Balancing caregiving with other responsibilities can be challenging. If you're feeling overwhelmed, home care could be the answer you need. Explore how home care services can support and ease your caregiving journey.
It's estimated that by 2030, around 100,000 seniors in Singapore will need help with at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing or getting dressed.1 For families, this growing responsibility can be difficult to manage without help.
There are home care services that offer professional support to ensure your loved ones receive the care they need, allowing you to have some respite from your caregiving duties.
What is Home Care?
Home care refers to professional support services that enable the elderly to live safely in their own homes.
Whether it’s helping with personal care, or supporting recovery after surgery, these services are designed to help seniors prolong their independent years in the comfort of their own home. For families concerned by the demands of caregiving, home care is a flexible solution that can be personalised to meet your needs.
Is Home Care Right for Your Family?
If your loved ones need some daily assistance to live comfortably, but don’t yet require the extensive care that nursing homes provide, home care may be a good option to consider.
Here are some ways that home care can benefit your loved ones:
Help with Personal Care and Housekeeping: Older adults with poor mobility may have trouble maintaining personal hygiene, and keeping up with household chores. Home care includes services such as showering and keeping the home environment clean, so they can continue to live independently.
Companionship in Old Age: Social interaction plays a vital role in one’s quality of life, especially in old age. Home care ensures your loved ones receive regular companionship to brighten their day, such as enjoying a chat during meals or participating in recreational activities.
Support for Mild Dementia: Seniors with progressive conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease often prefer to stay in familiar surroundings. Home care is an easy way to integrate care with minimal disruption to your loved ones’ daily lives, helping to keep them more comfortable.
Recovery After Surgery: Home care can be personalised to fit your loved one’s unique needs after surgery, whether it’s assistance with wound care, managing medications, preparing meals, or simply providing a comforting presence.
Families Seeking Urgent Support: Unlike nursing homes or domestic helpers, which can require time for arrangements to be made, home care services can often be deployed more quickly, providing flexible, short-term support for families coping with a sudden illness, and respite for caregivers in need of a break.
What Type of Home Care Services are Available?
There are a wide range of home care services that address the specific needs of seniors and their families. If you’re new to home care, finding a trusted provider with the right expertise will allow you to trial these services with confidence.
As a household name in home care services, NTUC Health offers decades of elderly care experience, and a comprehensive suite of affordable services for well-rounded support. Our services include:
Home Personal Care
Home personal care supports your loved ones with the six daily activities of living to help them live comfortably and maintain some independence. Our professional care associates offer respectful assistance with essential tasks such as bathing, moving around, dressing, and maintaining oral hygiene. We also support the following lifestyle needs to enhance your loved ones’ overall well-being and quality of life:
- Meal planning
- Companionship and recreational games
- Medication reminders
- Light housekeeping
- Laundry
- Grocery shopping
Home Therapy
Address your loved ones' rehabilitation needs with home therapy and eliminate the hassle of commuting to a rehabilitation centre. Let our qualified therapists come to you for a convenient session of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy. You may also opt for tele-rehabilitation for online support.
Our therapists can help your loved ones with the following:
- Prescribed exercises to enhance functional mobility
- Education on correct usage of walking aids, crutches, frames, and wheelchairs
- Recommended modifications for a safer home environment
- Working on improving speech articulation, communication, and managing swallowing difficulties
Home Nursing
Bring private nursing to your loved ones at home. This service caters to seniors who require ongoing medical assistance due to chronic illnesses or post-surgical recovery. It reduces the need for frequent hospital visits and also lowers the risk of hospital readmissions.2 A licensed nurse will actively monitor their vitals, and be available to perform medical procedures such as:
- Changing of feeding tubes and female urinary catheters
- Wound and stoma care
- Diabetes care and monitoring blood glucose levels
- Administration of Ventolin puffs, nebulisers, and insulin
- Stitches and staples removal
- Medication packing, management, and administration
- Blood testing
Home Medical
Skip the queue at the polyclinic and have a doctor provide hassle-free medical care for your loved ones at home. This service is for you if your loved ones are reluctant to go for their medical appointments, or find it challenging to leave the house. NTUC Health doctors can provide consultations, prescribe medication, manage acute or chronic conditions, and converse with dialect-speaking seniors. Other services include vaccinations and tele-consultation.
Four Essential Questions to Ask When Exploring Home Care Options
Choosing the right home care provider can be a time-consuming task, but asking the right questions can simplify this process. Here are four crucial questions you should ask to help you find the best fit for your family's needs.
1. Is the Home Care Service Provider Reliable?
A provider's reputation is a key factor when choosing home care. Start by checking Google reviews, client testimonials, and industry awards that reflect their ability to deliver reliable, high-quality care.
A simple online search can reveal valuable information, and help you sieve out providers with a poor track record. It’s also a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional like your doctor as well. Additionally, online communities focused on elderly care are also a good source of information, as they frequently share their personal experiences.
With over three decades of experience and award-winning innovative care, NTUC Health is a top choice for families seeking dependable home care solutions. To read more about how we can support your loved ones, visit our website.
2. Are Caregivers from the Service Provider Qualified?
For quality care, ensure your caregivers have received comprehensive training. This should include specialised training to manage conditions your loved ones may be living with, such as dementia, diabetes, or mobility issues. Your loved ones deserve compassionate and attentive care, so it's important to confirm that caregivers can also communicate in their preferred language.
At NTUC Health, our experienced care associates have brought dedicated care into the homes of over 10,000 seniors. We prioritise quality care by ensuring all of them receive comprehensive, hands-on eldercare training before they enter your homes. Whether it’s personal care, nursing, or medical support, you can always count on us.
3. What are the Costs Involved?
It’s best to select a home care provider that is transparent with their charges, to avoid hidden fees and ensure you understand what to expect. Always ask for clear service descriptions and detailed cost breakdowns. While it's important to choose a provider that fits your budget, remember not to base your decision solely on cost, but also the quality of care. To enjoy cost savings, you can check if your loved ones are eligible for government subsidies like the Seniors’ Mobility And Enabling Fund.
NTUC Health’s home personal care services start at an affordable rate of $2.70 per hour after eligible government subsidies and go up to $26 per hour without subsidies. For more details on available subsidies and your eligibility, you can visit our subsidies page, or fill up the form here.
4. Is the Service Provider Able to Adapt to My Changing Needs?
Your loved ones' care needs may change from day to day, and they may require more attention when adjusting to new routines, or when dealing with temporary setbacks like an injury or emotional stress. As their health condition evolves, their needs may also transition from basic support to specialised care.
It’s important to check that your home care provider can accommodate your evolving care needs. Some providers may be unable to do so due to rigid service terms or manpower limitations. A reliable provider should be able to adapt by offering solutions like increasing the frequency of visits, extending care hours, or providing other specialised services like home therapy or nursing care. They may also assign caregivers with more expertise in specific conditions, to ensure your loved one receives the most appropriate care.
NTUC Health recognises that care needs are different for everyone. As one of the largest home care providers in Singapore, we are equipped to scale our services efficiently to ensure that your needs, preferences, and any special requirements can be accommodated.
Summary
Your loved one’s silver years can be so much more fulfilling with the right support. To learn more about how our tailored home care services can help them live their best lives, visit our home care page today!
