Projected Increase in Informal Caregivers

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1929
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 5 JULY 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Carrie Tan
MP for Nee Soon GRC

Question No. 4605

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has projected any figures for the anticipated increase in informal caregivers needed over the next 10 to 20 years as the population ages; (b) if so, what are the projected figures; and (c) how will the Government build up the capacity and capability of care workers to relieve the load on family caregivers.

Answer

1     Based on the Ministry of Manpower's 2022 Labour Force Survey, about 90,300 residents outside of the labour force cited caregiving responsibilities as the main reason for not working. 12,400 of these caregivers were looking after their aged, ill, or disabled parents. 

2     As our population ages, more seniors will need care, and there will be more caregivers who may need support. To prepare for this, we have strengthened support for caregivers, such as through the recent enhancement to the Home Caregiving Grant. The Government has also scaled up the capacity of aged care services, such as home and day care services, over the years to meet the needs of seniors. We are reviewing the aged care landscape, to better anchor care in the community and support seniors to age well at home. These changes will help to relieve the burden on family caregivers.

3     To enable these improvements, the Government will continue to build up the capacity and capability of care workers.  MOH and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) have helped community care organisations attract and retain manpower through schemes to support local recruitment, branding of the sector, and salary enhancements. Providers can also access manpower training initiatives under AIC, such as study awards, and training courses offered by Learning Institutes.