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CaringSG Member Perks with HIDOC, A Digital Health Platform

CaringSG Member Perks with HIDOC, A Digital Health Platform

Dear CaringSG Members,

CaringSG has partnered with HIDOC to offer easy access and support for caregivers’ healthcare needs.

HIDOC is a digital health platform that facilitates medical consultations between the public and healthcare providers.

CaringSG Member Perks with HIDOC

Virtual Consult and Home Care

  1. Virtual Consult with HIDOC’s GPs at $18 (+ medication as charged) [U.P. $20]
  2. Virtual Consult with HIDOC’s Specialists starting from $80 (+ medication as charged)
  3. Delivery Fee capped at $10
  4. Home Care
  5. $150 for doctor call (+ medication / procedure as charged) [U.P. $170 onwards]
  6. $50 for nurse call (+ medication / procedure as charged) [U.P. $70]

Complimentary for CaringSG members

  1. Assistance on doctor recommendation and pre care support
  2. Arrangement of home care appointment booking
  3. Follow up post care check in call
  4. Unlimited access to HIDOC’s content library
  5. All access to HIDOC’s services including healthcare experts
  6. Once a month hybrid workshop on mental health including coping techniques for you and your family members by HIDOC partner psychologists
  7. Onboarding of your existing doctors and allied healthcare onto HIDOC platform

How to claim your CaringSG member perks with HIDOC

Step 1: Take a screenshot of your CaringSG E-Membership card (see picture example below)

Access www.caring.sg and click on “Login”.

Step 2: Download the HIDOC app on Google Play Store or App Store

Step 3: Follow the user guides below for video consultation, or home-based consultation based on your needs

1. Video Consultation User Guide

  • Tap on the “Partner Privileges” tile under the Select Consult segment and select CaringSG.
  • Click “Next” and select your preferred GP to schedule appointment date and time.
  • Take a screenshot of your CaringSG e-membership card and upload when prompted.
  • Enter the code HD-CARING-0001 under Promotions/Vouchers when checking out.

2. Home-based consultation user guide

  • Tap on the “Partner Privileges”tile under the Select Consult segment and select CaringSG.
  • Schedule appointment with our personnel via intercom by tapping the hand icon at top right hand corner.
  • Our personnel will guide you along to book appointment and purchase the service.
  • Enter the code HD-CARING-0002 under Promotions/Vouchers when checking out.

The high res user guides can be downloaded here.

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Pesta Ria – An Afternoon Filled with Fun for Caregivers!

Pesta Ria – An Afternoon Filled with Fun for Caregivers!

On 18 June 2022, CaringSG and co-organiser MIJ Hub organised Pesta Ria, a fun-filled event for 30 participants from 13 special needs families.

Mdm Rahayu Mahzam (Guest-of-Honour and CaringSG Board Advisor) and Dr David Ang (CaringSG Board Co-Chair) chatting with a participant

Taking place at Enabling Village, UOB Ability Hub, participants heard from speakers such as Mdm Rahayu Mahzam (Guest-of-Honour and CaringSG Board Advisor), Ms Faraliza Zainal (Founder of MIJ Hub), Dr David Ang (CaringSG Board Co-Chair) and Ms Florence Lee (CaringSG Head of Programs).

Ms Faraliza Zainal welcoming caregivers and families to Pesta Ria organised by CaringSG and MIJ Hub
Mdm Rahayu Mahzam addressing caregivers and families at Pesta Ria
Dr David Ang (CaringSG Board Co-Chair) speaking to caregivers
Ms Florence Lee (CaringSG Head of Programs) sharing about caregiver issues and gaps

An energetic Zumba session conducted by instructor Siti Zhywee Binte Ramle had caregivers and their dependents dancing to the beat with smiles all around.

After photo-taking to remember the event by, participants were treated to tea refreshments and a lucky draw! Pesta Ria was supported by one CAREchampion, three CAREambassadors, and four CaringSG staff and volunteers. Special thanks to our co-organiser MIJ Hub. This event was also supported by the Enabling Lives Initiative Grant by SG Enable and Tote Board, and the Temasek Foundation.

“While it takes a village to raise a child, a community of families form a village which caregivers can support and encourage one another in the caregiving journey. Coming together like this to spend an afternoon is a great example to do that! Keep it up MIJ & CaringSG!” – Dr David Ang.

Staff and volunteers from CaringSG and MIJ Hub
From left: Dr David Ang (CaringSG Board Co-Chair), Ms Rahayu Mahzam (CaringSG Board Advisor and Guest-of-Honour), and Ms Faraliza Zainal (Founder of MIJ Hub)

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Parents Are The Best Advocates – By CAREbuddy Debanjana Bhaumik

Parents Are The Best Advocates – By CAREbuddy Debanjana Bhaumik

This article was contributed by CAREbuddy Debanjana Bhaumik.

