If your ageing parent is finding everyday tasks such as showering, dressing or moving around the home more difficult, you may be wondering whether they can continue living safely at home, especially when family members cannot always be there.
One option Singapore families may not yet be familiar with is Enhanced Home Personal Care (HPC+).
From 1 April 2026, eligible seniors with care needs have been able to enroll in HPC+, an enhanced home-care service designed to provide more tailored and frequent support while helping seniors continue living in their own homes.
It can include personal care, household support, caregiver respite and technology-enabled monitoring for falls and incidents.
This guide explains what HPC+ actually provides, who it may be suitable for, what it costs and how Singapore families can get started.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide may be useful if:
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Your parent or older family member is beginning to need help with daily activities.
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You are worried about leaving an elderly parent alone for parts of the day.
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A spouse, family caregiver or domestic helper needs additional support.
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Your loved one needs help with showering, toileting, mobility or other personal-care activities.
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The main caregiver needs occasional respite ("Respite" refers to a temporary break, rest, or pause from something difficult, tiring, or unpleasant)
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You are trying to understand what government-supported home-care options are available in Singapore.
The simple way to think about HPC+: trained care professionals come into the senior's home to provide agreed care and support.
It does not necessarily replace the family caregiver. Instead, it can help fill gaps where additional support is needed.
What Is Enhanced Home Personal Care (HPC+)?
Enhanced Home Personal Care, or HPC+, is a home-based care service for seniors who need assistance with daily or personal-care activities.
According to the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), HPC+ may be suitable for seniors who need assistance because:
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They are unable to manage certain daily tasks themselves.
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They do not have a caregiver available.
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Their caregiver needs additional support or a break.
Instead of requiring the senior to travel to a care centre, trained care professionals visit the senior at home.
HPC+ services can be arranged by the hour, and four-hour blocks are also available where a loved one needs more intensive support or the regular caregiver needs temporary respite.
This flexibility is important because care needs can vary greatly between families.
A senior who needs help showering several times a week will have very different requirements from someone who requires several hours of assistance at a time.
What Can HPC+ Help With?
HPC+ goes beyond simply having someone accompany an elderly person at home.
Depending on the senior's assessed needs and the services arranged with the provider, trained care professionals may assist with:
Personal care
This can include:
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Feeding
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Dressing
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Toileting
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Washing and showering
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Walking and moving around
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Transfers between the bed and chair
Certain trained care staff may also assist with more advanced tasks such as simple wound dressing and stoma care.
Medication support
Care professionals may assist with medication and provide medication reminders as part of the senior's routine.
Mental and physical activities
Support may include activities for mental stimulation as well as simple maintenance exercises prescribed by a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist.
Routine support
Care staff may provide regular check-ins, help with errands and assist seniors with other routine activities.
Housekeeping
HPC+ can also cover household chores such as:
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Sweeping floors
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Laundry
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Cleaning toilets
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Cleaning fans
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Cleaning windows
Caregiver respite
Four-hour care blocks can provide temporary support when the family caregiver needs time away from caregiving duties.
24/7 fall and incident monitoring
HPC+ can include technology-enabled monitoring using digital devices installed in the senior's home to detect and respond to falls and incidents.
The exact services provided will depend on the senior's needs and arrangements with the chosen HPC+ provider.
How Is HPC+ Different From the Previous Home Personal Care Service?
Home Personal Care already provided assistance with activities such as showering, feeding and basic household tasks.
HPC+ expands the range and flexibility of that support.
Enhancements include:
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Assistance with heavier household chores
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More advanced care tasks performed by trained care staff
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Greater support with routine everyday activities
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More flexible and frequent care where necessary
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24/7 technology-enabled monitoring and response for falls
This means families should not think of HPC+ simply as arranging someone to help an elderly parent shower.
The broader objective is to create a more comprehensive support system around seniors who wish to continue ageing at home.
Does HPC+ Provide Someone at Home 24 Hours a Day?
No.
This is an important distinction.
The 24/7 element refers to technology-enabled monitoring and response for falls and incidents.
It does not mean that a care professional will remain physically in the senior's home around the clock.
Care visits are arranged separately according to the senior's requirements.
Families who need continuous supervision, live-in care or substantially more intensive nursing support should therefore discuss their loved one's needs with a healthcare professional or AIC.
Who May Benefit From HPC+?
HPC+ may be worth exploring when a senior is still able and wishes to live at home but increasingly needs assistance with certain parts of daily life.
For example:
Mum is generally independent but showering has become risky.
A care professional may be able to assist with bathing and other personal-care needs.
