Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care

Caring for “Family” Caregivers Manmohan Singh Director, Family & Caregiver Support

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care AWWA Disability Support Health & Senior Care Education and Development Family & Caregiver Support INTER-CONNECTING SERVICE AREAS

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Rehab & Day Care AMK Blocks 126 AWWA School, Integration Services, Resource Centre & Lorong Napiri Towner & Caregiver Boon Keng Blk 6 Community Home, Seniors Activity Centre & Dementia Day AMK Blk 123

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care FAMILY & CAREGIVER SUPPORT Caregiver Service Scope Overview of AWWA’s Services Family Caregiving Context & Challenges Video Notes on Joyful Caregiving & Self-Care Our Services Ready to Care “All the Way”

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care  Unpaid  Meet the needs of their family member, relative or friend who requires care due to frailty, illness, disability or special needs

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Everybody will require care or be a caregiver someday…old age support ratio will fall from 5.9 to 2.1 in 2030 Why caregiver support is vital… Now2030 Elderly526,000900,000 Dementia28,00080,000 Disabled97,200110,000 Mental37,03850,000 Old age support ratio: Refers to persons aged years per elderly aged 65 years & over.

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care What Singaporean Caregivers say… -Physical fatigue & stress % have 2 or more conditions -Lack of social support - 75% say social network shrinks -Lack of awareness of availability of services -Increased financial burden -Unable to understand loved one’s medical condition and prognosis (Toh, Goh, & Tan, 2010)

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care 1.Understanding loved ones’ medical condition, physiological changes & loss of function(s) 2.Handling emotions & behavioral issues 3.Juggling between work, family & caregiving 4.Dealing with stigma & stereotypes 5.Planning for the future 6.Limited resources and sources of help 7.Shrinking social circle & Isolation

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Not ready Lack of appreciation Exhaustion Strained Relationships Unmet or unrealistic Expectations High care demand: - >21 hrs of care/ week - Cognitive impairment - Aggressive behavior - Impairment in IADL Poor coping skills

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care

1.LEARN about your loved one’s condition 2. ASK...what, when, how, why, why not? 3. USE Community Resources & Technology 4. ACCEPT HELP when offered, Be SPECIFIC 5. BE ASSERTIVE …say No & Ask Why & Why Not?

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care 6. STAND UP for Your Rights & your loved one’s too! 7. DON’T BE PERFECT - we are only human 8. TIME-OUT - take breaks (RESPITE) 9. SELF-CARE - love yourself, be your own best friend!

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care 10. FIND SUPPPORT: Family Friends Fellow caregivers Faith-group members Neighbours Friends like SNSA & AWWA!

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Our Programmes Training & Education ‘Walk With Me’ Programme Caregivers Connect Model Caregiver Awards Information And Referral

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care 16 Nov Model Caregiver Awards

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care A community network for family caregivers

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Caregivers Connect Activities Family outings Laughter Therapy Caregivers Connect Engagement Session (quarterly)

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care I am very thankful to AWWA in providing us, the caregivers, a channel to connect, and in sharing our challenges and difficulties, we are able to encourage one another in our caregiving journey.” Gloria, caregiver in the Loving Footprints group

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Caregiving Life Skills Training A psychosocial life-skills programme that helps family caregivers practise self-care by equipping them with essential life skills and effective strategies to deal pro-actively with caregiving challenges. 2,800 family caregivers attended since Conducted in English and Mandarin. Conducted at TTSH CareConnect and our Boon Keng for family caregivers of the elderly.

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Life-Skills Training (English) Remaining 3 $60 per session on 4 &25 July and 15 Aug Can tap on Caregivers Training Grant (CTG) to offset training fee To register, call us at or via

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Next / Last workshop on 6 July – Dealing with Emotions & Stress Ongoing Run (April – August 2015) Can tap on Caregivers Training Grant (CTG) to offset training fee To register, call us at or via

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care CaregiversConnect.sg - a Caregivers Portal

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care Keep in touch with us for Caregiving News, Activities & Tips! Or join our Mailing List! *visit our Facebook page Follow us on Facebook: fb.com/caregiverservice

Disability Support Education & Development Family & Caregiver Support Health & Senior Care

Drop-In at: Block 6 Boon Keng Road #01-52 Singapore Tel: Fax: