SERVICES AND FUNDING FOR THE DISABLED

SERVICES AND FUNDING FOR THE DISABLED: * * *

3.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Minister for Community Development and Sports what are the services (both residential and day-care) and funding available to (i) disabled adults aged 60 years and below, who were disabled in road accidents or through

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strokes and (ii) adults aged between 50 and 60 years who are frail and do not qualify for nursing home care but who need assistance for daily living activities.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Community-based Services

There is a range of community-based services available to people with disabilities who are either disabled from birth or as a result of a traffic accident or stroke. One such facility is the Day Activity Centre for people with disabilities, which provides alternative care arrangements to relieve caregivers from looking after their disabled family members during the day. At Day Activity Centres, clients learn or re-learn skills for daily living. MCDS provides both capital funding for these centres as well as recurrent funding for the running of the programme.

Day Activity Centres generally take in persons aged 16-55. For persons beyond age 55, a review is made to assess the suitability of the client for continued care at the Day Activity Centre or for transfer to a Day Care Centre for the Elderly. Clients at the elderly day care centres are means-tested and are given subsidies, if eligible, depending on their household income.

For older adults who are frail and aged between 50 and 60 years, they can obtain support either from day care centres or home help services. Although these services are targeted more at the older group (those above 55 years old), they can be extended to adults under 55 years on a case-by-case basis. MCDS provides subsidies to users of day care centres (through the means test framework) and the home help service.

The Ministry of Health also oversees several Day Rehabilitation Centres across the island which provide outpatient rehabilitation to help Singaporeans who become disabled as a result of an accident or stroke. Subsidies are given based on the means testing framework as well, for needy clients.

Residential Institutions

If a disabled person requires full-time care that cannot be catered for in the community, there are residential options. A person who is assessed to have rehabilitation potential can be admitted to Community Hospitals for short term in-patient rehabilitation to improve functional abilities. Long-term care facilities such as chronic sick hospitals or nursing homes cater to those who have maximised their rehabilitation potential and still require continuing and nursing care.

MCDS also works with Voluntary Welfare Organisations to set up and run Homes for disabled adults at all ages. Besides providing long-term residential care for persons with disabilities who are either destitute, neglected or whose caregivers are unable or incapable of caring for them, these Homes also provide short-term respite care for families who require the service. Residents are subsidised according to their household income. MCDS is currently doing a review of the Homes for disabled adults. One of the objectives of the review is to standardise referral and admission criteria and procedures to the Homes. This will ensure that the service is made available to people who require it.

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