Dad can live at home but has difficulty getting safely from his bed to a chair.
Assistance with transfers and mobility may be appropriate.
A spouse provides most of the care but needs regular breaks.
A four-hour HPC+ session may provide temporary respite.
An elderly parent spends portions of the day alone.
Technology-enabled fall monitoring may provide an additional layer of reassurance, although it does not replace appropriate human supervision where this is necessary.
HPC+ is therefore not only relevant to seniors who are completely dependent or bedbound.
Care needs exist along a spectrum.
How Much Does HPC+ Cost in Singapore?
According to AIC, HPC+ currently starts from $25 per hour before government subsidies.
The final amount will depend on the combination and frequency of services required.
Eligible Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents receiving services from government-funded providers may qualify for means-tested subsidies.
An important change took effect on 1 July 2026, when Singapore enhanced subsidies for non-residential long-term-care services, including Home Personal Care.
Under the current subsidy framework:
| Eligibility | Maximum subsidy |
|---|---|
| Singapore Citizens born in 1969 or earlier | Up to 95% |
| Other eligible Singapore Citizens | Up to 80% |
| Eligible Permanent Residents | Up to 55% |
The actual subsidy depends on means-testing.
For households with income, this is generally based on Monthly Per Capita Household Income (PCHI).
PCHI is calculated by dividing the household's total gross monthly income by the number of family members living together in the household.
For households without income, the Annual Value of the residential property is considered instead.
From July 2026, the PCHI eligibility range for long-term-care subsidies extends to $4,800 per person per month.
Because the eventual cost depends on both the senior's care requirements and subsidy level, families should seek an assessment rather than simply multiplying $25 by the number of expected care hours.
Is HPC+ the Same as the Home Caregiving Grant?
No. They are different forms of support.
HPC+
HPC+ is a care service.
Trained care professionals provide agreed services to the senior at home, and eligible families may receive government subsidies towards the cost.
Home Caregiving Grant
The Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) is a monthly cash payout intended to help eligible families manage caregiving expenses.
From April 2026, eligible recipients can receive up to $600 per month, depending on household means and other eligibility requirements.
The money can help families with expenses such as hiring a caregiver, paying for home-care services or purchasing healthcare items.
A family may therefore encounter both HPC+ and HCG as part of Singapore's wider caregiving support system.
They should not be confused as the same scheme.
Related guide: Caregiver Grants & Support in Singapore
How Do Families Apply for HPC+?
A good place to start is your loved one's healthcare team.
You can:
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Speak with your loved one's doctor at a hospital or polyclinic.
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Explain the difficulties your loved one is experiencing at home.
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Have their care needs assessed.
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Obtain the appropriate referral if HPC+ is suitable.
Families may also approach an AIC Link for assistance.
HPC+ providers can also be located through AIC's service-provider directory.
The assessment is useful because the objective is not simply to enroll someone in as many services as possible.
It is to determine what help the senior actually needs.
A Practical Checklist Before Asking About HPC+
Before speaking with AIC, a healthcare professional or an HPC+ provider, observe how your loved one manages everyday life.
Ask yourself:
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Can Mum or Dad shower safely without assistance?
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Can they dress themselves?
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Can they manage toileting independently?
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Can they get in and out of bed or a chair safely?
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Can they walk around the home safely?
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Have there been falls or near-falls?
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Are medications being taken correctly and on time?
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Can they eat without assistance?
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Is basic housekeeping becoming difficult?
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Are they regularly left alone at home?
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Does the main caregiver need regular respite?
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Are there care tasks that family members or a domestic helper no longer feel confident performing?
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Has their ability to manage daily activities changed noticeably recently?
You do not have to determine the correct care arrangement yourself.
The checklist simply helps you give the care team a clearer picture of your loved one's daily life.
When to Seek Professional Help
Sometimes the question is bigger than whether your family needs an additional pair of hands.
Consider discussing the situation with a doctor or healthcare professional if your loved one experiences:
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A noticeable decline in mobility
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Repeated falls or near-falls
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Increasing difficulty with showering or toileting
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Difficulty transferring between a bed and chair
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Problems managing medications
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New wounds or skin problems
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Increasing confusion or behavioural changes
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Difficulty eating or drinking
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Care needs that the family can no longer manage safely
Caregiver exhaustion matters too.
If the main caregiver is becoming overwhelmed, losing sleep or finding it increasingly difficult to leave the senior unattended, seeking help before a crisis occurs can be valuable.
An assessment may show that HPC+ is suitable.
Alternatively, another service such as home nursing, home medical care, home therapy, day care or other community-based support may be more appropriate.
