Advanced Planning and Legal Tools
Other than caring for your loved one’s physical, emotional and social needs, it is important to plan ahead for his/her care preferences and wishes. There are tools that can aid you and your loved ones in planning ahead should they lose mental capacity.
Why Do We Need To Plan Ahead?
We often take our abilities for granted. For example, our ability to understand information, use the information to make decisions, and being able to communicate decisions. There may come a time when your loved one no longer has the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves, due to health conditions or other circumstances – where they are no longer able to tell you “yes” or “no” to what they want. A loss of mental capacity can result from health conditions such as stroke, dementia, coma, or head trauma due to an accident.
Understanding Care Preferences And Arrangements
While your loved one still has mental capacity, you can start a conversation with them to understand their care preference and arrangements should they lose their mental capacity.
Understanding Care Preferences And Arrangements
While your loved one still has mental capacity, you can start a conversation with them to understand their care preference and arrangements should they lose their mental capacity.
Central Provident Fund (CPF) Nomination
Money from CPF does not form part of your loved one’s estate – this protects the fund from creditors and allows it to go directly to your loved one’s beneficiaries. CPF nomination is free of charge. Upon death, the CPF monies may be paid out via cash or cheque.
If no CPF nomination is made, you and your family may apply to the Public Trustee’s Office to distribute the CPF monies, for a fee. Find out more here.
Will Planning
A will documents how your loved one would like to distribute their money and possessions (also called their estate) after they have passed on. Upon death, you and your family can apply to the Courts for a Grant of Probate to distribute the estate according to the will. If no will is made, the estate will be distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act or Inheritance Certificate (for Muslims).
Brain Bank Singapore
The Brain Bank Singapore is a joint partnership between Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) and the National Healthcare Group (NHG). It is set up to retrieve and store brain tissue from donors who have consented to give this gift for research after death.
Click here to read more if you or your loved ones are interested to become a donor.
Advance Medical Directive (AMD)
In situations when your loved one suffers a grave illness that is incurable and likely to lead to end of life, an Advance Medical Directive makes a legal record that your loved one would not want excessive treatment just to keep them alive.
It can help guide doctors to let your loved one pass on with dignity. Learn more about AMDs here.
Advance Care Planning
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of planning for future health and personal care. It involves discussing one’s personal beliefs and goals for care with your loved one and healthcare providers. You may begin an open conversation with them about their wishes and goals for care.
- FAQs on ACP: Compilation of frequently asked questions
- ACP Directory: List of places you can make an appointment for an ACP session
- My Legacy: Other tools to make apart from ACP
Learn More
Here are more tips to better care for your loved one.
How To Manage Finances And Grants
Caregiving Training, Courses And Schemes
Office of the Public Guardian: Learn more about Court-Appointed Deputies
