The Government will further strengthen the social safety net for older Singaporeans by providing support to meet their healthcare needs..
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam shared at his budget speech on 25 February 2013 that the current Senior’s Mobility Fund will be expanded into a Senior’s Mobility and Enabling Fund. This will cover a much wider range of assistive devices like hearing aids, shower chairs and motorised wheelchairs.
The fund will be topped up from an existing $10 million to $50 million.
Subsidies of up to 80% on consumables such as milk feeds and adult diapers will also be provided for lower-income elderly to help defray their cost.
Funds such as the Medifund will also be topped up to benefit more patients, including those from middle-income families. The Medifund will be topped up by $1 billion, bringing the total fund size to $4 billion.
The ElderCare Fund will receive a further top up of $ 250 million this year to support patients tapping on subsidised nursing homes and other long term care services. This will bring the total size of the fund to $3 billion.
"We are very glad that the Government has enhanced the Eldercare Fund significantly. While this will be very helpful for families with seniors who need long term care, it is important to ensure that the Fund is made readily accessible to the beneficiaries.
“The Government should take steps for the Fund to be integrated well into the service model for efficient and seamless delivery. This can actually be achieved if the Government explores on the administration of the fund by the care providers. Many more families will be able to benefit readily without much hassle and delay when they require the services," said NTUC Eldercare Co-operative Limited General Manager Lim Sia Hoe.
