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Barriers of Access to Support Schemes for Caregivers of Persons with Disabilities

Type: Parliamentary Questions

Topic(s): Disability Services

Published on 07 August 2024

  1. We recognise the importance of supporting caregivers  of persons with disabilities who may face higher levels of stress compared to the general  population. During our engagements as part of the Enabling Masterplan 2030, caregivers  have given feedback on the need to improve awareness and navigation of available  caregiver resources and more streamlined and timely access to services such as respite care. 
  2. Caregivers who need information and support may access the Enabling Guide on SG Enable’s website. The Enabling Guide serves as a first stop online resource to help  persons with disabilities and their caregivers make informed decisions about the schemes  and services that best suit their life stage. Within the Enabling Guide is the Caregiver  Learning Roadmap - a companion guide for caregivers to gain relevant knowledge, skills  and resources to care for themselves and their loved ones based on disability type,  specific caregiving area or stages of their caregiving journey. Caregivers who need more  information on caregiver support services can contact SG Enable’s caregiver support  team. Caregivers who are distressed and need someone to speak to may call the Institute  of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline or the Samaritans of Singapore for support. 
  3. Apart from disability services for their care recipients, SG Enable also worked with  SPD to pilot the Take-A-Break respite programme from 2020 to 2023, offering short term home-based respite services to about 200 families. Following some enhancements,  the second run of the programme began in April 2024. 
  4. Peer support for caregivers is also critical. For example, CaringSG, a caregiver-led  initiative for special needs caregivers and the community, which is supported by SG  Enable, runs programmes such as CAREconnect and CAREbuddy, where caregivers can  participate in inclusive social events for family bonding and journey with fellow  caregivers. 3,900 caregivers have benefitted since CaringSG’s establishment in 2021.
  5. In addition, the Enabling Services Hubs work with community partners to reach out  to persons with disabilities and their caregivers and bring community-based support  closer to home for persons with disabilities and caregivers through inclusive activities  and programmes. 
  6. We will continue to assess trends and review options to better support caregivers, as  part of the Enabling Masterplan 2030.