Nursing homes are a place where our elderly loved ones can go to be cared for when they are at the worst point in their lives but bringing them into a nursing home is never easy.
While they require nursing care and attention, we often have strong reservations about the possibility of leaving them at nursing homes and moving into unfamiliar surroundings. We all want our elderly loved ones to maintain as much independence, comfort and dignity as possible. However, while they may live longer than they would in a hospital they may also have fewer opportunities to interact with the outside world.
And it’s not just the emotional aspect that can make a decision difficult, sometimes there are financial aspects to take into consideration as well. On the other hand, you may be left with no choice if you don’t have anyone else to care for them.
Our appreciation towards our parents in helping us get to where we are now cannot be overstated. However, the hectic pace of modern life in Singapore means that we may not be able to give them the attention they truly need. The best decision we can make is to find a nursing home that can provide the care that they need through their everyday activities.
If you and your family have made the decision to do so, but you’re not sure where to begin, this article is for you. Here’s a guide about nursing homes in Singapore, including their costs, subsidies available and how to apply for one.
Nursing Homes in Singapore
It is always a challenge to find the best place for your loved ones when they need the most care. Finding the right nursing home in Singapore is not an easy task, especially if you have no idea of any well known recommendations. With the growing population and more elderly people, more nursing homes in Singapore are being established to cope with the demand.
To help you find the right nursing home in Singapore, here are some of the qualities you need to look for:
Nursing homes are institutions designed to provide retirement facilities for elderly people who are no longer able to take care of themselves. These places provide patients with food, shelter and medical care that is necessary for them to live a life that is as comfortable as possible.
These homes can be run by the private sector or by social service agencies (SSAs) — formerly known as voluntary welfare organizations or VWOs.
Some of the services provided are as follows:
- Help with activities of daily living like bathing, eating, and using the bathroom.
- 24-hour monitoring and care from a nursing staff.
- Programs and therapies for cognitive stimulation through rehabilitation.
Nonetheless, prospective residents should know that not everyone in Singapore is eligible for placement in a nursing home. A senior’s eligibility determines whether or not he or she can join one of these programs. Among these are:
- Experiencing difficulty performing daily activities as a result of a health condition.
- Having difficulty moving around, such as being bedridden or requiring a wheelchair.
- They have exhausted all other care options, such as daycare and home nursing care, and are unable to be cared for at home by family or a paid domestic worker.
Unlike daycare centers or community homes where seniors live together but are essentially self-sufficient, nursing homes are for older people who require assistance with daily activities such as going to the bathroom, showering, eating, and walking.
Some professionals will be available to provide the medical needs from replacing a catheter to treating wounds, as well as providing recreational activities for the elderly.
A nursing home also serves as a safe haven for your aging parents or grandparents who are suffering from mental conditions such as dementia or psychiatric conditions, where someone will be constantly on the lookout and they can participate in cognitive stimulation programs and activities to slow down the loss of mental capacity.
Singaporean nursing homes offer many levels of care, from basic to palliative. The needs of the residents will determine the level of care needed. There are services available for family members, such as respite care which is a service provided by most nursing homes in Singapore. Specialists are also available for families to talk to about the options available for their loved ones.
Hospice care refers to facilities that provide end-of-life care to individuals in need of long-term, high-tech medical treatment. Community hospitals may be better suited for short-term medical treatment for the elderly if they provide adequate rehabilitation facilities.
Respite care is a service provided by some nursing homes for the elderly when the primary caregiver has temporary needs. To qualify, an elderly person must have long-term care plans in place and have moderate-to-high nursing care needs.
Cost of Nursing Homes in Singapore
According to NTUC Income(2022), nursing homes typically cost around $1,200 to $4,500 per month excluding government subsidies which ranges from 10% to 75%. This cost depends on how many people share a room, the type of care needed, and whether the patient is a Singaporean or PR. Single-bed rooms cost $4,000 to $6,500 a month. Not to mention the other costs such as adult diapers, special food, ambulance services, therapy sessions, and etc.
List of Singapore's Nursing Homes
In Singapore, there are 86 nursing homes. Here’s a compiled list of some of the most popular options we’ve got from Money Smart below. However, this is not the whole list of nursing homes accessible.
