The decision to put an elderly loved one in a nursing home is never an easy one – but so is choosing to care for him or her at home. With the aging population in Singapore, the issue of how and where to age well has become even more important. For family members, one of the most important concerns lies in improving the quality of life for these seniors.
Today, nursing homes and home care services are both popular choices. In this article, we will look at what a nursing home in Singapore can offer and alternative options to help you care better for an elderly.
What is a Nursing Home?
Outside of a hospital, a nursing home typically provides the highest level of care you can find. Apart from daily caregiving such as providing support for Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), it is also able to administer medical care and perform medical procedures when needed. This is unlike an old-age home, where the focus is primarily on giving elderly people the freedom to participate in leisure activities and socialise with others.
With both long- and short-term care options available, residents will receive an optimal level of respite care from trained professionals.
Services in a Nursing Home
In Singapore, you will find a wide array of caregiving services within a nursing home. They include:
- Help with daily living such as toileting, bathing and feeding
- Nursing care such as wound dressing and changing of urine catheter
- Psychiatric programmes and facilities such as cognitive stimulation for dementia patients
- Physiological and social activities such as outings and group exercises
- Overnight respite care such as providing night time caregiving for persons with dementia displaying sundowning behaviour
While the list is not exhaustive, these services serve as a foundation for what you can expect in a nursing home in Singapore.
Choosing a Nursing Home in Singapore
Before deciding on a nursing home, there are several factors you should consider. Firstly, look for a nursing home that is accessible for you and your family. A centre that is located nearby allows you to visit your loved one easily. You should also take note of the visiting hours to ensure that they fit into your own schedule.
Pay attention to the finer details when visiting the nursing home for the first time. Is there enough space for each resident to move around? Is the place well-lit? And what are some of the activities seniors can look forward to? The living conditions and environment can play a major role in the wellbeing of your loved one, so make sure to choose a place you like. Factors like the noise level and quality of food will also impact the livability of the nursing home.
Lastly, ensure that the nursing home staff are well-trained and equipped to handle medical emergencies and other caregiving duties. A friendly staff cohort will make the stay more pleasant, so check to see whether the nurses are smiling or that the staff strength is enough.
At present, there are 86 nursing homes located all over the island. You may visit the online locator to find these care aide providers near you. The top nursing homes in Singapore are:
|
Nursing Home |
Location |
Website |
Contact Details |
|
Orange Valley Nursing Home |
Balestier, Changi, Clementi, Marsiling and Simei |
Tel: +65 6499 4699 (HQ) / +65 6266 3035 Email: enquiry@orangevalley.sg |
|
|
Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home |
Thomson and Silat |
Tel: +65 6256 8502 (Thomson) / +65 6276 2493 (Silat) |
|
|
Ren Ci Nursing Home |
Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok and Woodlands |
Tel: +65 6385 0288 Email: renci@renci.org.sg |
|
|
Hovi Care |
Turf Club |
Tel: +65 8838 4330 Email: enquiry@hovicare.com |
|
|
Peacehaven Nursing Home |
Changi |
https://www.salvationarmy.org.sg/wwd-peacehaven-nursing-home/ |
Tel: +65 6546 5678 |
|
Sunshine Welfare Action Mission |
Sembawang |
Tel: +65 6257 6117 Email: enquiry@swami.org.sg |
|
|
NTUC Health |
Chai Chee, Geylang East, Jurong Spring, Jurong West, Pasir Ris and Tampines |
Tel: +65 6812 8960 (Chai Chee) / +65 6708 8600 (Geylang East) / +65 6304 8870 (Jurong Spring) / +65 6708 8400 (Jurong West) / +65 6372 8200 (Pasir Ris) / +65 6372 8388 (Tampines) |
