- What are residential homes?
- What are the admission criteria?
- How do I apply for placement in a residential home?
- What documents do I need to submit?
- Where can I go to apply for placement in a residential home?
- What is CEL's role in the application process?
- How does the referral process work?
- What are the fees for residential homes?
- What is respite care?
- How much do I have to pay for respite care at a residential home?
- Are there any government subsidies that I can tap on?
- How do I calculate my monthly per capita income?
- What is the difference between the means-testing frameworks adopted by hospitals and by residential homes?
- Where else can I go to for financial assistance if I am unable to afford the payment despite receiving a government subsidy?
- Can I apply for 2 or more residential homes simultaneously?
- Can I reapply if I have previously withdrawn my application or rejected an offer to a residential home?
- Where can I find information on residential homes, such as location, contact details, etc?
- What is the difference between residential homes and hostels?
- Which VWOs have residential homes?
1. What are residential homes?
Residential homes are institutions that provide long-term residential care to persons with disabilities who are destitute, neglected, or whose caregivers are incapable of caring for them. The homes aim to maximise the abilities of persons with disabilities through therapy, training and recreational activities. Residential homes also provide short-term or respite care.
2. What are the admission criteria?
The individual must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident aged 18 to 55. He should be diagnosed with developmental, intellectual, sensory, or physical disabilities, or a combination of two or more disabilities. The disabilities should be congenital. However, persons with acquired disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
3. How do I apply for placement in a residential home?
The application should preferably be submitted by a professional (e.g. doctor, social worker, case manager, therapist, etc) using the
referral form provided by the Centre for Enabled Living (CEL) and accompanied by the necessary supporting documents.
4. What documents do I need submit?
Besides the referral form, you also need to submit the medical report or discharge summary, psychological report and social report.
5. Where can I go to apply for a placement in a residential home?
You may approach a hospital, voluntary welfare organisation (VWO), family service centre (FSC), community development council (CDC), or contact CEL directly.
6. What is CEL’s role in the application process?
CEL is the referring agency that receives and processes all applications to residential homes, and disseminates the applications to service providers.
7. How does the referral process work?
CEL will assess the referrals received by checking whether the applicant has exhausted all avenues of community-based services before resorting to placement in a residential home; whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria for residential homes; and whether the application form has been properly completed and is accompanied by the necessary supporting documents.
If the above has been met, CEL will send the referral to the residential home. The residential home will subsequently arrange for an interview with the applicant to determine he is suitable for their service/programme. The residential home might also initiate a trial admission to see if the applicant is able to adapt to the environment at the home.
8. What are the fees for residential homes?
Take the norm cost minus any government subsidy, plus fees for other miscellaneous services utilised, such as diapers, medication, consultation by the in-house doctor, etc.
Respite care is short-term residential care for persons with disabilities whose caregivers are unable to take care of them due to reasons such as the lack of a full-time caregiver as the foreign domestic worker’s contract has expired or is under renewal, or if the caregiver needs to travel or go for medical treatment such as surgery.
10. How much do I have to pay for respite care at a residential home?
This varies across service providers, but generally ranges from $40 to $60.
11. Are there any government subsidies that I can tap on?
You can tap on a government subsidy which is based on per capita income and a 9-tier subsidy model. You may choose to undergo a financial assessment or be means-tested to determine the level of government subsidy that you are eligible for, if any.
12. How do I calculate my monthly per capita income?
Your monthly per capita income is derived by dividing the total gross income of your immediate family members by the total number of immediate family members and eligible dependents.
13. What is the difference between the means-testing frameworks adopted by hospitals and by residential homes?
In hospitals, the subsidy is determined based on personal income. In residential homes, the subsidy is determined based on family income.
14. Where else can I go to for financial assistance if I am unable to afford the payment despite receiving a government subsidy?
You may approach the service provider / residential home for assistance.
15. Can I apply for 2 or more residential homes simultaneously?
No, you can only apply to one residential home and be on one waiting list at one time.
16. Can I reapply if I have previously withdrawn my application or rejected an offer to a residential home?
You may reapply, but you will have to go through the application process again.
17. Where can I find information on residential homes, such as locations, contact details, etc?
18. What is the difference between residential homes and hostels?
Hostels provide alternative housing arrangements for persons with disabilities who do not require institutional care, but for reasons unknown are unable to stay with their families.
Conversely, residential homes are institutions that provide long-term residential care to persons with disabilities who are destitute, neglected, or whose caregivers are incapable of caring for them.
19. Which VWOs have residential homes?
- Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled
- Blue Cross Thong Kheng Home for the Intellectually Disabled
- Moral Welfare Home for the Disabled (Adults)
- METTA Home
- MINDSville@Napiri
- Red Cross Home for the Disabled
- The Singapore Cheshire Home (for physically disabled only)