New programme to better support those with greater needs, caregivers
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Ms Tay Yu Ping, a senior social worker with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore, with Ms Shantini Murugiah at Limbang Park during a community walk yesterday. In August 2019, social workers stepped in and identified Ms Shantini as having social anxieties that can be triggered when she leaves her home. Over a period of three months, they built a rapport with Ms Shantini before eventually taking her out with them.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
In 2018, Mr Singam Murugiah twice tried to enrol his adult daughter, who has intellectual disability, at a centre where she could pick up skills and learn to be more independent.
She dropped out both times within a month of enrolling.
Ms Shantini was too afraid and uncomfortable because of the unfamiliar surroundings, said the 66-year-old.
Due to issues with his own health as well as caregiving duties, he does not work. It has him worrying for his 31-year-old daughter's future.
He is the main caregiver for his family.
His 61-year-old wife has health issues and another 28-year-old daughter does not work. He has a 35-year-old son who is married and does not live with them.
In August 2019, social workers stepped in and identified Ms Shantini as having social anxieties that can be triggered when she leaves her home.
She is also afraid of loud noises and having strangers around her.
As a result, she avoided leaving her home in Choa Chu Kang, said Ms Jocelyn Tan, head of social work at the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds).
"Her father, the main caregiver, was facing a significant amount of caregiver stress and burden as Shantini was fully dependent on him for daily necessities," she added.
Over a period of three months, the social workers built a rapport with Ms Shantini before eventually taking her out with them.
They also taught her skills to mitigate her feelings of distress or when she felt anxious about her surroundings, said Ms Tan, adding that the sessions were conducted in her home.
As for Mr Singam, they provided him with emotional support through counselling and started discussions with him on long-term care plans for Ms Shantini.
"Before Minds helped us, Shantini would cry a lot and stay at home all the time. When she wanted something, she could cry for the whole day," he said.
"Now, although she cannot go out on her own, she can do some things like baking, knitting, helping her mother and cleaning our home," he added.
The team from Minds also referred Ms Shantini to its home-based care services to help her build social skills, so she can develop confidence and independence.
Ms Tan said the longer-term goal was to gradually transition her back to centre-based services.
She added that the new disability case management programme would be able to offer such an arrangement - in which the needs of the client and the family are identified, and intervention and services are coordinated.
The three-year pilot, announced by the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Minds yesterday, is meant to better support those who have greater needs and their caregivers.
"I am very happy with the support from Minds, which is doing a good job.
"It is good for Shantini to improve herself as my wife and I won't be around forever," said Mr Singam.
Goh Yan Han
Correction note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct age of Mr Singam Murugiah's wife.