Featured photo: Debanjana, her husband, Som, and their 7-year-old girl, Sahana.

 

Both Som and I were working in Oil & Gas sector in Singapore when we relocated to Houston, Texas, USA in 2013. Sahana was born there in 2015. Sahana was diagnosed with autism in 2018 at Texas Children’s Autism Center. Our family moved back to Singapore in 2020. 

 

The early years as special needs caregivers

We had noticed that Sahana was not talking at the age of 2 years old. We brought up our concerns to her pediatrician in Houston. He advised us to wait and watch for 6 months (as kids in bilingual families may delay in picking up speech). Eventually he sent us for evaluation. We had already started speech therapy (ST) and occupational therapy (OT) while waiting for evaluation (12 months wait time). 

Finally, after the evaluation in 2018, Sahana was diagnosed with autism. She was prescribed full time ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy. We were shocked and saddened by the diagnosis.

In order to double confirm the diagnosis, we also got her evaluated at NUH Child Development Unit (CDU) in 2018 but unfortunately the results were the same. Our pediatrician at NUH CDU suggested to us to stay back in Houston and get the ABA therapy done. Once completed, we could plan to come back to Singapore and enroll Sahana in Pathlight school. 

Hence started Sahana’s journey with ABA therapy in 2019. It was not an easy one, especially considering the cost, resources, time, work/life balance factors for both Som and me. I am very grateful to my parents for their continual support during these difficult times as they made multiple trips all the way to Houston in order to help out with Sahana. It was a huge learning curve for us. Within 3 months we saw awesome improvements in Sahana. On completion of her ABA therapy, we planned our move back to Singapore in 2020. Again, it was not an easy decision for us. Both of us quit our jobs and moved back to Singapore at the start of the pandemic. 

 

Joining a parent support group

Just as we returned back to Singapore in 2020, the Covid-19 wave hit leading to lockdown. There were delays in getting a preschool and EIPIC services for Sahana. At this time, I was looking for parent support groups for special needs (SN) children. I came to know about CaringSG from Edward Chan in the CASPER support group. I also came to know about various parent to parent support groups on Facebook, WhatsApp etc. These groups provided a wealth of information that we needed at that time. 

Photo: Debanjana, Som, and Sahana celebrating Sahana’s 7th birthday.

 

Once Sahana got admission to Pathlight school, I thought it would be good to share our experience with other parents going through the same journey. When I came to know about CaringSG’s CAREbuddy program, I thought it would be an ideal avenue to give back to community. 

After joining and completing the CAREbuddy training, I came to know about a lot of local resources which will be helpful to parents of SN kids while waiting for intervention and or school services. It was a very in-depth training covering a wide range of topics to help you listen with empathy and to empower your caregivers to make the best decision for their family. 

Working as a CAREbuddy intern has been pretty exciting. I am so glad to be able to share Sahana’s journey with other parents. Hope they find something useful from it. At the same time, I have learnt a lot from my caregivers. 

I would definitely urge the caregivers of SN kids to join this CAREbuddy program if they can spare the time. Making new connections and putting yourself out there can be a little daunting in the beginning, but with time, it will be fulfilling journey. 

 

Encouraging fellow special needs caregivers

I am a strong advocate of early intervention. I have seen it in case of my own child how early ABA therapy became the turning point in her intervention journey.

I understand that getting the evaluation report/ diagnosis of special needs can be very heartbreaking for the parents. The societal stigma associated with special needs also makes it quite scary. I will encourage the parents to look beyond this and concentrate on finding intervention for your kids.

Don’t be shy to ask for help from family, friends, professionals, doctors, teachers etc. Do your own research and be willing to learn. Waiting for kids to grow up and think that they will learn by themselves could be too late. Don’t miss the opportunity of early intervention.

Finally, these words taught to us during Sahana’s ABA therapy have always stayed with me, “Parents are the best advocates for their own kids.”

About CAREbuddy

CAREbuddy is one of CaringSG’s Project 3i programmes where trained special needs caregivers (CAREbuddies) provide emotional support to fellow special needs caregivers.

Trainees go through a total of 24 hours of training, followed by 6 months of internship upon graduation. During internship, CAREbuddy interns begin to support fellow caregivers, and our trainers will mentor them as well.

