministry; and (c) how many of the investigated cases have been referred to the Police for further investigation.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: From 2019 to 2023, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) received an average of about 30 service-related complaints or reports each year against day activity centres (DAC) 1 and MSF-funded adult disability homes (ADH) 2 , sheltered homes (SH) 3 and welfare homes (WH) 4 .

MSF investigates all complaints and reports and refers cases to the Police for further investigation when it suspects that an offence may have been committed. Of the cases in the past five years, three were referred to the Police for further investigation.

Note(s) to Question No(s) 28:

1 DACs provide day programming for adults with disabilities (PwDs) to enhance their independence through equipping them with daily and community living skills.

2 ADHs provide long-term residential care and short-term respite care to adults with disabilities who are either destitute, neglected or whose caregivers are incapable of caring for them or are unavailable to care for them.

3 SHs provide care for ambulant seniors who have no alternative living arrangements.

4 WHs cater to individuals admitted under the provisions of the Destitute Persons Act (DPA).