Every resident is special to us at the Home, and each of them have their reasons as to why our Home is the best option for them.  Each application to the Home goes through a process to determine the suitability of the applicant to live in the Home.   As a process, all applications to the Home are approved by the Management Committee based on the recommendations of the Admissions Sub-Committee.  We believe it is important that the Home considers not only the physical care needed, but also the applicant’s psychological and social considerations. 

Based on the admission interviews over the years, here are some common reasons why an applicant would seek admission to the Home:

• In many cases, the family feels that it is not safe for the applicant to be alone at home when there is no one else at Home to care for them. As most family members work during the day, leaving an ageing loved one alone at home may not be the best option – sometimes it is the worry about falls, and other times the family worries about the applicant being forgetful and leaving appliances such as the stove unattended.
• In some cases, the applicant’s conflict with one or more members of the family makes living together impossible. Often times, they approach the Home after they have exhausted all other options in finding an amicable solution.  Each family situation is different and it is helpful for the Home to understand and help in them in the ways we can.
• Another common reason for an applicant to seek admission is due to the size or physical constrains of their family members’ home. Most families live in 3-4 room flats in Singapore and may not have the physical space to accommodate another ageing person.
• For applicants on Public Assistance scheme, they come to the Home because they have no family members or relatives to care for them and are economically unable to provide for themselves.

The reality of ageing is that family relationships and circumstances change over time and our Home’s goal is to provide an option or even a safety net to help families in such situations.  Please contact St. John’s Home for Elderly Persons or visit our website to find out more about our provision.