Some people pay professionals to see to their care if incapacitated

Unlike most people who have drawn up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), Ms Ng Siew Kueen hired three professionals, instead of appointing family members, to make decisions on her behalf if she ever loses her mental capacity.

In 2023, she hired the professionals from Touch Professional Deputies and Donees, which comes under social service agency Touch Community Services.

For example, the 54-year-old trainer, who is single, has instructed them about her preferred care arrangements and her assets that would fund her care.

The LPA is a legal document that allows an individual to appoint another person, called a donee, to act and make decisions on his behalf if he becomes mentally incapacitated, for example, through dementia.

Ms Ng said she hired the professional donees from Touch, who are all social workers by training, as she does not want to burden her two younger siblings with the task. She also feels that the social workers can give her good advice regarding care and other issues.

One of her three donees acts as a replacement in case either of the other two are unable to perform that role.

She said: "I'm assured that the service would be continued if something happens to my primary donees. This gives me peace of mind."

In 2018, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) launched the Professional Deputies and Donees Scheme, in response to smaller family sizes and a growing number of singles who may not have a loved one to be their proxy decision-maker.

If an LPA is not done before the person loses his mental capacity, the courts can appoint a professional deputy to make decisions on his behalf.

As of end-September, some 288,000 Singaporeans have made their LPAs, about 80 per cent of whom are aged 50 and older.