Inclusion of Questions on Caregiving in National Census Survey to Better Inform Caregiver Support Policies for Ageing Population

33 Ms Carrie Tan asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry has, or plans to include, questions on caregiving in the National Census survey, to get more data on the number and profile of informal caregivers in Singapore in order to better inform the Ministry's caregiver support policies as our population ages and caregiving burdens increase.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Census of Population provides a broad statistical profile of the population and households in Singapore. In the latest Census conducted in 2020, we collected data on the number of Singapore residents facing difficulties in performing basic activities and information on the living arrangement of elderly residents with difficulty performing at least one basic activity.

Given the broad-based intent of the Census, it may not adequately capture the needs and preferences of caregivers. The Government will thus continue to conduct targeted dialogues with our stakeholders and caregivers to better understand their needs. For example, the Government recently concluded the Conversations on Singapore Women’s Development. These sessions provide insights which help refine our caregiver support policies.