Hiring a Helper for Elderly Care in Singapore

It often begins after a fall, a diagnosis, or a hospital discharge that makes it clear that things may not be the same as before. In that moment, what you want is not a long list of candidates — but the right one.

Hiring a helper for elderly care is a different task from hiring general household help. The work is more personal, the stakes are higher and experience matters in ways a biodata sheet does not always show. Here is what to look for and how we help you find it.

Start with what your parent actually needs

“Elderly care” covers a wide range and being specific about what your parents need is the most useful thing you can do before looking for anyone.

At one end, there is companionship and light support through help around the home, meals, medication reminders and the reassurance of someone present. Further along are mobility needs: assisting someone who is unsteady, helping with movement from place to place, supporting recovery after a fall or surgery. At the more challenging end are conditions such as dementia or post-stroke care, where every day requires patience, vigilance and a particular brand of trustworthiness.

A helper who excels with an active, independent elderly person may not be suited to someone who needs help bathing or who wakes confused at night. Identifying the real needs is what lets us match properly rather than guess.

The qualities that matter most

Beyond the tasks themselves, elderly care rewards temperament as much as skill. In our experience, the helpers who do this well tend to share a few traits:

●      Patience. Elderly care moves at a slower pace, and repeats itself. The right helper stays calm rather than frustrated.

●      Physical capability. Assisting with movement, mobility and personal care is physical work. It is important to match her build and stamina to what the role asks.

●      Relevant experience. Someone who has cared for an elderly person before understands the rhythm of it. Assisting where it’s needed but letting them do what they’re able to.

●      Steadiness under stress. A fall, a bad night, a moment of confusion. What matters is how she responds when things do not go to plan.

Questions that reveal real experience

When you interview, open questions tell you more than a checklist. A few that work well for elderly care:

●      Tell me about your work experience with the elderly. What did a typical day look like?

●      Have you cared for someone with [dementia/limited mobility/after a stroke]? What did you help with every day?

●      What would you do if they are uncooperative/frustrated/angry?

A candidate who responds easily about her routine and how she manages difficulty in different situations could be a good fit for your household.

A note on the levy concession

If your household includes an elderly Singapore citizen aged 67 or above, you should qualify for MOM's concessionary levy rate, which is considerably lower than the standard rate. It is worth checking before you budget.

Getting the match right

Caring for an ageing parent is one of the most personal decisions a family makes, and the right helper help to ease and manage your everyday life.

We match on relevant experience rather than a checklist, placing employers with helpers that best fit their needs.

Speak to our team about a helper for elderly care.

This guide is for general information. Requirements, fees and levy rates are set by the Ministry of Manpower and change from time to time. For the current rules, refer to mom.gov.sg.