In many cultures, nursing homes often carry with them a negative reputation for reasons ranging from poor living conditions with low quality of care to being a place where unfilial children send their elderly parents to because they do not want to take on the care responsibilities themselves. However, that’s not always true!
Increasingly, we see a shift in the mindset that people have towards nursing and old folks homes. In fact, a survey conducted in 2016 showed that a sizeable number of Singaporeans are actually willing to move into a nursing home when they get older. That being said, there are now many other services including home-based elderly care and palliative care that provide alternatives to traditional nursing and old folk’s homes.
- Activities of daily living (Feeding, transferring, toileting, etc)
- Companionship
- Nursing care including wound care, catheter or feeding tube care
- Medical house-call doctors
- Private ambulance or medical escort services for routine check-ups
- Therapy (Physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy)
For more information, schedule a free consult with the Homage Care Advisory Team and they will reach out to you within 48-hours.
Should we send our parents to an old folks home?
For working caregivers and those who have to juggle multiple responsibilities, it can be overwhelming or practically impossible to give our parents the care they need and deserve, especially for seniors who need nursing care or support with activities of daily living.
A nursing home can be a better alternative for your loved one, with professional nurses and trained caregivers dedicated to attending to their care needs round-the-clock. With more opportunities for social interaction with fellow residents and staff, facilitated by the various activities the home organises, seniors who live alone may also be able to avoid social isolation and better protect their mental wellbeing at a nursing home.
Nursing homes not only ensure that our loved one receives quality care, but it also helps us better manage our responsibilities and avoid caregiver burnout.
How much do nursing homes in Singapore charge?
According to the Agency for Integrated Care, the basic cost of staying in a nursing home varies between $2,000 and $3,600 a month (before MOH subsidy). Additional charges may also be applicable for special or emergency needs. While this may be rather costly, there are various subsidies available to offset up to 75% of the total cost of nursing homes.
Here’s some other reasons why families engage Homage for their loved ones:
- Post-hospitalisation care
- Respite care (When primary caregiver is away)
- Nursing care (Injections, feeding tube care, wound care, etc)
- Medical escort (Bringing your loved ones for medical appointments, etc)
To schedule a free consultation with one of our Homage Care Advisors, simply fill up this form.
What is a good nursing home?
We always want the best for our loved ones. When looking for a nursing home, there are a few factors that we should take into consideration to find one that best suits our loved ones.
Accessibility
Many of us will want to choose a nursing home that’s in close proximity to our residence. This allows us to visit our loved ones quickly and easily. One thing to take note of is also the visiting hours of the nursing home. For example, if you work from 9 am to 5 pm, you may want to choose a nursing home that allows you to visit early in the morning or late at night, outside of your working hours.
Living Condition
When you visit a nursing home for the first time, look out for the cleanliness of the place, installation of senior-proof features such as handrails and the overall atmosphere of the home. Make a mental checklist – or a physical one – to take note of the security measures in place, if there’s natural lighting, whether there’s enough space for each resident in the rooms (especially for shared rooms) and the types of recreational activities they organise.
Food Quality
This may seem trivial compared to factors like quality of care and living conditions. However, food actually plays an important role, not only in ensuring the physical wellbeing of our loved ones, but also their mental and cognitive health.
Noise Levels
Noise levels may not affect visitors much, but it can impact a resident’s quality of life. Check if the nursing home is quiet and peaceful, have loud residents and/or staff or bombarded by sounds from the surrounding such as the televisions and radios. Ask your loved one if they prefer a place that’s bustling with life or would they rather relax quietly in their own private space. Pick a nursing home with a comfortable noise level that best suits their preferences.
Staff Satisfaction
One of the most important factor to consider is definitely the quality of nursing home staff, as they are the ones who will be caring for your loved one. While you are there, take the chance to interact with the staff who care for the residents on a daily basis and observe if they smile when greeting seniors, remember the names of the residents and whether there are enough staff around to assist the residents.
Home Care Solutions as an Alternative to Nursing Homes
As the saying goes, there is no place like home. If your loved ones need care support, nursing homes are not your only option.
Home healthcare providers like Homage have local doctors, nurses, therapists and caregivers that can attend to all your care needs in your home. This can be especially important for seniors who find comfort in the familiarity of their home, such as those with dementia.
For working caregivers, engaging home care ensures that your loved one remains close to you and that you do not have to be constrained by the visiting hours of nursing homes. Most importantly home care also ensures minimal disruption to your daily routine, with flexible packages to suit your care needs and schedule.
The one-to-one care setting also ensures your loved one receives highly personalised care and the caregiver’s undivided attention. You can also communicate with our Care Professionals while you are away and receive live updates on how your loved one is doing through the Homage app.
Available from one hour to round-the-clock care, home care is an affordable alternative to nursing homes as you only book the hours you need.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of nursing homes and home care so you can make a more informed decision:
Refer to our home care services page for a comprehensive list of available services, or schedule a free consult with Homage Care Advisors for more information.
