Madam Mary Chau, 60, was stricken with a stroke 13 years ago - one that left the left side of her body semi-paralysed.

The divorced mother was helped by a neighbour for four years.

She is now paying it forward as a carer to five seniors under the Caring Assistance from Neighbours (CAN) programme.

The joint effort, by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), was piloted mid-last year (2012).

It now has 41 carers - each trained for five hours - and 237 clients in Bukit Merah, Geylang, Taman Jurong and Kallang.

The programme will be rolled out to four more areas - Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Toa Payoh, Queenstown - later this year.

The CAN programme was announced on Friday by Acting MSF Minister Chan Chun Sing during a visit to the home of a beneficiary in Outram.