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Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Who decides when you can't? A guide on planning for end-of-life care
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A free digital tool for Singaporeans to complete their advance care plans (ACP) online was rolled out on July 19. But what exactly is ACP, and how does it differ from an advance medical directive or lasting power of attorney? Here's what to know about planning for end-of-life care. Advance care planning is a national programme that allows people to document their medical treatment preferences in advance. Advance care plan Advance care planning is a national programme that allows people to document their medical treatment preferences in advance, in line with their goals and values. It also allows them to designate up to two persons to decide on medical care for them in the event that they become mentally incapacitated. While not legally binding, the ACP serves as a guide for loved ones and healthcare teams to act according to their best interests. It includes healthcare preferences such as the extent of treatment and pain control options. Anyone above 21 years old can do an ACP. Those who are generally healthy can complete their ACP online through the new digital tool called myACP . It can be found on the My Legacy@LifeSG platform at / They can also approach public hospitals, polyclinics, or certain social care providers to make such a plan. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Asia Autogate glitch causes chaos at KLIA and Johor checkpoints, foreign passport holders affected Singapore S'pore sees no baby boom in Year of the Dragon despite slight rise in births in 2024 Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died Singapore New auto pet wash service in Buona Vista draws flak, but company stands by its safety Life Don't call me a motivational speaker: Why Adam Khoo has moved on to options trading Singapore 314 suicides reported in Singapore in 2024, remains leading cause of youth deaths Those with existing illnesses, such as cancer or heart failure, will need to complete their ACP with the help of their healthcare team or a certified facilitator. The Agency for Integrated Care website advises the public to complete an ACP, even if they already have an advance medical directive or lasting power of attorney. Advance medical directive An advance medical directive (AMD) is a legal document that informs doctors that you do not want to use any life-sustaining treatment if you become terminally ill or unconscious. To make an AMD, an individual needs to fill in a form available in clinics, polyclinics and hospitals, or download it from the Ministry of Health website. The AMD must be made through a doctor. Two witnesses have to be present when the person signs the AMD – one must be the doctor, and the other one must be at least 21 years old. Both witnesses will sign the form during the session. The completed form is submitted to the Registrar of Advance Medical Directives in a sealed envelope. Lasting power of attorney A lasting power of attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint one or more trusted persons to make decisions on your personal welfare, property, finances and other matters if you lose mental capacity. Those who make LPAs are known as donors, while the people they appoint are called donees. There are two LPA forms: Form 1 grants general powers to donees, while Form 2 is for donors who want to grant specific or customised powers to donees and has to be drafted by a lawyer. Both forms can be made digitally through the Office of the Public Guardian Online portal. Donees will be notified via SMS or e-mail when a donor submits the LPA form. They can then accept the appointment through the portal. Thereafter, the donor will visit the certificate issuer – who is a medical practitioner accredited by the public guardian, a practising lawyer, or a registered psychiatrist – to digitally sign the LPA using Singpass. The issuer then certifies and submits the LPA on the donor's behalf through the portal. Hard-copy LPA forms are still accepted in exceptional situations, such as when the donor or donee does not have a Singpass account required to access the portal.
Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
New digital tool in Singapore to encourage advance care planning
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Called myACP, the tool allows users to document their preferences for medical treatment in advance, in line with their personal goals and values. SINGAPORE – A free digital tool that makes it easier for Singaporeans to complete their advance care plans (ACP) online was launched on July 19. Called myACP, the tool allows users to document their preferences for medical treatment in advance, in line with their personal goals and values. They can also designate someone to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they become mentally incapacitated. The digital tool was launched by the Ministry of Health, Agency for Integrated Care and GovTech at Heartbeat@Bedok. Speaking at the launch, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the tool eliminates the need to meet an ACP facilitator in person. Anyone who is generally healthy and is at least 21 years old can document their care preferences and submit it online. Mr Ong said the common reasons for not completing ACPs include a lack of knowledge on the process, and the inconvenience of making an appointment with a facilitator – a time-consuming step that may also involve fees. Previously, individuals had to visit public hospitals, polyclinics, or certain social care providers to make such plans. Now, they also have the option of using the new tool, found on the My Legacy@LifeSG platform at / Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Autogate glitch causes chaos at KLIA and Johor checkpoints, foreign passport holders affected Singapore S'pore sees no baby boom in Year of the Dragon despite slight rise in births in 2024 Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died Life Don't call me a motivational speaker: Why Adam Khoo has moved on to options trading Sport Lionesses forward Danelle Tan ready for new challenge in Japan Life SG60 F&B icons: Celebrate these 14 home-grown F&B brands that have stood the test of time Asia Indonesian authorities partially close Mount Rinjani after two accidents involving foreign climbers (From left) CPF Board Retirement Income Group director Gregory Chia, Ministry of Social and Family Development Family Life Group senior director Tan Chee Hau, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Public Service Division ServiceSG CEO Lim Sze Ling and Agency for Integrated Care CEO Tan Chee Wee at the myACP launch on July 19. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI It takes about 30 minutes to complete an ACP. Users will have to indicate their preferences on hygiene, companionship and religious requirements, as well as make a decision on whether doctors should prioritise comfort or carry out life-sustaining treatments, among other matters, Mr Ong said. But those with existing illnesses, such as cancer or heart failure, will still need to complete their ACP with the help of their healthcare team or a certified facilitator. At present, about 77,000 people have completed their ACP, Mr Ong said. 'This is 40 per cent higher than the national figure as of last year, but it's still very small a number,' he added. Mr Ong said the authorities are trying to encourage more Singaporeans to plan ahead. While some people have preferences for end-of-life care, most are reluctant to broach the subject with their loved ones while they are healthy as it is considered pantang, or taboo, according to the minister. 'It will be too late to do so when they have fallen very sick and cannot communicate what they want to their loved ones. Family members, doctors, are then placed in a difficult position to decide on the care approach,' he said, noting that different opinions can escalate into family disputes. 'We need more open and early conversations about future care needs…When we plan ahead, we not only safeguard our own preferences, we also make things easier and clearer for families and healthcare teams later on.' In 2023, the Government launched the National Strategy for Palliative Care to raise awareness about end-of-life issues amid an ageing population. Since then, palliative care capacity has been expanded , rising to 3,000 home care places and 300 inpatient hospice beds currently – from the 2,400 care places and 260 beds in 2023, Mr Ong said. Palliative care competency was also strengthened, with 62 – or about two-thirds of nursing homes in Singapore – establishing partnerships with hospitals. This means that when a nursing home resident is approaching end-of-life, he will remain in the facility instead of being unnecessarily transferred to a hospital. Mr Ong noted that the efforts by the authorities have started to show results. In 2022 and 2023, 62.5 per cent of deaths happened in hospitals. This dropped to 59.8 per cent in 2024. 'While this appears to be a small improvement, it translates into thousands of patients having their wishes fulfilled. Attitudes take time to change, and we are encouraged to be heading in the right direction,' he said. Ms Clara Ng, 56, who completed her ACP online last week, said she decided to do so to be prepared for the future. 'I'm still at the stage where I have the capacity to think. It's good to log down what I want rather than wait till it's too late' said Ms Ng, who is currently completing her masters course in gerontology.