Top Nursing Homes in Singapore
For those looking for a nursing home for your loved one, here are some of the top nursing and old folks homes in Singapore that you can consider:
1. Orange Valley Nursing Home
One of the largest private nursing home operators in Singapore, Orange Valley Nursing Home can accommodate over 900 seniors and has homes present in 5 locations islandwide. They provide both long-term and short-term residential nursing care and you can also choose from single, 2-bedded and multi-bedded rooms depending on the preferences of your loved one.
- Services: residential nursing care, home care, longevity day care, caregiver training, senior activity centres
- Website: https://www.orangevalley.sg/
- Location: Balestier, Changi, Clementi, Marsiling and Simei
- Tel: 6499 4699 / 6266 3053
- Email: [email protected]
2. Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home
Established in the mid-1960s, Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home (LAMH) aims to provide affordable, personalised care for seniors who do not qualify for government-funded homes but may not be able to afford the more costly private homes. Having opened a second branch at Silat in 2017, LAMH now cares for over 100 seniors islandwide with a multi-disciplinary team of care staff that include doctors, nurses, therapist, dieticians, pharmacists and more.
- Services: nursing care, day care, home care
- Website: https://www.leeahmooioldagehome.sg/
- Location: Thomson & Silat
- Tel: 6256 8502 (Male Ward) / 6256 1324 (Female Ward)
- Email: [email protected]
- Operating hours: 9 am to 6 pm
- Visiting hours: 10 am to 2 pm, 5 pm to 7 pm
3. Ren Ci Nursing Home
Those who need support with activities of daily living can consider one of the two nursing homes by Ren Ci at Bukit Batok and Ang Mo Kio. Admission is strictly by referral, so if you would like to send your loved one to Ren Ci Nursing Home, consult a social worker at the hospital or polyclinic who will assist you in submitting an application to AIC.
- Services: nursing home, senior care centre, short stays, community hospital
- Website: https://www.renci.org.sg/
- Locations: Ang Mo Kio & Bukit Batok
- Tel: 6385 0288
- Email: [email protected]
- Visiting hours: 11 am to 2 pm, 4 pm to 7 pm
4. Hovi Care
Hovi Care is an elderly day care centre, fully accessible with wheelchairs and walking aids, that aims to support seniors above 60 years old with chronic conditions such as dementia, stroke and Parkinson’s with activities of daily living, social activities, cognitive rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
- Services: day care centre, senior activity centre, day rehabilitation centre
- Website: https://www.hovicare.com/
- Location: Bukit Timah
- Tel: 8838 4330
- Email: [email protected]
- Operating hours: 9 am to 6 pm
5. Peacehaven Nursing Home
Peacehaven Nursing Home by The Salvation Army has around 400 beds and provides compassionate, personalised, holistic care for the sick, frail and elderly who have physical or mental conditions with minimal or no caregiver support at home. You can be sure to be able to find a living environment most suitable for your loved one from the 14 separate Resident Living Areas (RLAs), each designed with a specific home-like environment for residents with different care needs. One of the RLAs, for example, is specially designed for relatively-independent residents with dementia.
- Services: nursing care
- Website: https://www.salvationarmy.org/singapore/peacehaven_nursing_home
- Address: Changi (9 Upper Changi Road North Singapore 507706)
- Tel: 6546 5678
- Email: [email protected]
- Visiting: 9 am to 7 pm
6. Sunshine Welfare Action Mission
Founded in 1989, Sunshine Welfare Action Mission (SWAMI Home) is a voluntary welfare organisation that provides integrated nursing care to seniors, including those with chronic conditions such as dementia.
- Services: residential care, residential dementia care, dementia day care centre, day rehabilitation centre, home medical and nursing services, home help services, integrated home and day care centre (IHDC)
- Website: https://www.swami.org.sg/
- Address: Sembawang (No.5 Sembawang Walk, Singapore 757717)
- Tel: 6257 6117
- Email: [email protected]
7. NTUC Health
NTUC Health’s Nursing Homes are residential spaces that incorporate a pleasant and conducive environment for healing, and that provides professional, person-centred and holistic care. NTUC Health aims to enable residents to feel empowered, independent, safe and comfortable while focusing on rehabilitating them back to the comfort and familiarity of their own home.
- Services: 24-hour medical and nursing care, dementia care, allied health and rehabilitation care, respite care, advanced care planning, dental check-up
- Website: https://ntuchealth.sg/elderly-care/services/nursing-homes/
- Locations: Jurong West, Chai Chee, Geylang East
- Contact: 6708 8400 (Jurong West), 6812 8960 (Chai Chee), 6708 8600 (Geylang East)
- Operating Hours: 9am to 9pm (Monday to Sunday)
8. St John’s Elder Home
Established in December 1958, St. John’s Home for Elderly Persons is a Sheltered Home for seniors who are ambulant and aged above 60, with the aim of providing shelter and care to meet the physical and spiritual needs of seniors who do not have proper shelter and/or adequate care support at home.
