As Singapore’s ageing population grows, so will its number of caregivers. In caring for our loved ones, we may face unspoken pressures and challenges that come with caregiving. Without the necessary support from the community, family caregivers may be at risk of burnout.
Our previous article introduced a slew of financial schemes available for caregivers to tap on, lightening their load of caregiving. However, these have limited effect on caregivers’ mental and emotional wellbeing, which can in turn affect the quality of care your loved one receives.
When you feel overwhelmed by caregiving, remember that there are many others who have walked or are walking the same path as you. Community support is always available and one common form is support groups.
Benefits of Joining a Caregiver Support Group
Support groups exist to create a safe and comfortable environment for caregivers to share their feelings and challenges, and find emotional and moral support from others going through similar experiences. By sharing your story, you are helping others while receiving support. Connecting with and supporting one another also gives you strength in knowing that you are not alone in the caregiving journey.
Moreover, support groups are also a source of valuable caregiving insights. Caregivers who have been in similar circumstances may have accumulated practical caregiving and self-care tips in a localised setting, that you could benefit from.
Caregiver Support Groups in Singapore
In Singapore, there are numerous support groups for the family caregiver. These groups can be found within hospitals and in the community.
We have compiled a list of support groups that you can be a part of, categorised by their medical conditions. You can reach out and connect with them via their website, email or simply through a call.
Caregiver Support Groups
Caregiver Support Group
Organised by Caregiver Welfare Association, the group holds monthly workshops to help caregivers manage the stresses that come with caregiving, and act as a platform for caregivers to connect and share information and experiences.
- Tel: 64667957
- Email: [email protected]
Cancer Support Groups in Singapore
Breast Cancer Support Group
Facilitated by the staff at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), the Breast Cancer Support Group meets monthly and has 30 breast cancer survivors who volunteer to provide counselling and psychological support for people battling breast cancer as well as their family and caregivers.
- Tel: 61234567
Prostate Cancer Support Group (PCSG)
The Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Prostate Cancer Support Group consists of prostate cancer survivors and their family members who gather monthly to share their experiences. Medical professionals from TTSH Department of Urology are also present to provide support, resources and information on prostate cancer.
- Tel: 63572494 / 63572491
- Email: [email protected]
Brain Tumour Society
The Brain Tumour Society Singapore (BTSS) Support Group meets monthly. Whether you are a caregiver, a survivor or just an individual with a passion to help the brain tumour community, you can share your experiences and knowledge, ask questions or simply chat with others and gain strength from being a part of the BTSS community.
- Tel: 87385669
- Email: [email protected]
Other Cancer Support Groups
- Acute Leukaemia Warriors Support Group
- Haematopoietic Progenitor Cell Transplant (HPCT) Support Group
- Breast Support Group
- Gynaecologic Oncology Patients TEAL Support Group
- Lymphoma Support Group
- Multiple Myeloma Support Group
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Support Group
- NPC oneHeart Support Group
- Sarcoma Support Group
Equip yourself with relevant knowledge on cancer in our guide here.
Dementia Support Groups in Singapore
Dementia Support Group
Held on the 4th Saturday of odd months, from 1pm to 3pm, the Dementia Support Group is a meeting where caregivers and dementia care team at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) get together to address a range of topics from preventing dementia to therapy.
- Email: [email protected]
Caregiver Support Group
With English, Mandarin and Malay sessions, this support group by Alzheimer’s Disease Association is a 2-hour session consisting of a talk by a guest speaker and a sharing session amongst caregivers.
- Tel: 63770700
- Email: [email protected]
GoodLife!@Bedok
GoodLife!@Bedok organizes monthly support groups in English, Chinese and Malay. The groups provide a safe and relaxed environment for caregivers to gain emotional and social support. Caregivers can also gain practical knowledge on caregiving from healthcare professionals present at the sessions.
- Tel: 63123988
- Email: [email protected]
Other Dementia Support Groups
Learn all about dementia to better care for and support your loved one in our guide here.
Mental Health Support Groups in Singapore
Caregivers Support Centre
Caregiver Alliance Limited (CAL) has trained professionals located at Caregivers Support Centre at Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and various hospitals to provide information, counselling and referrals.
- Tel: 63888631
Club HEAL
Club HEAL holds caregiver support groups on the first three Fridays of each month at various locations, to help in forming a strong support system for individuals with mental illnesses.
- Email: [email protected]
Other Mental Health Support Groups
Understand the different mental conditions and learn how to deliver the best care to your loved one with a mental condition here.
Neuromuscular Disease Support Groups in Singapore
Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore)
If you are caring for a loved one with muscular dystrophy, join Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) (MDAS) as a member to receive support through their network of like-minded individuals and the programmes that MDAS organises.
Other Neuromuscular Disease Support Groups
- Epilepsy Support Group
- Motor Neuron Disease / Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Support Group
- Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Parkinson’s Support Groups in Singapore
Parkinson Support Group
Parkinson’s support groups are present at several hospitals in Singapore, with various programmes lined up throughout the year. Meet fellow caregivers and medical professionals in a similar situation as yourself and learn skills on how to care for persons with Parkinson’s.
- Tel: 64268600 / 64268601
Singapore General Hospital (SGH)
- Tel: 92953331 (Nurse Usanee)
- Email: [email protected]
Parkinson Disease Support Group
With monthly meetings at National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), this support group is held in both English and Mandarin and covers various topics from music therapy to staying active.
- Tel: 63577138
Other Parkinson’s Support Groups
Stroke Support Groups in Singapore
Stroke Support Group
Stroke Support Group is a platform for persons with stroke and caregivers to meet informally to participate in social activities and share their experiences with one another.
- Tel: 62229514
- Email: [email protected]
Other Stroke Support Groups
Find out all about stroke and how you can best support your loved one recovering from a stroke in our guides.
Other Support Groups in Singapore
- Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Support Group
- Bariatric Surgery Support Group
- Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Singapore (CLAPAS)
- Head Injury Support Group
- Living Well with Diabetes
- Osteoporosis Support Group
- Pain Support Group
- Pulmonary Hypertension Support Group (PHSG)
Seeking Help Online
There are also many online communities that caregivers can join as an initial step towards receiving support.
They can take the form of online support groups, such as Project We Forgot and Caregivers for Elderly by TOUCH Caregivers Support. You can interact with fellow caregivers in these groups to share your stories, challenges or exchange caregiving tips and information.
Another form of online support is interest groups where caregivers and the public get together to share knowledge and information relevant to your loved one’s specific condition.
As Mr Kelvin Lee, manager at Touch Caregivers Support, says, “the quality of care is directly related to the caregiver’s health and well-being”. To provide the best care to your loved one, let’s start by making sure we are taking good care of ourselves.
If you are looking for respite from caregiving, we can help.
- Guterman, E., Allen, I., Josephson, S., Merrilees, J., Dulaney, S., & Chiong, W. et al. (2019). Association Between Caregiver Depression and Emergency Department Use Among Patients With Dementia. JAMA Neurology, 76(10), 1166. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.1820
- Lee, V. (2015). Struggles of Singapore’s ageing caregivers. Retrieved 5 December 2019, from https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/struggles-of-singapores-ageing-caregivers
- Ng, D. (2019). When carers are burnt out, who cares for them?. Retrieved 5 December 2019, from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/when-carers-caregivers-burnout-who-cares-them-ageing-elderly-11504380