AsiaOne
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Thousands turn up in Punggol for 3rd anniversary of Jack Neo's walking group Pa Pa Zao, Singapore News
Local walking group Pa Pa Zao, founded by comedian-director Jack Neo, held their third anniversary celebrations for a cause at Punggol Coast Mall early on Sunday (July 13) morning. An estimated 3,000 participants attended the event, which kicked off at about 8am with warm-up exercises followed by a walk — naturally. Organised in partnership with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), the theme for the event was Life Unstoppable, and featured games, performances and appearances by around 80 celebrities and personalities. The event was also graced by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Law Edwin Tong. Speaking to AsiaOne this morning, Tong, who's also the Second Minister for Home Affairs, called Pa Pa Zao a "great initiative". "It marries fitness with community and you have people from all walks of life coming together, motivated by fitness," he remarked. However, he noted that "fitness alone can't be done when you don't have friends", lauding the initiative for bringing together individuals' friends, family, neighbours and people from their social networks, and using music and fun as the centre of the event. When interviewed by AsiaOne, Jack expressed surprise that the initiative, which he started in 2022 following the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, has continued for as long as it has. He shared in another media interview that he'd started the session on a whim, inviting people on a livestream to join him on a walk at Bukit Timah Hill. "I thought nobody would come to see me, but at the first session, 58 people turned up," he told AsiaOne, adding that the number of participants just grew from there. The 65-year-old added the event's "trademark" is walking and singing together, and the emphasis is on positive energy. "The best part is, after walking for about 5km, we sit down and sing. The atmosphere is hard to get," he elaborated, thanking the approximately 100 volunteers each week, "from the captain to group leaders, block leaders, medics and traffic controllers". Long-time supporters Among the well-known names spotted at Sunday's event included local actors Henry Thia, Aileen Tan, Lin Ruping, Yao Wenlong, Terence Cao, Joey Swee and Mayiduo. Attendees at Sunday's event ranged from newer Pa Pa Zao participants to long-time supporters. Retiree Francis Cheang, 75, shared with AsiaOne that he'd participated in Pa Pa Zao "26 times" - and maybe even more, as they had been attending the meetups regularly since April 2023, his wife Jessie Chia, 64, remembers. "We like to keep healthy and connect with other people, and help each other to be healthy," he shared, with Chia chiming in that they enjoy getting to know like-minded people who like to keep fit. Another couple whom AsiaOne met, retirees Lee Swee Guat, 67, and Teo Yit Huat, 72, took time out amid the former's birthday celebrations to sweat it out at the event. They told AsiaOne that they'd participated in Pa Pa Zao a handful of times because they hope to live a healthy lifestyle and to "make new friends". Participant, 65-year-old retiree Tan Soh Buay, also shared the same sentiments, adding she has attended the walks regularly over two years, while her niece, operator Fam Nyeok Heong, 55, has gone for the walks more than 10 times. Fam added that it is hard to make time for exercise as a working adult and Pa Pa Zao offers a good way to fit in some exercise during the week. Additional reporting by Ho Jia Fen candicecai@ No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Straits Times
24-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
‘Retrenched at 48, I was worried I couldn't support my kids and ailing father'
Holding on to memories, Madam Nurhani Zailani Shatifan reflects on her caregiving journey with her late father, whose kain pelikat (patterned sarong) she still keeps. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA BRANDED CONTENT 'Retrenched at 48, I was worried I couldn't support my kids and ailing father' Being part of the sandwiched generation, this business school executive is grateful for initiatives that have helped alleviate caregiving pressures and restart her career After working for three decades in the travel industry, Madam Nurhani Zailani Shatifan was suddenly retrenched. It was 2020, and the Covid-19 pandemic had hit the travel sector hard. 'I felt angry and asked 'why me?'', recalls the former meetings and events manager, who was 48 at the time. Shock soon gave way to anxiety. Three of her five children were still dependent on her – her youngest was preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examinations that year – and she was caring for her bedridden father. Her mother, who had also been bedridden, had passed away earlier that January. Like many in the sandwiched generation, Madam Nurhani was caught in the middle – supporting her elderly parents while raising her own children, all while dealing with a sudden job loss. Although her husband remained employed, she feared they would not be able to cope on a reduced household income. She had been the primary caregiver to her parents, especially in their final years. While her children – four boys and one girl, now aged between 17 and 31 – helped out where they could, and a reliable domestic helper eased some of the load, the emotional and logistical demands remained heavy. Bedridden after a major stroke in 2014, Madam Nurhani's father was lovingly cared for by the whole family – including her youngest children, who would play 'doctor' by his side. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NURHANI ZAILANI SHATIFAN 'My dad was always joking and laughing. But in 2014, after his third stroke took away his ability to speak, he became emotionally fragile,' she says. 