ONLINE HELP FOR CAREGIVERS

My elder daughter in Singapore emailed me the link to the Silver Pages website, launched last month by the Ministry of Health's Agency For Integrated Care (AIC). It's exactly what I've been searching for ever since I turned primary caregiver for my mother. She has dementia and is also recovering from hip surgery. Sure, there are plenty of similar websites offering more or less the same services and resources. But this one is local, with names that are familiar, and places that are accessible.

Silver Pages provides information on major chronic conditions such as dementia, diabetes and stroke, where to seek long-term care for such diseases, and where to purchase home care products ranging from elderly-friendly mobile phones to hospital  beds. Each product comes with the list price and the supplier's address.

That's not all. You can take a simple assessment test to find out the type of caregiving services or living arrangements best suited for your needs. The website also offers information on how you can pay for long-term health care, and what financial schemes are available to Singaporeans and permanent residents.

Finally, there's the online helpdesk that you can call up and enquire about long-term care services. Operating hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

My favourite page is the Caregiver's Resources. There are links to resources e.g. Tips for Caring for the Elderly, Healthy Eating for Seniors, and Managing Your Stress.

Do check out Silver Pages. If you are a caregiver, you would want to bookmark this website and recommend it to others as well.