Enrolments into Day Activity Centres and Plans to Cope with Increased Demand
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling’s inquiry about Day Activity Centre (DAC) capacity and plans to address demand and staffing over the next five years. Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua replied that 31 MSF-funded DACs offer over 1,700 places with a 78% utilization rate, although eight centres currently have no vacancies. In such cases, SG Enable refers caregivers to other centres or explores alternative supports like home-based services and respite care. To enhance staffing and care quality for high-needs clients, MSF increased annual DAC funding by 20%, or $3 million, in October 2021. The Ministry is studying long-term demand to establish new DACs where necessary and will continually review programs to support persons with disabilities.
Transcript
The following question stood in the name of Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling –
16 To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development with regard to enrolment into Day Activity Centres (DACs) (a) whether DACs can cope with the demand in the next five years; and (b) if not, whether there are plans to (i) reduce the average waiting time for enrolment and (ii) increase the staff support in this sector.
Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines): Question No 16, please.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social and Family Development (Mr Eric Chua) (for the Minister for Social and Family Development): Mr Speaker, as of April 2022, there were 31 MSF-funded Day Activity Centres (DACs) with a total capacity of over 1,700 places and an overall utilisation rate of about 78%.
There are, currently, eight DACs with no vacancies. When individuals apply to DACs with no vacancies, SG Enable will refer the caregivers to other DACs with spare capacity. SG Enable also explores alternative support services with the caregivers, such as home-based services for the individual and respite care services for the caregivers.
In October last year, MSF increased funding for DACs by some 20%, or $3 million per year. The increased funding will allow our DACs to hire more care staff to increase their quality of care and service standards, especially for clients with higher support needs. We are also studying the longer-term demand for DACs and will look into setting up new DACs in areas where demand is expected to exceed the current supply.
MSF will continually monitor and review our funding support and programmes to meet the needs of persons with disabilities and their caregivers.