- Grace Lodge
- All Saints Home
- Jamiyah Nursing Home
- Lion’s Home for the Elders
- Ren Ci Nursing Home
- Assisi Hospice ($8,850 before subsidy)
- Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital ($1,460 – $2,407 before subsidy)
- St. Andrew’s Nursing Home ($1,300 – $2,300 before subsidy)
- NTUC Health Nursing Home ($2,000 – $3,500 before subsidy)
- Apex Harmony Lodge ($3,150 – $3,400 before subsidy)
- Econ Medicare Centre and Nursing Home ($1,200 – $4,500 before subsidy)
- Orange Valley Nursing Home ($1,200 – $4,500 before subsidy)
- Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home ($524 to $1,720 after subsidy)
- Charis Manor Nursing Home
- Pacific Healthcare Nursing Home
- Allium Care Suites
- Bright Hill Evergreen Home
- MWS Bethany Nursing Home
- Soo’s Nursing Home (Sixth Ave)
- Vanguard Healthcare (Pearl’s Hill, Woodlands, Tampines, Bukit Batok, Senja)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Nursing Home ($1,500 to $2,000 per month)
- United Medicare Centre (Toa Payoh, Elizabeth Drive, Queensway)
- St. John’s St. Magaret’s Nursing Home (Dover)
- The Man Fut Tong Nursing Home (Woodlands)
- St. Joseph’s Home (Jurong)
- Vanda Nursing Home (Tampines)
- LC Nursing Home (Siglap)
- Sree Narayana Mission – Yishun ($2,100 to $3,100 before subsidy)
- Ling Kwang Home (Serangoon)
- St. Theresa’s Home (Upper Thomson)
- Sunlove/ Surya Home (Buangkok)
- Thye Hua Kwan (THK) Nursing Home (Hougang)
- Windsor Convalescent Home (Pasir Panjang)
- Peacehaven Nursing Home by The Salvation Army (Upper Changi)
- Sunnyville Nursing Home (East Coast)
- Good Shepherd Loft (Bukit Timah)
- Banyan Home (Buangkok)
- Villa Francis Home (Yishun)
- Meranti Home (Buangkok)
- Thuja Home (Buangkok)
- Dotage Nursing Home (Tuas)
- St Luke’s ElderCare
How Do You Receive a Nursing Home Subsidy
To qualify for subsidies for a nursing home, you must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, and meet the means test criteria. You must also be receiving care from an MOH-funded service provider.
The following factors determine whether or not a person passes the means test:
- The individual’s and his or her immediate family’s total income
- Total number of people residing in the same house or apartment.
- The residence’s house annual value
Subsidies are available at varying levels depending on one’s income. In the table below, you’ll see how much money is given to those who are in a hospice or nursing home.
Nursing Home Application Process in Singapore
Location is one of the most important things to look at when picking a nursing home.
It’s best to find a nursing home closer to home so it’s easier to visit. On HealthHub, you can use the E-care locator to find a list of nursing homes in Singapore.
For an elderly person to be able to move into a nursing home, they must be:
- sick and either physically or mentally disabled
- Have trouble walking and either use a wheelchair or can’t get out of bed, so they need help with daily tasks like going to the bathroom.
- Can’t be cared for at home by family or a caregiver, and you’ve tried other care options like home nursing services or day care.
- Eligible for MOH subsidies based on a means test.
To apply for a VWO nursing home, you need a referral from a hospital or polyclinic’s Medical Social Worker.
The social worker will then help you send the referral and application to the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), which is a government agency in Singapore that manages the availability of VWO nursing homes.
This will make it possible for you to be eligible for government subsidies (if the nursing home is eligible) after a means test has been done.
Another option is to apply directly to the nursing home of your choice. In this case, you would need to pay for the cost.
Careshield Life & ElderShield
Insurance plans like CareShield Life and ElderShield can give you peace of mind knowing that you’re covered in the event of a severe disability.
Long-term care can be extremely expensive, even with government aid for nursing homes, due to the large number of out-of-pocket costs involved. In 2002, ElderShield was established to safeguard the financial well-being of seniors and others in need of long-term care. Unless they choose to opt out, CPF members who have a MediSave Account will be registered in the scheme once they reach the age of 40.
Premiums for ElderShield continue to be paid annually through MediSave until the policy anniversary following the 65th birthday, or until a claim is made, whichever comes first.
Once a policyholder has been determined to have a severe disability, they will be eligible to receive the following benefits from ElderShield, depending on when they joined the program and whether or not they upgraded their coverage to Basic ElderShield 400:
On October 1, 2020, the government rolled out CareShield Life, a revamped national long-term care insurance scheme designed to safeguard policyholders against the unpredictability of long-term care costs in the event of a severe disability.
Any Singaporean born on or after 1 October 2020 will be automatically enrolled in CareShield Life until they reach the age of 30.
If you were born in Singapore before 1979, CareShield Life is completely voluntary for you.
Beginning on December 1, 2021, ElderShield 400 policyholders who were born between 1970 and 1979 and who are not severely disabled will be automatically enrolled in CareShield Life. By the end of the year 2023, you will have the opportunity to withdraw from CareShield Life if you no longer wish to participate.
In order to join CareShield Life if you are not yet a member and are not severely disabled, you can use your Singpass to log in to the Application to join CareShield Life e-Service (careshieldlife.gov.sg/join).
Enhance your long-term coverage
CareShield Life supplement is an add-on to your existing CareShield Life plan that provides additional lifetime protection against moderate and severe disabilities.
If you already have coverage through ElderShield, you can increase that coverage, as it provides lifetime protection against severe disability and a guaranteed payout for life.
Careshield supplemental insurance premiums can be paid for with up to $600 (per insured, per calendar year) from your MediSave account.
CareShield Life supplements can be purchased from Singlife with Aviva, NTUC Income, and Great Eastern Life to expand the coverage of your existing CareShield Life Plan. In the event of a moderate or severe disability, this upgrade can offer you with coverage and extensive benefits by boosting your monthly disability benefits for life. These benefits can cover you and your dependents, and depending on the insurance provider, can include death benefits. To qualify, you must be a current policyholder of CareShield Life.
It's never too late to start
Preparing for the unexpected is essential, especially when it comes to the high expense of healthcare. Coping with a physical disability is already a difficult experience. Consider the added strain of worrying about money matters. Despite the unpredictability of life, we should nevertheless make the effort to be financially prepared.
Talk with a financial advisor about enhancing your Careshield and how it might fit into your long-term health care plans before you’re hit with any severe health issues.
Do not forget that it is never too early to start.