Ageing Safely and Comfortably at Home: 2023 List of Home Nursing, Medical and Personal Care Services in Singapore
Last updated on 4 May 2023
In Singapore, the ageing population is growing, with 23.8% of residents expected to be aged 65 and above by 2030.
As you age, you may find yourself wishing to stay in the comfort of your own home for as long as possible before considering a move to a retirement facility.
(Source: Tenor)
Differences Between Home Nursing, Medical and Personal Care Services
The above services are essential components of elderly care designed to support seniors in maintaining their health, well-being, and independence while living in the comfort of their own homes.
- Home Nursing Services – professional nurses providing medical care, such as administering medications, wound care, and monitoring vital signs.
- Home Medical Services – consultations, treatments, and medical assessments by qualified doctors.
- Personal Care Services – assisting seniors with daily living activities like bathing, grooming, mobility, and meal preparation.
We’ve compiled for you below some service providers catering to the diverse needs of elderly without children, ensuring that they can continue to enjoy their golden years safely and comfortably at home.
AAT will continue to update the list of resources so don’t hesitate to check back this article regularly!
Jaga Me
Jaga-Me is a home nursing service provider in Singapore that focuses on delivering personalised healthcare to seniors in the comfort of their own homes.
Their team of certified nurses and healthcare professionals provide a range of on-demand services (think Uber for home healthcare), such as medication administration, wound care, and monitoring of vital signs.
Pros:
- Comprehensive services: Jaga-Me offers a wide range of healthcare services, including home nursing, medical escort, and telehealth consultations.
- Qualified professionals: Caregivers are certified healthcare professionals, ensuring quality care for patients.
- Flexible scheduling: Their easy to use tech platform allows for ad-hoc or long-term care arrangements, catering to various care needs.
- Transparent pricing: Jaga-Me provides clear pricing information on their website, enabling clients to understand the costs involved.
Cons:
- Cost: The hourly rates for services can be expensive, particularly for those who require extensive care for extended durations.
- Limited availability: As an on-demand service, there might be limited availability of caregivers during peak periods or for last-minute requests.
- Inconsistency: Due to the nature of the platform, there may be variations in the quality of care provided by different caregivers. You may wish to note that seniors with more complex medical needs may require a higher level of care than what Jaga-Me can provide.
Homage Singapore
Homage Singapore is a home nursing, therapy and personal care service provider operating in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia, catering to patients with various mobility and medical conditions, including chronic and terminal illnesses.
Homage helps patients maintain independence and receive quality care in their homes. Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors also enjoy additional MediSave top-ups, MediShield Life Premium subsidies, and outpatient care subsidies at various healthcare facilities.
(Source: Tenor)
Pros:
- Wide range of services: Offers home personal care, home nursing, and home therapy services to cater to various needs.
- Qualified caregivers: Caregivers have verified qualifications and undergo stringent background checks. The company claims that less than 5% of its applicants are selected.
- Flexible scheduling: On-demand booking allows clients to schedule services as needed, providing flexibility.
- Regional presence: Operates in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia, offering a broader network and expertise.
Cons:
- Cost: Hourly rates can be expensive, particularly for patients needing extensive care over an extended period.
- Limited long-term care options: Primarily focused on short-term and ad-hoc care services, which may not be ideal for those requiring long-term care. If you have specific, long term needs, it might be better to go with another service provider mentioned in this article or explore retirement facilities.
- Inconsistency: Caregivers are sourced independently, potentially leading to inconsistencies in care quality provided by different individuals.
Healthcare professionals are screened for competency and suitability with less than 5% selected. Homage also has an easy to use Android or Apple app.
Drawbacks to Homage’s services would be that some patients may require more medical intervention than can be provided in a home setting. Navigating Medicare, insurance and subsidies for home healthcare can also be challenging for families.
Active Global Caregiver
Active Global Caregiver is a home care service provider in Singapore that specialises in providing affordable and professional live-in foreign domestic caregivers for the elderly and people with disabilities.
They offer a range of services, including assistance with daily activities, mobility support and companionship.
Pros:
- Trained and experienced caregivers: Active Global Caregiver provides professionally trained and experienced live-in caregivers for elderly clients.
- Personalised matching: They match caregivers to clients based on care needs, language preferences, and other specific requirements.
- Cost-effective live-in care option – by having a caregiver live with the patient, families can enjoy more comprehensive support for their loved ones without the need for constant supervision. There are also subsidies to defray costs.
- 24/7 support: Active Global offers round-the-clock support to both clients and caregivers, ensuring prompt assistance when needed.
Cons:
- Cost: Hiring a live-in caregiver from Active Global can be expensive, especially considering the various fees involved.
- Work permit processing time: The process of hiring a foreign caregiver requires a work permit, which may take time to be approved.
- Cultural differences: Caregivers from other countries might have different cultural backgrounds, which could lead to communication or compatibility issues.
(Source: Tenor)
As of 1 Jan 2023, the salary of a live-in caregiver from the Philippines is approximately SGD 600 to SGD 1,000 per month (excluding costs like food) coupled with a one-time service fee of S$3,132 to the company.
You also need to factor in third party costs like the monthly foreign worker levy of S$60- S$300, flight tickets, security bond, work permit application, medical check ups and insurance. More details here.
Caregiver Asia
CaregiverAsia is a Singapore-based online platform that connects caregivers with individuals who require care services. They offer a wide range of services, including nursing, therapy, personal care, and medical escort services. Caregivers listed on the platform are experienced professionals with verified qualifications.
Pros:
- Flexibility: CaregiverAsia allows you to book services on-demand, which provides flexibility in terms of scheduling and duration of care.
- Variety of services: The platform claims to have 12,000 caregivers on its platform, offering a wide range of care services, catering to different needs and preferences.
- Qualified professionals: Caregivers on the platform have verified qualifications and undergo background checks, ensuring that you receive quality care from skilled professionals.
Cons:
- Inconsistency: As caregivers are sourced independently, there might be inconsistencies in the quality of care provided by different individuals as well as mismatched client expectations. If you have specific, long term needs, it might be better to go with another service provider mentioned in this article or explore retirement facilities.
- Limited long-term care options: CaregiverAsia is primarily geared towards short-term and ad-hoc care services, which might not be ideal for patients who require long-term care solutions.
- Cost: Hourly rates for the services can be expensive, especially for patients who require extensive care over an extended period.
For example, under the category of “Home Nursing” services, the hourly rate for freelancers is between S$16 – S$50 (as of 3 May 2023).
The platform lists down transparent costs for many relevant categories like Medical & Nursing Care as well as Wellness & Personal Care with relevant activities like yoga, coaching, art and music therapy.
Conclusion
In this blog article, we explored a variety of home services available in Singapore, designed to help ageing individuals without children enjoy their golden years in the comfort of their own homes.
From home nursing to personal care, these services can make life more manageable and enjoyable for seniors.
Check back regularly for updated resources and suggestions, because growing older doesn’t mean you can’t continue to thrive, right where you belong.
About Us
“Age Alone Together” is a Singapore-based blog created by a group of family and friends passionate about empowering individuals and couples without children to embrace their golden years with confidence, grace, and connection.
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