|
|
St. John’s Elder Home |
Upper Serangoon |
Tel: +65 6285 4446 |
|
|
All Saints Home |
Hougang, Tampines, Yishun and Jurong East |
Tel: +65 6282 6969 (Hougang) / +65 6788 2345 (Tampines) / +65 6351 1400 (Yishun) / +65 6819 9300 (Jurong East) |
|
|
Apex Harmony Lodge |
Pasir Ris |
Tel: +65 6585 2265 Email: ahl@apexharmony.org.sg |
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St. Andrew’s Nursing Home |
Buangkok, Henderson, Queenstown and Taman Jurong |
Tel: +65 6880 5330 (Buangkok) / +65 6430 9449 (Henderson) / +65 6877 4677 (Queenstown) / +65 6411 0510 (Taman Jurong) Email: bnhenquiries@sanh.org.sg (Buangkok) / hnhenquiries@sanh.org.sg (Henderson) / qnhenquiries@sanh.org.sg (Queenstown) / tjnhenquiries@sanh.org.sg (Taman Jurong) |
|
|
Charis Manor Nursing Home |
Geylang |
Tel: +65 6741 8566 Email: enquiry@charismanor.com |
|
|
Bright Hill Evergreen Home |
Punggol |
Tel: +65 6459 3492 Email: enquiry@bheh.sg |
|
|
Geylang East Home for the Aged |
Aljunied |
Tel: +65 6745 3465  Email: limyin@geha.org.sg |
Cost of Nursing Home in Singapore
According to NTUC Income, the average cost of a nursing home in Singapore can go from $1,200 to $4,500 a month. This is before any government subsidies, which can help to offset up to 75% of the total cost. This cost can also vary according to the number of people in a shared room, the type of care required, and whether the patient is a Singapore citizen or a Permanent Resident (PR).
For example, an elderly staying in a private single-bed room can pay up to $6,500 a month. A subsidised Singaporean resident may pay only $700 after subsidy in a shared room. Variables such as adult diapers, special meals, transfer services and therapy sessions may also be excluded from this cost.
Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWO) Nursing Homes
With Ministry of Health (MOH) subsidies, here are the rates you can expect to pay in each VWO nursing home:
|
Nursing Home |
Monthly Rate |
|
Lion’s Home for the Elders |
$700-$1,600 after subsidy |
|
All Saints Home (certain branches) |
$700-$1,600 after subsidy |
|
Ren Ci Nursing Home |
$700-$1,600 after subsidy |
|
Grace Lodge |
$700-$1,600 after subsidy |
|
Assisi Hospice |
$8,850 before subsidy |
|
St. Andrew’s Nursing Home |
$1,300-$2,300 before subsidy |
|
Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital |
$1,460-$2,289 before subsidy |
|
Apex Harmony Lodge |
$3,150-$3,400 before subsidy |
|
NTUC Health Nursing Home |
$2,000-$3,500 before subsidy |
Private Nursing Homes
With Ministry of Health (MOH) subsidies, here are the rates you can expect to pay in each private nursing home:
|
Nursing Home |
Monthly Rate |
|
Orange Valley Nursing Home (certain branches) |
$1,200-$4,500 before subsidy |
|
Econ Medicare Centre And Nursing Home (certain branches) |
$1,200-$4,500 before |
Home Care Services
As an alternative to nursing homes, home care services provide one-to-one care right at home with the caregiving duties executed by licensed health care professionals. This option can help the elderly feel less lonely and isolated from their family members at home. The respite care services are suitable for those who do not necessarily require round-the-clock care. Home care service providers like Jaga-Me can help to assess the needs of your loved one and deliver a customised care plan from just $21* an hour.
For example, a cancer patient may require care at home after chemotherapy as he or she may be too weak or exhausted.
* Inclusive of GST.
Alternative Solutions for Caregivers
Although nursing homes may help in reducing the stress and burden of primary caregivers, the cost can add up over time. Depending on the level of care needed by your loved one, engaging a professional nurse for extended hours may not be cost-effective in the long run. To help alleviate caregiver stress and to ensure that quality care is provided even at home, Jaga-Me offers Caregiver Training to equip primary caregivers – whether that be a domestic helper or family member – with specific and customised skill sets to provide quality non-medical care to the care recipient.
Refer to our home care services page for a comprehensive list of available services, or contact us for more information.
