SINGAPORE – Pang Jian Ting, who has an intellectual disability that limits his ability to communicate and exercise, was initially stressed by his new job at a nursing home and lost 3 kg in three months.
She transitioned from a desk job of data entry to a physically demanding job at Peacehaven Nursing Home, where she helped feed nurses and looked after the disoriented elderly with dementia. was doing.
Once, a resident left the ward without warning. Pan returned home late at night after the resident was found.
But Pan, 34, has since grown accustomed to her new role. She is one of around 250 people with intellectual disabilities or autism who have found work in the healthcare sector since 2014 thanks to her SG Enable, Singapore’s central agency for disability and inclusion. I’m a person.
About 80 of these people with moderate to high support needs are employed in nursing homes.
A new partnership between the Integrated Care Authority (AIC) and SG Enable in October 2022 has created over 60 job opportunities in 12 community care organizations.
The agency has been working closely with SG Enable since 2019 to promote employment of people with disabilities in the community care sector. To improve the capacity of medical professionals with disabilities, AIC provides additional support in areas such as training and retention to community care organizations that employ persons with disabilities.
We will take care of the residents of the 2nd ward.
People with intellectual disabilities or autism who need more accommodations, such as flexible working hours and easier instructions, often have a harder time finding work than people with physical disabilities.
Most of them can take on simple administrative and cleaning tasks, but qualified individuals like Pan are also assigned to other roles, such as care assistants.
Pan’s caregiver, Madam Yeo, who works in the same department, told The Straits Times that there is a careful balance to be struck. So we had to make sure that her contribution did not compromise the well-being of the elderly. ”
Mr. Pang started by helping residents instead of feeding them directly. She is currently caring for residents of two wards.
