By Benjamin Cuaresma
Foreign Sources
MANILA — More than 370 migrant domestic workers have completed specialized caregiving training under a pilot program in Singapore designed to equip household helpers with skills in dementia care, elderly assistance, childcare, and emergency response.
The initiative, launched by the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE), aims to address the growing caregiving responsibilities shouldered by foreign domestic workers as Singapore’s population continues to age.
Among the beneficiaries is Priyanti, an Indonesian domestic worker who has cared for the same employer for 14 years. She enrolled in a dementia care course after noticing signs of memory loss and behavioral changes in the 84-year-old woman she looks after.
Following the training, Priyanti said she learned techniques to better communicate with dementia patients, manage emotional episodes, and provide more effective daily care.
The dementia care program is one of four pilot courses introduced by the CDE, alongside training modules focused on elderly care, infant and child care, and first aid and emergency response.
According to CDE officials, the programs were developed after domestic workers reported difficulties in handling increasingly complex caregiving duties within households.
The courses were designed to be accessible and affordable, with lessons conducted in participants’ native languages to improve understanding and practical application.
CDE Director Michael Lim said the training has significantly boosted the confidence of domestic workers, many of whom have gone on to enroll in additional caregiving courses after completing their initial training.
Another participant, Filipino domestic worker Pacardo Lolie Ann Latap, said the dementia care course helped prepare her to care for her elderly employer, a stroke survivor who has recently begun showing signs of memory decline.
She said the training taught caregivers the importance of remaining calm and patient when assisting elderly individuals experiencing confusion or emotional distress.
The program’s success has prompted calls for broader implementation, with organizers hoping that caregiving education can eventually become more widely available to migrant domestic workers across Singapore.
More than 600 domestic workers, employers, and industry stakeholders recently gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Centre for Domestic Employees, where government officials acknowledged the critical role migrant workers play in supporting Singaporean families.
Officials said strengthening caregiving skills among domestic workers not only improves the quality of care received by elderly and vulnerable individuals but also enhances the well-being of the workers themselves as they navigate increasingly demanding responsibilities.
ia/xf
