This is really the sign of the times. I suppose nobidy want it this way.
Until the next time, cheers.
Cases of families defaulting on nursing home payments on the rise
By Vimita Mohandas/Lip Kwok Wai/Wee Leng
SINGAPORE: Some eldercare facilities in Singapore are seeing
more cases of families defaulting on their payment and also facing the
challenge of trying to contact family members.
About half of the 110 patients at Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home have defaulted on their payments, which range from about one to two months.
To help these financially strapped families, the home works out instalment plans and even offers subsidies, but more often than not its hands are tied as families are just not able to fork out the expenses. Some remain uncontactable, simply abandoning their loved ones.
The home said it has tried to seek help from the Small Claims Tribunal and the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents, but it is not as easy as it seems.
Manager of the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home Then Kim Yuan said: "We as a caregiver of the patient can help apply for this tribunal (The Maintenance of Parents Act), but we have to be authorised by the patient or by the parents.
"Unfortunately, most of the time we don't get the permission because to them, it's a shame to be abandoned in the nursing home. If they were to force their children to pay for the expenses, they will feel even more embarrassed".
Mr Then added that the process at the Small Claims Tribunal is also long and tedious and family members usually do not turn up for these sessions. The home also feels that the small fee that they have to fork out for the mediation process is not money well spent.
This problem has also spread across the causeway to the Comfort Ville Home nursing care centre in Taman Johor Jaya.
Representatives from the home said they have tried to contact Singaporean Joseph Tay, whose mother was admitted in March.
The home alleges that Mr Tay owes them 6,000 ringgit.
Staff-in-charge at Comfort Ville Home Goh Ker Xin said: "When we admit a patient, we will collect a one-month deposit from the patients' families. However, Mr Tay said he couldn't afford it and we still decided to help him. But he hasn't come back to visit his mother and has disappeared."
Mr Tay, who is unemployed, said he could not afford the bills and that his siblings would settle the expenses.
Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, the Ministry of Health said it does not condone the abandonment of patients in residential healthcare institutions, such as nursing homes or hospitals.
"We are saddened to see such occurrences," a ministry spokesperson said. "In such situations, institutions will engage the family on an amicable resolution, such as financial assistance through subsidies, Medifund, charity dollars or payment by installations.
"The Maintenance of Parents Act can be exercised by elderly patients to pursue his/her child for maintenance, should such an unfortunate situation occur."
- CNA/wm
About half of the 110 patients at Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home have defaulted on their payments, which range from about one to two months.
To help these financially strapped families, the home works out instalment plans and even offers subsidies, but more often than not its hands are tied as families are just not able to fork out the expenses. Some remain uncontactable, simply abandoning their loved ones.
The home said it has tried to seek help from the Small Claims Tribunal and the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents, but it is not as easy as it seems.
Manager of the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home Then Kim Yuan said: "We as a caregiver of the patient can help apply for this tribunal (The Maintenance of Parents Act), but we have to be authorised by the patient or by the parents.
"Unfortunately, most of the time we don't get the permission because to them, it's a shame to be abandoned in the nursing home. If they were to force their children to pay for the expenses, they will feel even more embarrassed".
Mr Then added that the process at the Small Claims Tribunal is also long and tedious and family members usually do not turn up for these sessions. The home also feels that the small fee that they have to fork out for the mediation process is not money well spent.
This problem has also spread across the causeway to the Comfort Ville Home nursing care centre in Taman Johor Jaya.
Representatives from the home said they have tried to contact Singaporean Joseph Tay, whose mother was admitted in March.
The home alleges that Mr Tay owes them 6,000 ringgit.
Staff-in-charge at Comfort Ville Home Goh Ker Xin said: "When we admit a patient, we will collect a one-month deposit from the patients' families. However, Mr Tay said he couldn't afford it and we still decided to help him. But he hasn't come back to visit his mother and has disappeared."
Mr Tay, who is unemployed, said he could not afford the bills and that his siblings would settle the expenses.
Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, the Ministry of Health said it does not condone the abandonment of patients in residential healthcare institutions, such as nursing homes or hospitals.
"We are saddened to see such occurrences," a ministry spokesperson said. "In such situations, institutions will engage the family on an amicable resolution, such as financial assistance through subsidies, Medifund, charity dollars or payment by installations.
"The Maintenance of Parents Act can be exercised by elderly patients to pursue his/her child for maintenance, should such an unfortunate situation occur."
- CNA/wm
No comments:
Post a Comment