Data on Physical and Mental Health of Caregivers
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Dr Choo Pei Ling’s inquiry regarding data collection on caregivers’ health, burnout tracking, and strategies to address gaps for conditions like dementia and stroke. Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung stated that studies such as the Quality of Life Study and WiSE Study monitor caregiver burden, mental well-being, and usage of support services. Findings show that caregivers for those with mental health issues or dementia experience significant stress, and many caring for stroke patients feel unprepared post-discharge. To mitigate these challenges, approximately 24,000 caregivers have received psychosocial support through Community Outreach and Intervention Teams, alongside hospital-based skills training to increase caregiving confidence. Furthermore, subsidised respite services are provided through the Agency for Integrated Care and SG Enable to assist caregivers and improve care recipient outcomes.
Transcript
52 Dr Choo Pei Ling asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry collects data on the physical and mental health of caregivers; (b) if so, what data have been collected; (c) how many caregivers have accessed mental health or stress management services in the past three years; and (d) whether caregiver burnout is tracked and linked to care recipient outcomes.
53 Dr Choo Pei Ling asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what frameworks or studies are used to identify gaps in caregiving support; (b) what key gaps in caregiving have been found for conditions, such as dementia, stroke and mental illness; and (c) how does the Ministry plan to address these gaps.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Government commissions several studies and surveys, and takes into account other studies on caregivers. Commissioned studies include the (a) Quality of Life Study; (b) Disability and Inclusion Panel Study; (c) National Population Health Survey; and (d) Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) Study. The data collected includes caregivers' prevalence of chronic conditions, usage of support services, caregiving burden, quality of life, mental well-being scores as well as their care recipient's quality of life. We do not track caregiver burnout, but track caregiver burden as part of tracking the effectiveness of various programmes and services.
The studies have shown that caregivers of certain care recipient profiles experience greater stress. A 2020 survey by the Singapore Management University found that three in four caregivers were tired caring for persons with mental health issues; the WiSE Study 2023 found that caregivers of persons living with dementia had higher care burden than caregivers of those without dementia; and other studies indicate that caregivers feel unprepared to care for stroke patients post-discharge.
The Government works with community partners to improve support for caregivers and address gaps identified. For instance, the public hospitals provide training to caregivers to equip caregivers with the skills and confidence to care for their loved ones, so they are better prepared for their caregiving responsibilities. As caregiver stress was also found to be a concern, the Government has developed resources, like the Community Outreach Teams (CREST) Community Intervention Teams (COMIT), to provide caregivers with psychosocial support, including through peer support networks and relevant mental health interventions. In the past three years, about 24,000 caregivers were supported by CREST and COMIT. Subsidised respite services are also available through agencies, like the Agency for Integrated Care or SG Enable, to provide support for caregivers on their caregiving journey.