Who cares for caregivers? 10 agencies get new grant to expand support, respite care in Singapore

Income Insurance chief executive Andrew Yeo said caregivers are essential to families and communities, but their needs are often overlooked.

He noted that many caregiver initiatives tend to be short-term and focus mainly on care recipients. The grant plugs this gap by giving multi-year funding for long-term programmes, he said.

Each programme will receive up to $200,000 per year in the first two years, and up to $100,000 in the third year.

The Government’s SG Gives matching grant will provide $1.50 for every $1 of the grant amount between financial years 2025 and 2027, allocating it according to programme gaps.

Results will be tracked using NCSS’ sector evaluation framework, which provides consistency for how programme outcomes are measured across the social service sector.

“Our goal is to create a scalable model for caregiver support in Singapore. The grant helps agencies build strong, sustainable programmes and measure what works,” said Mr Yeo.

The grantees said the money will ease their fundraising pressures and help them get their caregiver-focused programmes off the ground or expand them to benefit more people.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) (MDAS) has offered respite care services for about 40 caregivers since 2013, and has seen demand rise in recent years.

Caring for a person with muscular dystrophy is a mammoth task, involving feeding and bathing, hoisting them between wheelchairs and beds, and constantly waking up at night to help them turn over, said Ms Judy Wee, MDAS’ executive director.

In respite care, trained professionals take over caregivers’ duties at home for a few hours or days so they can catch a break. Some caregivers use the time to work, do activities they enjoy or catch up on rest.

Caregivers pay $30 per hour or less with subsidies for the service, but it is not enough to fund the manpower-intensive programme, said Ms Wee.

She said the grant allows them to offer the service – Care At Your Doorstep – to other organisations such as the Motor Neurone Disease Association Singapore. It hopes to reach over 130 caregivers.

Mrs Janice Sng, 57, whose son Daniel, 21, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has not travelled overseas since he had a spinal fusion surgery in 2023, as she needs to adjust his sleeping position at night.

Besides the physical strain, the mother of four said caregiving comes with the emotional weight of frustration and guilt, including wondering if she is neglecting her other children.

The full-time caregiver is considering MDAS’ respite care service so she can plan a short holiday with a husband – their first in three years.

“It doesn’t really matter where. Just taking a break helps you to come back refreshed,” said Mrs Sng.

CaringSG’s Dr Lim said caregivers ultimately know their loved ones better than any other professional.

Dr Lim said: “If you support the caregiver well, the family does well, the PWD will be well.”