Eldercare Helper Singapore

An eldercare helper is a foreign domestic worker (FDW) whose primary placement focus is caring for elderly household members rather than general housework. The core differences: (1) Specialised training or proven experience in conditions common in elderly care — dementia, stroke recovery, mobility assistance, continence management. (2) Matching is done around the elderly person’s specific medical context, not just household size. (3) Personality fit (patience, calm, attentiveness) is weighted heavily. (4) Often the helper carries lighter housework duties so they can focus on the eldercare. Functionally she is still on a standard MOM FDW work permit — Singapore does not have a separate "caregiver" visa category.

Total monthly cost (2026): S$680–850 helper salary + S$300 levy (S$60 concessionary if the elderly person is 67+ and lives with you) + ~S$25 insurance + ~S$120 food allowance. All-in monthly: roughly S$1,000–1,300 if concessionary levy applies, S$1,240–1,540 at standard levy. One-time costs: placement fee S$1,500–2,500 for overseas hire (or S$600–1,200 for transfer helper), security bond (S$5,000 — usually purchased as a bond product for S$50–80/year, not paid in cash), Settling-In Programme S$75, medical exam S$100–200.

Yes — if the elderly person is 67 years or older and lives in your household. The concessionary levy is S$60/month versus the standard S$300/month — a saving of S$240/month or S$2,880/year. You apply through MOM FDW eService with proof of household composition (NRIC showing the elderly person’s age and address). Only one helper per qualifying elderly person gets the concessionary rate.

Our consultation covers: (a) the elderly person’s diagnoses and stage, (b) mobility level (independent / cane / walker / wheelchair / bedridden), (c) cognitive level (alert / mild memory issues / moderate dementia / advanced dementia), (d) personality and preferences, (e) household routine, (f) language preferences for communication. We then match against helper profiles with specific experience in those areas — for example, a helper with 2 years’ experience caring for a Parkinson’s patient is a stronger match for a similar case than a helper with general "elderly care" experience. We share the helper’s full MOM employment history so you can verify duration and consistency.

Yes — under a standard MOM work permit she is a general domestic helper. In practice most eldercare placements work like this: 60–70% of time is direct elderly care (mobility, hygiene, meals, companionship), 20–30% is light housework (cleaning, laundry), and any childcare is light/secondary. If your household needs heavy childcare AND heavy eldercare, we strongly recommend two helpers — splitting both duties on one helper leads to burnout and shorter contract retention.

A single helper can manage a mostly-bedridden elderly person if the household provides proper equipment (hospital bed, transfer board, hoist if needed) and the helper has prior bedridden-care experience. Realistic limits: turning the patient every 2–3 hours overnight is physically demanding, and one helper cannot provide 24/7 monitoring without rest. For fully dependent cases requiring continuous monitoring, consider: (a) a second helper or rotating night carer, (b) a nursing home placement, or (c) supplementing with a Homage/private nursing visit a few times a week. We discuss this honestly during consultation rather than oversell.

Yes — and a good eldercare helper handles this routinely. Specifically: she escorts the elderly person to clinics, helps with mobility (wheelchair, walking aid), takes notes during consultations, asks clarifying questions in the elderly person’s language, and reports back to family afterward. For helpers without strong English, we recommend matching with English-speaking helpers (Filipino or Sri Lankan) if the medical environment requires it. Many of our eldercare placements include this as a stated job scope from day 1.

Rough decision framework. Hire a helper if: (a) the elderly person is mobile or partially mobile, (b) the family wants the elderly person to remain at home, (c) you need 12–16 hours of daily support rather than 24/7 nursing-level monitoring, (d) cost matters — a helper at S$1,200/month all-in versus S$2,500–6,000+/month for a nursing home is the typical SG range. Consider nursing home if: (a) the elderly person requires medical-grade nursing (IV, tracheostomy care, advanced wound care), (b) family is unable to be present for any time and 24/7 supervision is essential, (c) the elderly person is fully bedridden with complex medical needs. Most families end up combining options — helper at home + day rehab or weekly nursing visits.

Transfer helpers (already in Singapore): typically 1–3 weeks from interview to start work. Overseas placements: 4–8 weeks depending on nationality (Indonesian/Myanmar often faster than Filipino due to POLO/OEC requirements). For urgent cases (e.g. recent hospital discharge), we prioritise transfer helpers and have completed full placement in as little as 5 working days.

Standard replacement guarantee terms (varies by package): within the first 3 months, if the match isn’t working due to a verifiable mismatch (not minor incidents), we work with you to find a replacement at reduced or no additional placement fee. The replacement window covers situations like: serious incompatibility with the elderly person’s temperament, the helper not adapting to the medical demands, family-side relocation or care needs change. We discuss the specifics of your replacement guarantee during consultation — every package is different.