Options for Residential Home Residents Needing Additional Acute Help

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what options are available for those who stay at residential homes but who may still need additional acute help, for example when dealing with mental health issues.

MSF's residential homes1 provide care and support to vulnerable individuals who have limited or no family support. These include low-income frail seniors, destitute persons, and adults with disabilities.

The Homes are run by Social Service Agencies (SSAs) and funded by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), providing support to the residents in meeting their daily care needs through a team of in-house care staff and other professionals such as social workers, therapists and nurses.

All Homes actively identify residents who may have mental health issues, so that appropriate support can be provided. In addition, some Homes partner external agencies, such as hospitals, Agency for Integrated Care, and Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) to (i) diagnose and assess the severity of the residents' medical and psychiatric conditions, and (ii) provide physical, mental wellness, rehabilitative and re-integrative programmes, to improve well-being of the residents. Residents who require acute care treatment for physical or mental health conditions are sent to hospitals or the Institute of Mental Health. The Residential Homes staff work closely with the hospitals on post-discharge care and monitoring after the residents return to the Homes.