We believe in the essence of love to help create a better world, and we appreciate the effort that it takes to be a caregiver. We know that caregiving is an inevitable and essential part of everyone’s lives and we acknowledge anyone working towards making caregiving a better, and more supported ecosystem.
So, when we heard about how Red Crowns is working actively as a pioneering force in Singapore, redefining senior care by offering an alternative to conventional nursing homes – a senior co-living space, we were impressed. With Red Crown’s co-living spaces seniors can age gracefully in a home-like environment with round-the-clock support.
Recognising the vital role of foreign workers in assisting seniors with daily tasks, Red Crowns has recently been chosen to collaborate with the government on the innovative “Shared Stay-in Care Senior Services” sandbox. This sandbox, a collaborative effort between the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and the Ministry of Health (MOH), aims to explore the feasibility of hiring live-in foreign caregivers while simultaneously formulating progressive policies for stay-in foreign care. The company actively contributed to the sandbox’s development, leveraging its expertise and experience as a senior co-living facility to assist policymakers in shaping the regulatory framework.
Caregiving can be an emotionally and physically demanding task, requiring continuous support, navigating complex medical and personal care responsibilities, and coping with the emotional impact of witnessing the decline of those under one’s care. A large-scale study conducted by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) surveyed 4,500 caregivers in Singapore and revealed that over half feel “burdened” or are “barely coping” with their caregiving responsibilities. It is therefore crucial to empower professional caregivers with fair working hours and additional support to prevent mental and physical burnout, ensuring sustained high care for seniors. Red Crowns’ initiatives within the “Shared Stay-in Care Senior Services” sandbox aim to enhance caregivers’ work-life balance, ultimately elevating the standard of care for the elderly.
The Changing Landscape Of Caregiving
Historically, caregiving was primarily a familial responsibility. However, societal shifts and demographic changes, such as busier lifestyles and ageing populations, have significantly transformed the caregiver’s role, giving rise to more professional caregivers. In Singapore, the elderly population has surged to nearly 20%, a substantial 10% increase over the past decade, underscoring the pressing need for more professional caregivers equipped to address the needs of seniors.
The evolving landscape has also seen a notable rise in male and female migrant workers (MWs) entering the caregiving field. This challenges traditional gender stereotypes that largely associate caregiving with females. Moreover, it diversifies the talent pool, promoting gender equality. Embracing diversity in caregiving brings a richness of experiences and skills, contributing to a well-rounded approach to meeting the diverse needs of seniors. The “shared senior stay-in care” sandbox allows participating senior care facilities to hire both male and female caregivers from additional sources, expanding the range of available talent.
Developing Effective Work-Hour Tracking
Caregivers often grapple with the challenge of balancing their work responsibilities and personal lives. The demanding nature of caregiving, coupled with the emotional and physical toll it can take, underscores the need for effective strategies to manage these competing priorities. Implementing reliable work-hour tracking systems emerges as a crucial aspect of addressing this challenge. By accurately monitoring and regulating work hours, caregivers can experience improved well-being, reduced burnout, and enhanced work-life harmony.
The “shared senior stay-in care” sandbox focuses on developing effective ways to track the working hours of MWs. The private partners, including Red Crowns, chosen to collaborate on this project will propose ways to track the “effective work hours” without compromising on the well-being of workers if there are long periods of stand-by hours. The government agencies will then carefully review each proposal on a case-by-case basis.
Recognising Higher-Skilled Status Among MWs
The regulatory sandbox also facilitates the recognition of higher-skilled status among Migrant Workers (MWs). This enables companies, including Red Crowns, to propose training courses aligned with the Agency for Integrated Care’s Skills Standards Framework for the community care sector. Such training is pivotal, enabling MWs to provide more specialised and targeted support to the elderly.
With additional training, MWs can extend their roles to include medical procedures, therapy, and daily emotional support. This enhancement in skill levels contributes to an overall improvement in the quality of care provided to seniors, transcending basic tasks such as meal preparation, personal care, and transportation. Consequently, allowing companies to train and recognise higher-skilled status among migrant workers results in improved caregiving tailored to the specific needs of the elderly.
Impact On Senior Care Quality
Enhanced caregiver work-life balance directly correlates with elevated quality of care provided to seniors as they are less likely to struggle with burnout, depression and stress. When caregivers experience improved well-being and reduced stress, it positively impacts their ability to deliver more attentive, compassionate, and effective care to the elderly. Red Crowns remains committed to providing support for caregivers in maintaining their personal well-being to provide the best possible care to their clients.
Red Crowns, by addressing work-life balance challenges, recognising higher-skilled status among Migrant Workers, and implementing effective work-hour tracking, not only empowers caregivers but also raises the standard of care for seniors.
The impact of these transformative initiatives extends beyond the sandbox, shaping a future where caregivers flourish, seniors receive exceptional care, and the ageing population experiences a more compassionate and supportive journey. Other senior care facilities are encouraged to consider adopting similar initiatives, fostering a collective commitment to caregiver empowerment and enhancing the well-being of our senior community.