Please join our FB page to receive more updates on how to sign up, and read more about CAREbuddy at https://caring.sg/carebuddy/ 

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Be Part Of Our Collective Dream – By Board Advisor Ms Rahayu Mahzam

Be Part Of Our Collective Dream – By Board Advisor Ms Rahayu Mahzam

Many special needs caregivers start off their journey feeling lost and lonely. They may not know who to turn to, what to do, and whether they can survive the road ahead.

Some have managed to find their own solutions, join a support group, gather resources, and thrive against the circumstances.

The founding of CaringSG is but one milestone in caregivers’ collective journey towards a better future for themselves and their families, and the push towards a more inclusive Singapore.

When caregivers unite, when communities grow, beautiful things happen.

Join us at CaringSG to be part of our collective dream – to connect, enable and empower fellow special needs caregivers, build an inclusive community for special needs families, and transform innovative caregiving solutions into impactful reality.

To be updated on CaringSG’s latest events and join your preferred caregiver support groups in our CaringSG Alliance Network (CAN), sign up as a CaringSG member and let us know your preference!

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Caring For Each Other – By Board Advisor Dr Gerard Ee

Caring For Each Other – By Board Advisor Dr Gerard Ee

Every community should be inclusive, and the diversity of individuals makes the community vibrant. Caring for each other bonds the community and makes it resilient.

The definition of “special needs” can be taken from a broader perspective. With a rapidly ageing population there will be many individuals who will develop special needs and will need to be cared for.

With smaller family structure, a shrinking and ageing population, the act of caring for others, especially those with special needs require the collaborative effort of the community. Increasingly, the caregiver becomes someone who must be cared for.

High and rising costs and the lack of human capital can only be mitigated by innovative solutions. Shared services and the use of the Internet of Things can go along way to lessen such load. Challenges will remain to be overcome. The collaborative effort of the community will go a long way towards making remaining challenges bearable for many.

CaringSG is the catalyst which brings people together to work on the challenges which caregivers encounter. Even if you are not a caregiver, being involved with the efforts of CaringSG is investing in an uncertain future where you or a loved one may require care.

To be updated on CaringSG’s latest events and join your preferred caregiver support groups in our CaringSG Alliance Network (CAN), sign up as a CaringSG member and let us know your preference!

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A Father’s Love – From our Board Member, Dr Djoni Huang

A Father’s Love – from our Board Member, Dr Djoni Huang

Dear Fathers,

Never underestimate the importance you have in your child’s life. And although you may come across moments of stress, helplessness, fear and despair, you are not alone.

Dear Fathers, there are others who understand what it is like to raise a special needs child. We know how much planning it takes, figuring out how to start from ground zero. Some have given up careers as well to spend more time with their child, to provide stability at home through the formative years.

We are problem-solvers, anchors for our family, and leaders through uncertain times. We also look out for each other, and share what we know with fellow dads.

As we celebrate Fathers’ Day this month, let’s prioritise basic self-care, be kind to ourselves, and appreciate the efforts we have made to love and care for our families.

I would personally like to thank all the team members of CaringSG under the leadership of Dr Lim Hong Huay and Dr David Ang, PBM. You certainly have made a difference in our lives!

Happy Father’s Day.

– Djoni

To be updated on CaringSG’s latest events and join your preferred caregiver support groups in our CaringSG Alliance Network (CAN), sign up as a CaringSG member and let us know your preference!

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Your Labour of Love and Giving in Support of Caregivers – from our Board Member, Dr El’fred Boo

Your Labour of Love and Giving in Support of Caregivers – from our Board Member, Dr El’fred Boo

More attention and support have been provided to caregivers with many new initiatives, including those provided by CaringSG. 

I personally vouch for the significant contributions by Hong Huay and David, Chair and Co-Chair of CaringSG respectively, as well as their team, for tirelessly laying the foundation and connecting key stakeholders to pave the way for various programs, including CAREconnect, CAREwell and CAREbuddy. 

Apart from hardworking staff, volunteers, and partners, all these programs and activities are made possible only with the generous contributions from key donors and the public. 

We are also delighted with the recent news of social service agencies getting more help to strengthen capabilities and to scale up, which would benefit caregivers in the long term.

To all dedicated staff, volunteers, partners, and generous donors: your continuing service contribution and financial support make a world of difference to caregivers, and indirectly, those they care for. Kudos to your labour of love and giving, which are absolutely essential and very much appreciated!

To be updated on CaringSG’s latest events and join your preferred caregiver support groups in our CaringSG Alliance Network (CAN), sign up as a CaringSG member and let us know your preference!

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Supporting Your Child – A Parent’s Guide for Young Children who need Early Intervention

Supporting Your Child – A Parent’s Guide for Young Children who need Early Intervention

Supporting Your Child – A Parent’s Guide for Young Children who need Early Intervention

Learning that your child has special needs is the start of a journey into the unknown.

