Recovering from a stroke or caring for a stroke survivor is no easy feat. Here are some useful resources you can refer to for help along the way.
For financial assistance
General
1. Financial assistance schemes
Different schemes available depending on the urgency or duration of need
MSF ComCare Interim
Assistance
//www.msf.gov.sg/Comcare/Pages/Urgent-Financial-Assistance.aspx
MSF ComCare Short-to-Medium-term
Assistance
//www.msf.gov.sg/Comcare/Pages/Short-To-Medium-Term-Assistance.aspx
MSF ComCare Long-Term
Assistance
//www.msf.gov.sg/Comcare/Pages/Public-Assistance.aspx
2. Healthcare subsidies
Financial subsidies for healthcare
services
//www.moh.gov.sg/cost-financing/healthcare-schemes-subsidies
//www.chas.sg/
3. Medical fee exemption card
Free treatment for Singaporeans and PRs who
qualify
//www.aic.sg/financial-assistance/medical-fee-exemption-card
4. Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance
For those in the SG Pioneer generation and have difficulties performing certain daily activities (needs certification by an approved
assessor)
//www.aic.sg/financial-assistance/pioneer-generation-disability-assistance-scheme
5. Tax relief
Tax reliefs and rebates for caregivers, as well as those with selected family members who are
handicapped
//www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Individuals/Locals/Working-Out-Your-Taxes/Deductions-for-Individuals--Reliefs--Expenses--Donations-/#title6
Transport
1. Persons with Disability Concession Card
For Singaporeans and PRs certified to have permanent
disability. Includes 25% off all adult bus and train fares
//www.sgenable.sg/pages/content.aspx?path=/schemes/transport/public-transport-concession-scheme-for-persons-with-disabilities/
2. Transport Service Subsidy (VWO Transport Subsidy Scheme)
For those with
disabilities and need dedicated transport by Social Service Agencies to access Day Activity Centres (DACs)
//www.sgenable.sg/pages/content.aspx?path=/schemes/transport/vwo-transport-subsidies/
3. Taxi subsidy
A means-tested subsidy for taxi travel to school, work or employment-related
training
//www.sgenable.sg/pages/content.aspx?path=/schemes/transport/taxi-subsidy-scheme/
4. Car subsidy (Disabled Persons Scheme)
A means-tested car subsidy for Singaporeans and PRs certified unable to use public transport and need a vehicle to earn a
living
//www.sgenable.sg/pages/content.aspx?path=/schemes/transport/disabled-persons-scheme/
5. Assistive Technology Fund
A means-tested subsidy for up to 90% of the cost of assistive equipment (e.g. wheelchair, hearing
aids)
//www.sgenable.sg/pages/content.aspx?path=/schemes/equipment-technology-home-retrofit/assistive-technology-fund/
Caregiving and personal care
1. Purchase of assistive equipment (e.g. wheelchair, hearing aids)
Assistive Technology Fund
A means-tested
subsidy for up to 90% of the cost of assistive equipment (e.g. wheelchair, hearing aids)
//www.sgenable.sg/pages/content.aspx?path=/schemes/equipment-technology-home-retrofit/assistive-technology-fund/
Senior's Mobility and enabling fund (SMF)
Subsidies for Singaporean
seniors who need mobility and assistive devices, or are receiving home or community care and require home healthcare items
//www.aic.sg/financial-assistance/Seniors%20Mobility%20And%20Enabling%20Fund%20(SMF)
2. Home caregiving grant
A monthly
cash payout to support loved ones with at least permanent, moderate disability. It replaced the Foreign Domestic Worker grant in October 2019.
//www.aic.sg/financial-assistance/Home%20Caregiving%20Grant%20%28HCG%29
3. FDW levy concession
For persons with disabilities. Allows
families to pay the FDW levy at a concessionary rate
//www.aic.sg/financial-assistance/Foreign%20Domestic%20Worker%20(FDW)%20Levy%20Concession
For caregiving help
Caregiver training and respite
1. Caregivers training grant
An annual subsidy for caregivers (family
members, FDWs) to attend approved courses which help them better care for their loved ones
//www.aic.sg/financial-assistance/Caregivers%20Training%20Grant%20(CTG)
2. Caregiver respite
Short-term (several days to few weeks) care options, when a caregiver needs a break or will
be unavailable. Some nursing homes offer care within 1-5 working days
//www.aic.sg/care-services/nursing-home
3. Caregiver support group
Find support and tips from other caregivers. Join SNSA to find out
more
//www.snsa.org.sg/activities/stroke-support-group-ssg/
4. Caregiver support group
Find support and tips from other caregivers. Join S3 to find out more
//www.s3.org.sg/caregivers-programme
Caregiver help
1. Caregiver help
Find help for stroke survivors who need nursing care assistance at home (eg: medication management, vital signs monitoring, nursing care procedure)
//www.aic.sg/care-services/home-nursing
2. Caregiver
help
Find help for stroke survivors who require medical needs at home
//www.aic.sg/care-services/home-medical
3. Caregiver help
Find help for stroke survivors who require home-based rehabilitation
services
//www.aic.sg/care-services/home-therapy
For personal care
Resources for personal care
1. Home personal care
Find help to assist stroke survivors with Activities of Daily Living (eg: baths, light housekeeping), medication, mind stimulating activities, elder- sitting and other care
tasks
//www.aic.sg/care-services/home-personal-care
2. Meals-on-wheels
Provide meals for stroke survivor who are homebound
//www.aic.sg/care-services/meals-on-wheels
3. Stroke support group
Find support and tips from fellow stroke
survivors. Join SNSA to find out more
//www.snsa.org.sg/activities/stroke-support-group-ssg/
4. Developmental Disability Registry (DDR) Identity (ID) card
Discounted rates for therapies, healthcare devices, places of interest and
more
//www.ncss.gov.sg/GatewayPages/Social-Services/Adult-with-Disabilities/DDR-ID-Card
For getting around (transport)
Transport services and mobility aids
1. Subsidies for purchase of assistive technologies (e.g. wheelchair, mobility aid/device)
Assistive Technology Fund
A
means-tested subsidy for up to 90% of the cost of assistive equipment (e.g. wheelchair, hearing aids)
//www.sgenable.sg/pages/content.aspx?path=/schemes/equipment-technology-home-retrofit/assistive-technology-fund/
Senior's Mobility and enabling fund (SMF)
Subsidies for
Singaporean seniors who need mobility and assistive devices, or are receiving home or community care and require home healthcare items
//www.aic.sg/financial-assistance/Seniors%20Mobility%20And%20Enabling%20Fund%20(SMF)
2. Specialised transport service
To help
you get from home to medical appointments/ treatments and back. You may be eligible for subsidies for this service.
