Take-up Rate for Dementia Day Care Services

Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Health (a) how many Singaporeans are currently utilising dementia day care services; (b) what is the existing ratio of capacity to demand; and (c) whether there are plans to also subsidise transportation costs to the day care centres.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: As at end June 2019, dementia day care centres across the island had capacity to serve up to 3,400 clients each day. At the same time, there were about 3,100 Singaporeans utilising dementia day care 1 . Some may not attend day care every day, depending on their individual care arrangements.

MOH provides means-tested subsidies for transport to and from dementia day care centres for eligible clients. This includes subsidies for centre-owned transport services, taxi services or private-hire car services where appropriate.

MOH will continue to monitor the demand for dementia day care services and support seniors and care-givers to receive the care they require.

Note(s) to Question No(s) 67:

1 No. of active clients based on submissions on Intermediate and Long-Term Care Portal in August 2019. Data may be incomplete for non-subsidised clients.