SINGAPORE, 21 APRIL 2020 – Homage, the on-demand caregiving services platform that combines qualified care professionals with smart technology, today announced the launch of the Homage Care Pro Fund. This fund is created to provide further physical and financial support to its care professionals – both certified nurses and caregivers – in the current COVID-19 environment.
The evolving COVID-19 situation and the resulting circuit breaker measures have led to a significant drop in urban mobility. Seniors are remaining homebound to limit exposure risk, resulting in an increase in demand for home nursing services and assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Homage remains an essential service during this period and its care professionals have stepped up to provide care to these more vulnerable members of our community, indirectly supporting nationwide COVID-19 response efforts by allowing healthcare institutions to focus on addressing the pandemic.
Homage care professionals also played an integral role in facilitating the shift in care delivery models resulting from COVID-19. As nursing homes began to discharge residents to reduce the likelihood of transmission, Homage care professionals have helped ensure care continuity for these seniors at home. When the Ministry of Health requested support for in-facility care at centres hit by COVID-19, Homage caregivers and nurses were promptly deployed to assist. Additionally, care professionals who are registered nurses have undergone hands-on competency training for COVID-19 swab testing to carry out such tests in the community where necessary, as part of the island-wide Preventive Health Screening programme.
In recognition of their tireless efforts, the Homage Care Pro Fund aims to raise a minimum of SGD $30,000 from now until the end of May 2020 as a gesture of appreciation for the Homage care professionals. Senior leaders of the Homage team have also pledged a portion of their monthly pay for the next six months towards the fundraising effort. The fund is also accepting voluntary donations from Homage’s partners, investors, users and the general public to achieve its target amount.
All proceeds will be channelled to the care professionals to supplement their income and to procure more personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks, gloves, eye protection and gowns. Proper PPE helps safeguard the personal safety of the care professionals and limits the risk of transmission.
“Our care professionals have remained fearless in continuing to provide care to the community, which is especially important in this difficult climate. Their work has contributed to reducing the burden of the hospitals by bringing care into the home and freeing up beds and healthcare expertise for the COVID-19 effort,” said Gillian Tee, Co-founder and CEO of Homage.
“It’s an honour to support these unsung heroes in any way we can, and this is really the least we can do to show our appreciation.”
The Homage Care Pro Fund is the latest in Homage’s ongoing initiatives to support their care professionals. Since the emergence of COVID-19 locally, Homage has implemented heightened safety and screening protocols (pre-, during and post-care visits) in adherence to Ministry of Health’s advisory, to safeguard both families, care recipients and care professionals. In March this year, Homage launched Gigacover Essentials, a first-of-its-kind healthcare benefits programme that gives all 2,000 Homage care professionals access to affordable quality healthcare from over 500 clinics island-wide. The programme provides complimentary coverage up to $50,000, with the option to extend to COVID-19 or dengue fever infection for just $18 from April 2020.
Members of the public who wish to donate to the Homage Care Pro Fund can contribute via this GIVE.asia link from now until 31 May 2020.
About Homage
Homage is an award-winning personal care solution that combines curated and trained care professionals with smart technology to manage and provide on-demand holistic home and community-based caregiving to seniors and adults, allowing them to age and recover with grace, control and dignity.
As a leading care services provider, Homage’s core services include Care Assessments, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) assistance, Home Nursing Procedures, Home Rehabilitation services, including Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, as well as Home Medical services.
Operating in Singapore and Malaysia, Homage works with care recipients with a range of mobility and medical conditions, including chronic and terminal illnesses such as Dementia, Stroke, Parkinson’s and cancer, helping them be more mobile and functional as well as providing social and personal care. Homage has previously collaborated with government, health and financial organisations to distribute and deliver home – and community – caregiving services.
For more information, visit: www.homage.sg
For media inquiries, please contact:
Alvina Wang
REDHILL Communications
[email protected]