To support parents and caregivers of preschool-aged children who may have developmental needs, MSF, ECDA and MOE have published a guide to empower you to find out more about:

  • Your child’s development,
  • Accessing Early Intervention (EI) support,
  • Supporting your child’s transition from EI to school-aged provisions, and
  • Accessing support for yourself and your family.

Inside the guide, caregivers can access resources to equip themselves as caregivers:

  • Check out community events

CaringSG’s CAREconnect activities build on caregiving knowledge and skills, improve family bonding, and strengthen families’ connection with neighbourhoods and community partners. Follow us on Facebook to be updated of the latest events.

 Visit our Members Page (sign-up is free) to get useful resources

The guide provides lots of information and step-by-step support for key milestones in your caregiving journey, such as:

  • Understanding your child’s developmental needs
  • Things to consider when assessing types of Early Intervention Services and Service Providers
  • Facilitating your child’s transition from Early Intervention to School-aged provisions
  • Subsidies you can tap on as a caregiver
  • How to take care of yourself
  • Planning for a sustainable lifelong care journey

Read the full EDCA guide here.

For the best desktop viewing experiencing, check “Two Page View” and “Show Cover Page in Two Page View” under Page Display options. No settings are required when viewing on mobile devices.

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Mount Alvernia Outreach Medical & Dental Clinic – 10% discount for all CaringSG caregiver members

Mount Alvernia Outreach Medical & Dental Clinic - 10% discount for all CaringSG caregiver members

All CaringSG caregiver members can now enjoy a 10% discount off medical and dental services at Mount Alvernia Outreach Medical & Dental Clinic (MAOC).

To enjoy this discount:

  • Please contact the respective Mount Alvernia Outreach Medical & Dental Clinic to make an appointment. Contact details are available at https://mtalvernia.sg/about-us/community-outreach/.
  • To access your membership status on CaringSG, access www.caring.sg and click on “Login”
  • Present your CaringSG caregiver membership profile to the staff who will verify your membership status

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Why I Chose to be a CAREbuddy – By Karen Kwa

CAREbuddy
Karen Kwa in pink with husband, and their three daughters

Why I Chose to be a CAREbuddy – By Karen Kwa

CAREbuddy

Featured photo: Karen Kwa in pink with husband, and their three daughters

My name is Karen Kwa, I have 3 girls.

My elder girl was slow in learning, she caught up only in Primary 6 when she was transferred to EM3, when on to NT (Normal Tech), to ITE then to Polytechnic. She’s working already.

My second girl was diagnosed with dyslexia at Primary 6. As hers is mild, she managed to keep up with the help of the DAS (Dyslexia Association of Singapore) centre at Bishan. She went on to Express stream in Secondary, then to poly, and currently she’s working.

My youngest was the one that needed more attention. She was slow in catching up with her peers in kindergarten. She was under SPD for OT (occupational therapy) and speech. She was transferred to APSN Katong in 2008 and went on to DSS (Delta Senior School) and since then she has progressed well. She’s working at Uniqlo and plays the Guzheng with the Purple Symphony Orchestra.

CAREbuddy
Karen Kwa’s youngest daughter

Because of my youngest girl, I have seen how our family has supported her and how she has progressed. I wanted to help other parents who have special needs children, to support them.

When I saw on Facebook that CaringSG has this CAREbuddy program that can help parents that need support and help, I jumped into it. In the CAREbuddy training, we learn how to communicate and role play on how to connect and help the caregiver.

What I like most about this program that we learn how to give support and encouragement to caregivers who need the most help in emotional support and guidance.

As caregivers we have learnt to support our child in many different ways and they have progressed. Let’s come and support CaringSG to sign up for CAREbuddy training and support other caregivers who need our encouragement.

 

About CAREbuddy

CAREbuddy is one of CaringSG’s Project 3i programmes where trained special needs caregivers (CAREbuddies) provide emotional support to fellow special needs caregivers.

Karen Kwa graduated from our second batch of CAREbuddy trainees and is now a CAREbuddy intern.

Trainees go through a total of 24 hours of training, followed by 6 months of internship upon graduation. During internship, CAREbuddy interns begin to support fellow caregivers, and our trainers will mentor them as well.

Special needs caregivers who are interested to volunteer as a CAREbuddy can sign up for our information session (tentatively 6 June 2022, Mon, 8-9.30pm). Please join our FB page to receive more updates on how to sign up, and read more about CAREbuddy at https://caring.sg/carebuddy/ 

 

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