Measures to Proactively Detect and Support Adults Losing Mental Capacity and Without Family Support and Lasting Power of Attorney

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Health (a) what more can be done to proactively detect and support adults who have started losing their mental capacity and have no family support; and (b) for such adults who have not made a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), whether the Ministry will consider having a deputy appointed immediately to make key decisions for the adult.

The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) has 68 community outreach teams island wide to increase the awareness of mental health, identify at-risk persons and provide the necessary support. Individuals who are identified by the teams to be at risk of cognitive impairment are encouraged to start future care planning and consider arrangements like the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and Advance Care Planning (ACP). In addition, MOH is building up the competencies and skills of our medical doctors to perform mental capacity assessments for at-risk patients. For example, MOH has engaged the College of Family Physicians Singapore to conduct a course for family physicians later this year on the operationalisation of the Mental Capacity Act.

Under the Professional Deputies (PD) scheme that was introduced in 2018, PDs may apply to Court to act for individuals who lack mental capacity, but do not have suitable next-of-kin to appoint as their deputies. Healthcare institutions, AIC's community outreach teams and social service touchpoints may contact any of the PDs registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) should they encounter individuals who have started losing their mental capacity. Where the individual does not have the financial means, OPG will identify a Panel Deputy to apply to Court to be the deputy. Panel Deputies are public-spirited persons who act on a pro bono basis.