Those needing intermediate or long-term care facilities and long-term care services should apply for Singapore government subsidies to help offset elderly care costs.

What are Long-Term Care (LTC) Services? 

Long-term care (LTC) services are typically required by persons who need further care after being discharged from an acute hospital as well as seniors in the community who may be frail and need help with their daily needs. These include: 

• Nursing homes 

• Hospices 

• Home-based services  

• Senior Care Centres 

 More information on LTC services can be found at: Long-Term Care (LTC) Services 

Government Subsidies for LTC services 

MOH provides subsidies for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents receiving LTC services from MOH-funded providers. 

 Subsidy levels are determined through household means-testing using monthly Per Capita Household Income (PCHI)¹, to account for the overall financial resources a household has to support its members. For households with zero PCHI, the Annual Value² of their residential property is used to determine subsidy levels. 

¹Monthly PCHI is computed as the total gross household monthly income divided by the total number of family members living together in the household. Gross monthly household income includes basic employment income, trade/self-employed income, overtime pay, allowances, cash awards, commissions, and bonuses. 

² Annual Value is the estimated gross annual rent of a property if it were to be rented out, excluding furnishings and maintenance fees. It is determined by IRAS, and may be checked via mytax.iras.gov.sg. Subsidy levels in 2024 will be determined using 2023 Annual Values. 

 More information on government subsidies can be found at the following links:  

• Subsidies for Non-residential LTC services 

• Subsidies for Residential LTC services  

• Subsidies for Palliative Care services  

• Subsidies for Community Dialysis services  

Other Assistance Schemes 

MOH also provides additional support in the form of grants, such as the Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) and Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF). In addition to means-testing, grant applicants may also be required to meet other scheme-specific eligibility criteria (e.g. disability criteria) in order to access these grants. 

 More information on grants can be found at the following links:  

• Home Caregiving Grant (HCG)  

• Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) 

 LTC service providers can also assist their clients in applying for other discretionary financial assistance, such as MediFund and ElderFund. 

Application Procedures 

You will need a referral from a hospital, polyclinic, or GP who is familiar with your loved ones’ condition and needs. You may also contact the service provider for a discussion. 

 For further assistance, you may contact the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) at 1800 650 6060, email enquiries@aic.sg, or visit an AIC Link near you.