SINGAPORE - The Health Ministry is working with home care providers to develop and introduce a set of guidelines to boost the quality of services.

There are currently no specific Ministry guidelines dealing with home care. Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor in Parliament on Tuesday that the guidelines will help "enhance and align the quality of services, and articulate the level of care expected from...home care service providers".

Those who need home care are typically too frail to leave their homes for medical appointments, and may need help with daily activities like eating or bathing. In March, the Health Ministry had announced that it is planning for a capacity of 10,000 home medical and nursing care spaces by 2020, and 7,500 for home personal care.

The new guidelines, which will encourage organisational excellence, have already been drafted and will be finalised by the end of the year.

Next year, the Health Ministry will also embark on a quality improvement programme to help home care providers adopt these guidelines.