Summary:
- The Caregiving Welfare Association (CWA) launched CareJourney, a new initiative offering caregivers coordinated structured support, training, and direct access to community partners without having to re-explain their needs.
- The programme supports new, active, and even former caregivers, with resources ranging from step-by-step guides to emotional support groups and mentoring opportunities.
- Announced at Caregiving Fest 2025, CareJourney was launched alongside CWA’s home-based monitoring programme, both aimed at providing immediate, scalable, and sustainable solutions for caregivers and seniors.
Family caregivers who live with and care for seniors will soon get structured access to support and resources as part of the Caregiving Welfare Association’s (CWA) newly launched CareJourney initiative.
Instead of explaining and re-explaining their needs to various organisations through the course of their caregiving journey, caregivers will be linked directly to a coordinated network of partners.
This is aimed at getting help faster and smoother, while keeping pace with changes as caregiving needs evolve over time.
Community partners involved includes non-profit Singapore National Stroke Association, mental health-focused Mind Care Clinic and Mindfull Community, and the STC Institute of Learning for training purposes.
Peacehaven Jade Circle, a collective development to improve dementia care standards by The Salvation Army Peacehaven, are also involved.
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Launch of CareJourney
The initiative will launch in November later this year. Eligible caregivers must be family carers living with seniors aged 60 and above who have been diagnosed with stroke or dementia. The seniors must also require help with at least three activities of daily living.
For new caregivers, the programme provides a step-by-step guide to build confidence as you embark on your newfound duties. It also offers practical knowledge on managing daily care needs as well as resources to aid you further in understanding common conditions like stroke and dementia.
Meanwhile, skills training, emotional support groups, and direct connections to trusted professionals aim to help active caregivers make their caregiving journey that much easier.
There’s something for former caregivers too. You’re encouraged to share your experiences and mentor new caregivers, granting continued involvement in the caregiving community while supporting your own transition to a life post-caregiving.
CareJourney was announced at CWA’s Caregiving Fest 2025 on 20 September. The 10th edition of the organisation’s annual festival took place at the atrium of Sengkang Grand Mall, where it was attended by over 1,000 seniors, caregivers, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
The festival kicked off with a fashion show led by CWA’s seniors clad in SG60-themed, upcycled couture.
There were also dance and drum performances by partners like social service agency Lions Befrienders and seniors social club Aspire55.
Focus on "immediate, scalable" initiatives
In his opening speech for Caregiving Fest 2025, Dr Tan Jit Seng, President of CWA, also announced the release of a white paper detailing the results of the organisation’s home-based monitoring.
The system, which was piloted in August 2024, monitors the wellbeing of seniors discreetly with sensors that track their vital signs and activity. It also triggers real-time alerts in the event of a suspected fall.
These alerts are assessed by the CWA care team, who verify and filter false alarms before responding to the event with a mix of trained volunteers and community responders.
While there were teething difficulties in the seniors’ use of technology and adherence to the wearable monitors, the pilot serves as a proof-of-concept for the organisation’s goal of supporting caregivers sustainably into the future.
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Talks, booths, and demos at Caregiving Fest 2025
Caregiving Fest 2025 served as a hub for caregiving resources and information thanks to booths from community partners like the Agency for Integrated Care, Active Global, Healthier SG, and Kampung Kakis.
The NUS Tembusu College also presented an interactive empathy-building exhibition which recreated the daily realities of caregiving.
The showcase featured a lifelike home setup, ageing simulation suits and activities designed to mimic the difficulty of household tasks some caregivers face.
It wasn’t all serious though – the event also presented interactive workshops by The Good Earth School and The Mill International, where visitors were able to participate in eco-themed activities like making a coffee body scrub and blending their own mix of essential oils.
There were also talks and live demonstrations spread across the day’s programming.
Highlights included a follow-along senior-friendly exercise session by inclusive fitness outfit MBOLD, a fish mee sua cooking demo by food services company Sodexo, and even a guide on how to SHINE as a caregiver by SilverStreak’s commissioning editor, Lena Soh-Ng.
Psst – if you’re interested in either of CWA’s new initiatives, click on these links to find out more about CareJourney and the organisation’s Home-based Monitoring.
