Over 350,000 Singaporeans appointed trusted person to take charge if they lose mental capacity
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Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said on Sept 1 that more than 80,000 ACPs have been completed.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
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SINGAPORE – More than 350,000 Singaporeans have made their lasting power of attorney (LPA) as at Aug 15, amid efforts over the past two years to encourage people to be more active in their legacy planning.
An LPA allows people to appoint a trusted person, usually a family member, to take charge of matters like personal welfare, property and finances if they lose mental capacity.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) previously set a goal in 2023 to have more than 240,000 Singaporeans aged 50 and above make their LPAs by end-2025.
Of the 350,000 Singaporeans who have made their LPAs as at Aug 15, about 290,000 are aged 50 and above, exceeding the goal by 50,000.
Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said on Sept 1 that over 80,000 advance care plans (ACPs) have also been completed. ACPs allow people to document their preferences for medical treatment in advance in case they become mentally incapacitated.
About 1.8 million people have also made their Central Provident Fund (CPF) nominations.
Mr Goh said that, in general, four in five people who die would have made a nomination.
He shared this at an appreciation event and the 15th anniversary celebration of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.
A nationwide campaign was launched in July 2023 to raise awareness of legacy planning tools like LPAs, ACPs, wills and CPF nominations.
The campaign was helmed by multiple agencies like MSF, CPF Board and the Agency for Integrated Care.
With the strong collaboration between agencies and partners, the take-up rate of legacy planning tools has risen significantly, said MSF in a statement on Sept 1.
The usual fee of $70 for the first LPA form – out of two available – is currently waived for Singapore citizens until the end of March 2026. The other LPA form is for those who want to grant specific or customised powers and has to be drafted by a lawyer.
LPA certification fees can be paid using CDC and SG60 vouchers at establishments that accept them.
The application process for an LPA has been made easier in recent years with the launch of an online portal in 2022, moving past paper-based applications.
LPA applications were also integrated with the Open Government Products and the Ministry of Health’s health appointment system in 2023. The system is commonly used by people to book health appointments. In the system, those interested in making an LPA can view nearby clinics and law firms that they can go to for completing various parts of the LPA process.
Mr Goh said OPG’s transformative concept has enabled people to plan for their future.
He said: “This forward-thinking approach opens important conversations with our loved ones about our preferences and wishes. They ensure that decisions made on our behalf truly reflect our values and desires, giving both us and our families peace of mind.”
Long-time partners and advocates for legacy planning attended the appreciation event on Sept 1. Dr Raymond Ong, a senior resident medical officer at Mount Alvernia Hospital, has been an active volunteer for encouraging people to make their LPAs since 2017.
As someone in the medical field, he often comes across families who are underprepared when something happens to a loved one.
“You see a lot of people who think making an LPA is too complicated and involves many steps, which intimidates them, or you also have people who feel that if they are mentally unsound one day, they won’t care any more about what happens to their assets,” he said.
To make an LPA, one can draft the form via the OPG online portal. The person appointed as the one who will take charge, known as the donee, must accept the appointment online.
The applicant must then visit a certificate issuer, usually a lawyer, doctor or a psychiatrist, who can certify the LPA and submit it for registration.
Dr Ong recalled a case where a young girl gathered credit cards from her aunts, uncles and cousins, and took them to the hospital to try to pay for her father’s medical bills as he did not make an LPA.
“Cases like this are heartbreaking to see, and I think making an LPA is the best investment people can make to ensure their family has an easier time if anything happens to them,” he said.
