Father, daughter deaths in Sengkang flat: Who will look after the vulnerable when caregivers die?

SINGAPORE - When Mr Alvin Tan saw a police appeal photo of a woman found dead with her father in their Block 324D Sengkang East Way flat, he did a double take.

Mr Tan, 35, who lives three units below the pair, could hardly recognise her, as the unkempt woman he used to see at the block looked nothing like the youthful-looking 47-year-old in the picture.

The bodies were

found o

n Oct 6

in a flat on the eighth floor.

The son of a resident living in the unit directly below theirs called the police after fluids, likely from the decomposing bodies, leaked from the ceiling, reported Shin Min Daily News.

The woman, identified by the police as Ms Xu Na, is believed to have had mental health issues, said residents.

Associate Professor Jamus Lim, an MP for Sengkang GRC who oversees the area, told The Straits Times: “We’ve checked through our records of appeals, as well as house visits, both this term and the last. We have, unfortunately, no records that the family has ever sought assistance from us.”

He added: “We keep track of those who engage us, and those whom we engage during house visits, when there are specific follow-ups to attend to.”

He said help is being provided to the family on the seventh floor to clean up the biohazardous waste.

On Oct 7, the police appealed for Ms Xu’s next of kin to come forward. As at Oct 10, they were still appealing for family members to contact them on 1800-255-0000.

The father’s highly decomposed body was found in a bedroom, while the daughter was found near the main door in the living room, reported Shin Min Daily News.

Mr Tan, 35, a social worker by training, said: “I could not recognise her (from the photo). She looked completely different and much older in real life. She was very unkempt and almost frail.

“I think it was highly likely she had a mental health issue. She would talk to herself and wouldn’t be able to make eye contact.”

One neighbour, 62, who lives on the same floor as Ms Xu and her father, said: “I think she was mentally unwell as she would flail her arms along the corridor. Sometimes, I’ve seen her not dare to enter the lift without her father.”

Declining to be identified, the neighbour said the father appeared to be in his 60s or 70s.

Another neighbour said Ms Xu would clamp her hands together and walk away if someone entered the lift with her.

The struggle

MPs said caregivers of those who are vulnerable, or who have mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities, should not carry the responsibility of care alone. Seeking help from the community could benefit them greatly.

Parents and caregivers of those with disabilities can tap programmes designed to help them plan for the future. One such resource is the Life After Death workshop series started by the Autism Resource Centre.

The centre’s president, Ms Denise Phua, who is an MP for Jalan Besar GRC and Mayor of Central Singapore District, said: “It (the Life After Death workshop series) is aimed at supporting caregivers in proactive future care planning to address the common fear of ‘what happens to my children with disabilities should I pass on or lose mental capacity?’”

These face-to-face workshops will begin at the end of 2025.

Ms Phua also highlighted the Purple Hearts initiative to befriend, visit and support families having members with special needs or disabilities.

She said: “I found around 200 families during my house visits. Families such as these encounter challenges more than typical families do. Some may or may not wish to open up, but over time, many do if we sincerely care and persist.”

MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Foo Cexiang said he has older residents who struggle to care for their adult children with intellectual disabilities as they grow older.

Mr Foo said: “They’ve asked me, ‘Who will take care of my children after I’m gone?’ They then think about making sure there’s enough money left for them. But it’s not just about the money; it’s about the support for these adult children and their caregivers.

“Sometimes, these families take it upon themselves to bear the full responsibility, but we’re here to help.”

He cited a case of a resident in her 50s who lives with her son, who is in his early 20s and has an intellectual disability, and her elderly mother.

He said the resident’s son uses a wheelchair to get around, and goes to a school suited to his disability.

Mr Foo said: “When she is ill, she is unable to rest because she needs to care for him. It’s a good thing she sought help and asked if there are facilities to aid in caring for her son.”

The Sengkang incident is the second one reported in 2025 of two bodies being found in a flat.

On Jan 19, ST reported that the

decomposing bodies of an elderly couple

were found inside an 18th floor unit at Block 338B Kang Ching Road, near Lakeside MRT station, in December 2024.

Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC MP Tin Pei Ling said she ensures her vulnerable residents are connected to a social worker who can look out for them and provide help like applying for financial assistance from the Government.

Ms Tin said: “Neighbours play a part too. I have a resident in her 70s whose daughter is in her 50s and has an intellectual disability. So, if someone is being unkind to the daughter and her mother is not around, the neighbours will help her.”

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Elysa Chen said most cases are brought to her attention through Meet-the-People Sessions or home visits.

She highlighted a current case involving a family living with an adult with mental health issues, and added that it will take time to win their trust and help them.

She said: “Each family has different circumstances, even though they are similarly taking care of adult children with special needs. Even among the adult children, no two cases are the same and each needs to be cared for in a different way.”