Can HPC+ Help My Parent Remain at Home Longer?
That is one of the objectives behind enhanced home-based care.
For many seniors, remaining in familiar surroundings can provide comfort, routine and independence.
But ageing at home should not mean keeping someone at home at all costs.
A better question is:
Can the home environment, caregiver support and professional care available continue to meet the senior's needs safely and with dignity?
For some families, HPC+ may form an important part of that solution.
For others, care needs may eventually become too intensive for the existing home arrangement.
The appropriate choice should evolve with the senior's needs.
Products That May Help With Care at Home
Professional care services are only one part of creating a safer and more manageable home environment.
Mobility and fall prevention
If your loved one has reduced mobility or poor balance, review whether suitable walking aids, bathroom safety equipment or other mobility aids may help reduce unnecessary fall risks.
Related guides:
Find the right walking stick in 2 steps
Transfer Aids for Seniors Singapore
Elderly Fall Alarm and SOS Devices in Singapore
Incontinence care
If toileting or continence has become more difficult, choosing a suitable adult diaper or pull-up pant can help maintain comfort and simplify the changing routine.
The most absorbent option is not automatically the most appropriate.
Mobility, fit, toileting ability, skin condition and changing routine should all be considered.
Related guide:
Why Adult Diapers Leak: A Practical Guide for Caregivers
Home monitoring
Where a senior spends periods at home without another person beside them, families may also wish to understand different home-monitoring, fall-detection and alert technologies.
These devices should complement a suitable care arrangement rather than replace human assistance where supervision is needed.
Related guide:
Elderly Fall Alarm and SOS Devices in Singapore
The Silvery Fair Care Note: Start with what your loved one is finding difficult. Then choose the care, support or product that addresses that particular need. More equipment does not necessarily mean better care.
Frequently Asked Questions About HPC+
What does HPC+ stand for in Singapore?
HPC+ stands for Enhanced Home Personal Care.
It provides home-based assistance for seniors who need help with daily or personal-care activities.
When did HPC+ start in Singapore?
Eligible seniors across Singapore have been able to enroll in enhanced Home Personal Care from 1 April 2026.
Is HPC+ a government grant?
No.
HPC+ is a care service, not a cash grant.
Eligible Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents may, however, qualify for government subsidies towards the cost of receiving HPC+ from participating providers.
How much does HPC+ cost in Singapore?
AIC states that HPC+ starts from $25 per hour before government subsidies.
The eventual amount depends on the services required and applicable subsidy level.
Can HPC+ provide respite care?
Yes.
HPC+ can be arranged in four-hour blocks when a senior requires more intensive care or the regular caregiver needs a temporary break.
Can HPC+ help with showering and toileting?
Yes.
Personal-care assistance can include showering, washing, dressing, toileting, feeding, mobility and transfers, depending on the senior's assessed needs.
Does HPC+ include housekeeping?
Yes.
Depending on the services arranged, household assistance may include sweeping, laundry, toilet cleaning, window cleaning and other household chores.
Does HPC+ provide 24-hour caregiving?
No.
The 24/7 component of HPC+ refers to technology-enabled monitoring and response for falls and incidents, not a care professional being physically present in the home 24 hours a day.
Is HPC+ only for seniors who are bedbound?
No.
HPC+ can support seniors with varying levels of care needs.
A senior may still be mobile and relatively independent but require assistance with particular tasks such as showering, transfers, medication routines or household activities.
How do I apply for HPC+?
Families can speak with a doctor at a hospital or polyclinic for an assessment and referral.
They can also approach AIC for assistance or locate HPC+ service providers through AIC.
Where can I find the official AIC website for HPC+?
AIC Enhanced Home Personal Care website including a list of HPC+ service provider.
Helping Your Loved One Age at Home
For many families, deciding how much help an ageing parent needs is not straightforward.
Mum may still be independent in many ways, but showering has become risky.
Dad may be comfortable living at home but need assistance while the family is at work.
A spouse who has cared for their partner for years may simply need a few hours of regular respite.
HPC+ gives Singapore families another option for supporting a loved one at home.
The best place to begin is not with the service itself, but with your loved one's needs.
Look at:
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What they can still manage independently
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Where safety is becoming a concern
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Where dignity or comfort may be affected
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Where the caregiver needs additional support
From there, speak with your loved one's healthcare team or AIC about whether HPC+, or another form of community care, may be appropriate.
At The Silvery Fair, we believe families should understand what is suitable before they buy.
The same principle applies to caregiving: understand the need first, then choose the support that makes everyday life safer, more comfortable and more manageable.
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