SINGAPORE: Singapore may offer legislation in 2025 to contract and increase standards of care in social private homes.
These refer to services that provide lodging to people who require attention, assistance, or cultural treatment, such as those with disabilities or poor adults.
Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said on Monday ( Mar 10 ) that an upcoming Social Residential Homes Bill will introduce a licensing framework to improve the quality of care and ultimately residents ‘ safety, well-being and welfare.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development ( MSF ) will also invest in training and building up the capabilities of operators of these homes, Mr Masagos said during the ministry’s Budget debate.
MSF said in a separate brochure that this would standardise and maintain continuity of care for susceptible people.
” At the same time, the Bill provides for the possibility of homes evolving to meet people ‘ wants, where various client information may be housed up”, Mr Masagos said in parliament.  ,
WHAT THE BILL COULD LOOK LIKE
Government input device REACH consulted the people on the Bill from November last year to January.
According to information published by MSF on REACH’s website, the Bill aims to replace the Homes for the Aged Act ( HFAA ) that regulates sheltered homes, and supersede existing provisions on care standards for homes in the Children and Young Persons Act and Destitute Persons Act.
MSF is even looking to adopt a “risk-based regulation approach” to permit social residential homes in stages, beginning with the most vulnerable and most reliant people.
Features listed by MSF include family’s homes, children illness houses, protected houses, security homes, and adult disability homes and hostels.
Among the input from over 30 respondents was an importance on the need to clearly identify the situations under which constraints may be used in social private houses, such as in cases of self-harm or potential injury to others, according to the REACH site.
The respondents- a group including staff and board members of homes, family members of residents and members of the public- also agreed on the need for penalties to deal with serious breaches and egregious offences.