SPEECH BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION & MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE CAREGIVING WELFARE ASSOCIATION’S (CWA) CAREGIVING WEEK PUBLIC FINALE, 19 SEPTEMBER 2026

Dr Tan Jit Seng, President of Caregiving Welfare Association (CWA)

Mr Steven Yeo, Executive Director, CWA

As well as distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

1.            Thank you for the kind invitation and honour to join you in this celebration for the Caregiving Week 2026 Public Finale. And this year's theme “Behind Every Caregiver, A Story” recognises that every caregiving journey is unique, shaped by the experiences, challenges, and circumstances of each family.

2.            We have heard some of these personal experiences earlier this morning, and really it touched my heart. I know it brought tears to my eyes, and I saw some of you feeling very, very touched as well. We witnessed also the launch of the CWA educational storybook “No knot too small”, and now I get to bring home the plushie as well. And these are actually very meaningful efforts because this brings a conversation on caregiving to our children and families. These shared stories and community efforts all play a part in building a more caregiver-friendly society.

3.            I think we all know the statistics. By 2030, one in four will be above the age of 65, and as our population ages and family sizes become smaller, more Singaporeans will take on caregiving responsibilities. And as we all know, every caregiving journey is different. Some caregivers have expressed a lack in skills and confidence to care for their loved one. Some have shared that they do not know where to turn to for help, and as just now shared by Delia, caregiving takes on also a significant emotional and mental toll, leaving caregivers wondering at times if they're doing enough.

4.            It was interesting, Steven shared earlier the data and survey we had because many caregivers also care for their loved ones without necessarily seeing themselves as caregivers – what you call the hidden caregivers. They may simply see themselves as a husband looking after a wife, a daughter caring for her parents, a grandchild caring for a grandparent. This is natural, but when caregivers do not identify as such, they may be less likely to recognise their own need for support, and no caregiver should have to manage their caregiving journey alone.

5.            The Government has progressively strengthened support for caregivers in the areas of respite services, care navigation, financial support, and caregiver training, including under our Caregiver Support Action Plan and the White Paper on Women's Development in recent years. Just as important is building care infrastructure and community support around caregivers and their loved ones.

6.            We have done so through national initiatives like Age Well SG by making Active Ageing Centers more accessible as community nodes for seniors to stay socially engaged and physically active, and enhancing the Home Personal Care service to provide more customised and frequent support for seniors in the community. We've also strengthened care coordination across services such as the Active Aging Centers, Senior Care Centers, and Home Personal Care through Integrated Community Care Providers who oversee care delivery for each region. For persons with disabilities, we have continued to strengthen support through initiatives under the Enabling Masterplans, so that they can live independently and participate fully in the community.

7.            But despite all these efforts, caregivers have shared with us that navigating the care landscape can still be challenging. So recently, we've announced several measures to make the caregiving journey easier to navigate. From next year, we will launch Caregiver Support Touchpoints at eight aged care service providers and Enabling Service Hubs across Singapore. We recognise the vital role that caregivers play, and this initiative reflects our commitment to supporting them across different stages of the caregiving journey. Whether one is new to caregiving or adjusting to a loved one's evolving needs, caregivers can walk into any touchpoint to access support and resources. The staff there will help to understand their needs and connect them to appropriate services such as respite.

8.            Importantly, the Caregiver Support Touchpoints will also support caregivers in looking after their own well-being. Caregivers can be supported, can be connected to peer support groups, participate in activities with other caregivers, and receive guidance on developing a self-care routine to cope with the stress and fatigue of caregiving. We hope that such services reassure caregivers that seeking help is normal and that support is available.

9.            The Government also understands that caregivers require different skills in their caregiving journey as the needs of their loved ones change. Next year, we will introduce a common caregiver training framework to make it easier for caregivers to find relevant training. We will consolidate and organise information on available training according to caregivers' needs at different stages, so that caregivers do not have to search across different websites. In addition, the Skills and Workforce Development Agency, Agency for Integrated Care, and SG Enable will work with training providers to conduct training within the community, such as at the Caregiver Support Touchpoints, to make training more accessible.

10.         Building on existing support for caregivers, these new measures will go some way to ease the caregiving journey and empower caregivers to better care for their loved ones and themselves. However, building a caregiving-friendly Singapore requires collective effort. Employers can create supportive workplaces that enable caregivers to balance work and caregiving while pursuing their personal goals. Families can find ways to support one another. Community partners like CWA can help caregivers understand and navigate avenues of support available. Events such as this give us an opportunity to bring conversations about caregiving into the open.

11.         I would like to thank CWA and its partners, volunteers, and caregivers in our community. This includes working with our public healthcare clusters to host Community Health Posts in CWA's facilities, so seniors can better manage their health, providing peer support to caregivers through the caregiver support groups and offering case management services to help caregivers and their loved ones navigate their care needs. To all caregivers who are with us today, as well as to many caregivers across Singapore, thank you for your dedication. Much of what you do may be unseen, but it matters. As you care for your loved ones, always remember to also care for yourselves. Reach out when you need support and allow others to share the caregiving load with you.

12.         I wish everyone a meaningful day ahead. Thank you very much.