//www.aic.sg/care-services/medical-escort-and-transport
3. Medical escort service
To help you during at medical appointment (such as navigating the hospital and taking note of the next appointment). You may be eligible for subsidies
for this service
//www.aic.sg/care-services/medical-escort-and-transport
For finding work
Employment resources
1. StrokeHub
Read more about information on
Return-to-work
//www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/SingHealth/SGH%20Strokehub%20factsheet_Returning%20to%20Work_V10.3_ECMT.pdf
2. Vocational assessment service
Explore your capabilities and the types of work you may be interested
in
//www.bizlink.org.sg/services/vocational-assessment-program/
3. Sheltered workshop programme
For people with disabilities who are not yet ready for but can be trained for employment in future via the
programme
//www.bizlink.org.sg/services/sheltered-workshop-program/
4. Employment support programme
Up to 6 months of job support to help you adapt and cope with the job and working
environment
//www.spd.org.sg/employment-support-programme/
5. Transition to employment programme
A return-to-work programme tailored to your needs, to help you return to the mainstream
workforce
//www.spd.org.sg/transition-to-employment/
For returning to driving
Resources for driving
1. Information on driving
eligibility
//www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/SingHealth/SSI%20Strokehub%20factsheet_Driving%20Eligibility_V4.pdf
2. After a stroke, you may only resume driving after satisfying all the following criteria:
It has been at least 1 year since your stroke
Your (specialist) doctor has certified you fit-to-drive
You have passed a formal driving assessment (requires referral from your doctor)
The driving assessments are available via doctors’ referral at:
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Driving Assessment and Rehabilitation Programme - DARP)
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (Driving Assessment and Rehabilitation Service - DARS)
3. Car park label
For
drivers and passengers with mobility impairment to park in designated lots which allow vehicle doors to open fully
//www.sgenable.sg/pages/content.aspx?path=/schemes/accessibility/car-park-label-scheme-for-persons-with-physical-disabilities#P1
For help to quit smoking
Resources for quitting smoking
1. Harms of smoking and benefits of quitting
Learn about smoking-related diseases caused by the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke and motivate yourself with the benefits of quitting smoking
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1468/clearing-the-air
2. Myths about quitting
Addresses
myths which might be barriers in deciding to quit
//www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medications/41/Smoking-Cessation
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1787/stubbing-out-myths-about-quitting
3.
Quitting smoking: Challenges and solutions
How to manage weight gain, cravings and emotional triggers that make it hard to stop
smoking
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1841/5-fast-facts-about-nicotine-replacement-therapy
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1749/6-smoke-free-ways-to-deal-with-emotions
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1752/how-to-deal-with-cravings-after-quitting
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1813/weigh-to-go-quit-smoking-without-weight-gain
4. Ways to quit smoking
Go cold turkey or gradually
reduce
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1843/learn-the-way-of-the-cold-turkey
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1842/gradual-reduction-in-a-nutshell
5. Getting
ready to quit
A game plan so you’ll be on your way to your last cigarette
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1766/build-your-quitting-game-plan
6. Quit smoking clinics
NHG Pharmacy makes quitting easier by offering Quit Smoking Services at their
clinics
//www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medical-and-care-facilities/25/quit-smoking-clinic
7. Staying smoke-free
You’ve put out your last cigarette — congrats! Here are some tips to help you avoid a smoking relapse, stay smoke-free and level up from "quitter" to
"ex-smoker"
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1769/keep-it-up-staying-smoke-free
8. Helping someone quit smoking
Support and encouragement you can give when your friend or loved one has the urge to
smoke
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1873/7-ways-to-be-a-quit-smoking-kaki
//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/466/helpsomeonequitsmoking
For a support group
1. Stroke support
group
Find support and tips from fellow stroke survivors. Join SNSA to find out more
www.snsa.org.sg
2. Stroke support station
Find support and tips from fellow stroke survivors. Join S3 to find out more
www.s3.org.sg
For stroke information
1. StrokeHub
Find information on stroke and
strokecare
//www.healthhub.sg/programmes/130/strokehub
2. StrokeHub book
English
//www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/SingHealth/ENG_StrokeHub_Book2019.pdf
Mandarin
//www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/SingHealth/CHI_StrokeHub_Book2019.pdf
Malay
//www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/SingHealth/MAL_StrokeHub_Book2019.pdf
Tamil
//www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/SingHealth/TAM_StrokeHub_Book2019.pdf
Ref: K21