The Role of Informal Family Care in Old Age Support

This research explores how informal care (unpaid assistance provided by family members, rather than by professionals or institutions) affects seniors’ physical and mental health in Singapore, a country facing the challenges of an aging population, as well as their utilization of formal health care (paid services delivered by trained personnel, such as nurses, home care aides, or long-term care facilities). With the rapid increase in elderly citizens, understanding how families support their older members is crucial.

Our study focuses on how government policies, family dynamics, and economic conditions influence the amount and quality of care that elderly individuals receive from their families, and how this informal care affects elderly individuals’ physical and mental wellbeing. By analysing detailed data from the Trusted Research and Real-World Data Utilisation (TRUST) platform, we will examine the impact of the 2015 & 2018 policy change, related to the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG), which affected living arrangements (living within 2km/4km of parents) and, consequently, family-provided care.

The study will then model key economic systems in Singapore—such as housing, health, and labour markets—to understand how these systems interact and influence elderly care. Our findings aim to inform policies that better support informal caregiving, improve elderly health outcomes, and reduce the burden on Singapore’s healthcare system. Ultimately, this research seeks to enhance the nation’s readiness to address the growing demand for elderly care in an aging society.