- Services: residential care
- Website: https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/our-services/
- Address: Macpherson (69 Wan Tho Avenue Singapore 347601)
- Tel: 6285 4446
- Email: [email protected]
- Operating hours: 9 am to 6 pm (Mon to Fri), 9 am to 1 pm (Sat)
- Visiting hours: 9 am to 12 pm, 3 pm to 6 pm
9. All Saints Home
All Saints Home is a registered charity that accepts seniors through referrals from The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). With four homes strategically located in different parts of Singapore and a total capacity of 734 beds, All Saints Home provides comprehensive and professional care services extended to seniors from all walks of life.
- Services: residential care, respite care, day care centre
- Website: https://www.allsaintshome.org.sg/
- Location: Hougang, Tampines, Yishun, Jurong East
- Contact: 6282 6969 (Hougang), 6788 2345 (Tampines), 6351 1400 (Yishun), 6819 9300 (Jurong East)
- Operating hours: 8.30 am to 5.30 pm (Mon – Fri)
10. Apex Harmony Lodge
Apex Harmony Lodge (AHL) is the first and only home build specially for persons with dementia (PWDs) in Singapore. With the belief that all PWDs should be able to enjoy the same quality of life as any other individual, AHL has developed 3 models of care in response to what’s best for residents at different stages of dementia.
- Services: residential care, day care centre
- Website: http://www.apexharmony.org.sg/
- Address: 10 Pasir Ris Walk Singapore 518240
- Tel: 6585 2265
- Email: [email protected]
- Operating hours: 8.30 am to 5.30 pm
- Visiting Hours: 7 am to 7 pm
11. St. Andrew’s Nursing Home
St. Andrew’s Nursing Home (SANH) aims to deliver holistic and person-centred care to the residents in a supportive environment. Currently delivering an integrated programme of rehabilitation, psycho-social and nursing care in its three nursing homes (Buangkok, Henderson, and Queenstown), SANH has plans to open a fourth home at Dover Road in late 2020, providing a total capacity of 1,125 beds.
- Services: nursing home, senior care, autism centre, community hospital
- Website: https://www.samh.org.sg/
- Location: Buangkok, Henderson, Queenstown and Dover (coming soon)
- Tel: 6880 5330 (Buangkok), 6430 9449 (Henderson), 6877 4677 (Queenstown)
- Email: [email protected] (Buangkok), [email protected] (Henderson), [email protected] (Queenstown)
12. Charis Manor Nursing Home
Charis Manor is a dementia-friendly nursing home with facilities including therapeutic garden, rehabilitation centres and several dining options, including an in-house restaurant and cafe where families can mingle when they visit. You can choose from single, 4-bedded or 7-bedded room options for your loved ones, starting from $2,700 per month before subsidy.
- Services: long-term stay, respite care, day care centre
- Website: https://www.charismanor.com/
- Address: Geylang (39 Sims Ave, Singapore 387412)
- Tel: 6741 8566
- Email: [email protected]
13. Bright Hill Evergreen Home
A 248-bedded nursing home, Bright Hill Evergreen Home (BHEH) is highly accessible and located within 10 minutes of Punggol MRT station. Overlooking the flora and fauna of Punggol Waterway, BHEB provides a tranquil and relaxing environment for seniors to live in. Seniors are also well-cared-for by the team of nurses and healthcare attendants 24/7 and medical doctors who visit the home on a regular basis.
- Services: residential nursing care
- Website: https://www.bheh.org/
- Location: Punggol (100 Punggol Field, Singapore 828811)
- Tel: 6459 3492
- Email: [email protected]
- Operating hours: 7 am to 7 pm
- Visiting hours: 11 am to 7.30 pm
Choosing the best elderly care option for your needs
Besides nursing homes, you may also consider community care facilities. Day care centres, for example, may be more suitable for seniors who are relatively independent and enjoy socialising with others. There are also specialised day care centres available for seniors with specific conditions such as dementia.
If your loved one prefers staying in the comfort of home, you can check out our list of home care services or fill out the form below to receive a free care consultation with a member of the Homage Team who will reach out within 48-hours.
- Toh, Y. (2016). Singaporeans okay with moving to nursing homes in their old age. The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 July 2020, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/sporeans-okay-with-moving-to-nursing-homes-in-their-old-age
- Wang, Pei & Yap, Philip & Koh, Gerald & Chong, Jia & Davies, Lucy & Dalakoti, Mayank & Phoon, Fong & Tiong, Wei & Luo, Nan. (2016). Quality of life and related factors of nursing home residents in Singapore. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 14. 10.1186/s12955-016-0503-x