'It broke my heart not to hear him laugh anymore but I knew I had to stay strong for him and everyone else.' To reduce expenses, Madam Nurhani and her husband sold their Housing Board executive apartment and moved into a four-room flat in Pasir Ris. She says: 'It was a significant lifestyle shift, downsizing from a spacious home to a smaller flat and to make room for our five grown-up children and my father. It wasn't an easy decision.' Support that made the load more bearable Thankfully, on the caregiving front, Madam Nurhani had already been receiving financial support through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). She was first introduced to these services in 2014, when a doctor advised her to speak with a social worker following her father's third stroke. The Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) offers a monthly cash payout for caregiving expenses, while the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) helps seniors afford mobility devices as well as home healthcare items. From January 2026, further enhancements will be implemented progressively to both schemes. Eligible caregivers will receive up to $600 a month under HCG, and coverage of SMF will be expanded. Her mother, who suffered a stroke in 2016, moved in with her soon after. Through Home Medical and Home Nursing services, a doctor visited Madam Nurhani's parents every three months. 'Dad was the first to start receiving home care services in the same year as his stroke,' she explains. 'Since we'd already gone through the application process before, applying for mum was faster and more straightforward.' With her husband and children by her side, Madam Nurhani weathered the storm of retrenchment, grief and caregiving, emerging stronger as she embraced upskilling and a new career. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA Besides the doctor, a nurse also supported with overall home care. This included cleaning, changing her father's nasogastric (NGT) tube once a month, and assisting with his thrice-weekly baths. These home-based services became even more critical as her parents eventually found hospital visits by private ambulance increasingly difficult. Says Madam Nurhani: 'That support truly became a lifesaver.' With the Caregivers Training Grant, she had also enrolled her helper in accredited courses to improve care quality at home. 'She learnt to change my father's diapers without straining her back, and how to administer his milk through the NGT tube,' she explains. 'These made a big difference – not just in her ability to care for him effectively but also for my father's comfort.' Having these services in place gave Madam Nurhani the space – and peace of mind – to eventually rebuild her career. Reclaiming her career confidence Following her retrenchment, Madam Nurhani took proactive steps to upskill. She enrolled in a SkillsFuture-funded diploma in leadership and people management at SSTC Institute. Wanting to pivot industries, she also took up the Real Estate Salesperson course using her SkillsFuture credits. 'I believe that lifelong learning is very important for everyone to keep up with what's happening around the world, especially now with AI,' she says. 'So I always encourage everyone, including my husband, to take up courses.' When her father passed away in 2022, she felt ready to re-enter the workforce in earnest. Yet, despite 30 years of experience and new qualifications, her job applications went unanswered. 'I wondered what went wrong,' she recalls. Career coaching gave Madam Nurhani (far left) the confidence to start over; today, she's a senior coordinator at Insead Asia Campus, where she's had opportunities to travel to the business school's Europe campus in France for work. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NURHANI ZAILANI SHATIFAN The turning point came when she reached out to Workforce Singapore (WSG) and was referred to a career coach from Ingeus, a WSG-appointed provider. 'I wanted to understand why I couldn't even land a job interview and thought 'why not give this a try?'' Madam Nurhani recalls. Her career coach quickly spotted the gaps and helped her refine her job search strategy – starting with condensing her eight-page resume into a sharper, two-page version tailored to specific roles. 'She also guided me through interview preparation, emphasised the importance of preparing thoughtful questions and pointed me to workshops to rebuild my confidence after being out of work for two years,' adds Madam Nurhani. Among them was Mendaki's Women@Work programme, where she picked up practical tips on grooming, virtual interviews and workplace communication. Enhanced help for jobseekers How Workforce Singapore's (WSG) upgraded suite of schemes and tools can help you land your next job more easily In addition to WSG's career coaching services, individuals who lose their jobs unexpectedly can tap on the newly launched SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme, which provides up to $6,000 over six months while they actively search for jobs and upskill. Jobseekers can also access personalised job and course recommendations via WSG's CareersFinder tool, available on the MyCareersFuture online job portal. The tool analyses the individual user's profile and helps them gain insight into potential career paths and the skills required. Within the year, her persistence paid off. Madam Nurhani was hired as a senior coordinator at Insead Asia Campus in Singapore, part of the business school's network spanning Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In her new role, she leverages her prior work experience to manage events, lead student-driven fundraising campaigns and coordinate meetings across teams. Last year, she travelled to Insead's Europe campus in France to support its reunion events – marking a full-circle moment from once planning trips for others to now gaining international experience herself. In her role, Madam Nurhani also facilitates and coordinates events for Insead's Robin Hood Campaign, supporting the MBA students' fundraising efforts. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NURHANI ZAILANI SHATIFAN Having found her footing, Madam Nurhani is committed to helping others do the same. She mentors women looking to return to the workforce through the Women Supporting Women Mentorship Programme by NTUC U Women and Family – a programme that she has also benefitted from herself. 'There's always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how long it is,' she says. 'What keeps me going is knowing that I did something for myself – and showing my children that if you put your heart into something, there's nothing you can't do.' Find out the schedule of Together, for Better Roadshows to discover how Forward Singapore schemes and programmes can help support Singaporeans at every stage of life. In partnership with Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Stronger support for seniors in the community; those seeking care to have one point of contact: MOH
Stronger support for seniors in the community; those seeking care to have one point of contact: MOH SINGAPORE - Plans to ensure seniors have a single point of contact for community care are in the works , as the authorities work on integrating such services for a fast-ageing population, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on May 28. Beyond expanding individual community services, integration will make it easier for families to access services and move between different ones , he said at the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) Community Care Work Plan Seminar 2025. Mr Ong, who was also appointed Coordinating Minister for Social Policies on May 21, laid out the vision for community care. 'It must be a system that every senior can count on, regardless of your health status. When you are well, community care prevents us from falling sick. If we are sick, it supports us to manage the disease and prevent it from progressing,' said Mr Ong. 'If we become frail, it supports our families to take care of us and organises the different services that we need. If our families are unable to take care of us, the system then steps in as a last resort.' The urgency to transform community care is unmistakable. By 2030, Singapore will have one million seniors aged 65 and above, with possibly half of them living with a chronic disease. The number of those who need help with at least one activity of daily living is expected to almost double within a decade, from an estimated 58,000 in 2020 to 100,000 in 2030. More seniors are also expected to be staying alone – from 76,000 in 2023 to 122,000 in 2030. Mr Ong listed three areas of change. Firstly, strong coordination is needed in the community care sector to tie together the various services as they expand. This will mean that seniors who need a combination of services to serve complex needs can move across services easily. Mr Ong said the Health Ministry (MOH) and AIC have reorganised community care into smaller sub-regions. Providers in each region are encouraged to form a network together , under a centre that will be the dedicated point of contact for seniors who need long-term care services. This so-called Integrated Community Care Provider will bring together the four commonly used services, namely those at Active Ageing Centres (AACs), day care services at Senior Care Centres, care at home under the Enhanced Home Personal Care service and rehabilitation at home under Home Therapy. 'To a family and to a senior, they should see it as just one service... with one contact, one coordination point,' said Mr Ong. This way, when a senior falls ill and needs rehabilitation or support services, the provider can help to put together the relevant services to restore him to health, said Mr Ong. If his conditions progress, it may then provide home personal care or other necessary services. When he recovers, he can return to the AAC to lead a more active lifestyle, he said. Secondly, efforts to make commu nity health services more accessible will be stepped up. Mr Ong said he heard from doctors that there are patients in their 40s and 50s seeking help at the hospital because of their diabetes, with a few even suffering from gangrene. Early actions, with a combination of lifestyle adjustments and medication, could have prevented progression of chronic diseases, have prevented the progression of their diseases. These patients could have done something earlier to prevent the progression of their diease, but they either did not know they were sick, or even if they knew and had enrolled in Healthier SG, they did not follow up with their health plan. This is a significant gap which community are can help close, Mr Ong said. 'For (Healthier SG) to be truly successful, we got to go beyond the GPs. The GPs needs to be supported and reinforced by effective community care services.' Mr Ong said the three healthcare clusters have set up community health posts, with about nine out of 10 AACs having one at or near their centres. Nurses at these centres can attend to patients. These posts can do more to help seniors, especially in catering to walk-ins. For instance, they can help seniors enrol in preventive health programme Healthier SG, which pairs each resident with a primary care physician, or follow up with their appointments and provide lifestyle coaching and health advice. Thirdly, outreach to seniors needs to step up, so the authorities will have information on every senior, and no one will die alone at home without anyone knowing. Silver Generation Ambassadors, People Association's volunteers and other volunteers have to work together to visit every household in the community, and share data so that every senior is known, Mr Ong said. He said the political office-holders in his ministry's refreshed team - Dr Koh Poh Koon, Mr Tan Kiat How and Ms Rahayu Mahzam - will all have a role in the community care sector. This includes areas such as manpower, coordination, community health posts and outreach. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
