Keppel supports Dementia Singapore with $1 million donation

September 2022

President Halimah Yacob, who has been Patron of Dementia Singapore since 2018, unveiled the New Horizon Centre (Toa Payoh)'s refreshed signage.

From left: Mr Nathaniel Farouz, Head, Senior Living, Keppel Land, Mr Jason Foo, CEO of Dementia Singapore, Dr Ang Peng Chye, Chairman of Dementia Singapore, President Halimah Yacob, Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman of Keppel Corporation, Mr Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel Corporation, Ms Christina Tan, CEO of Keppel Capital, and Mr Ho Tong Yen, CEO of Keppel Care Foundation.

Approximately $600,000 out of Keppel's $1 million donation will go towards subsidising attendance fees for needy clients across all four of Dementia Singapore's New Horizon Centres which provide daycare services and support for persons with dementia.

From left: Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman of Keppel Corporation, Mr Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel Coproration, Mr Jason Foo, CEO, Dementia Singapore, Ms Christina Tan, CEO of Keppel Capital, Dr Ang Peng Chye, Chairman, Dementia Singapore, and Mr Nathaniel Farouz, Head, Senior Living, Keppel Land, with President Halimah Yacob (front).

In conjunction with World Alzheimer’s Month in September, Keppel Corporation has, through its philanthropic arm, Keppel Care Foundation, pledged $1 million over the next three years to support Dementia Singapore, Singapore’s leading social service agency in specialised dementia care. 

The partnership was launched this afternoon by Guest-of-Honour President Halimah Yacob, together with Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman of Keppel Corporation, Mr Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel Corporation, as well as Dr Ang Peng Chye, Chairman of Dementia Singapore and Mr Jason Foo, CEO of Dementia Singapore, at Dementia Singapore’s New Horizon Centre (Toa Payoh). 

Expressing appreciation for Keppel’s support for Dementia Singapore, President Halimah, who is the Patron of Dementia Singapore, said, “With an ageing population, and more people expected to have dementia, support from businesses and the wider community will be key to the nation’s efforts to build a dementia-inclusive Singapore. I would like to thank Keppel for its generous donation and partnership with Dementia Singapore to enhance the care and services to dementia patients and their families.”    

The collaboration between Keppel and Dementia Singapore comes on the back of President Halimah’s call in 2021 for Dementia Singapore to improve the nation’s capability and capacity for dementia care and introduce quality programmes to meet the growing demand exacerbated by a rapidly ageing population. 

President Halimah added, “Dementia Singapore has taken on the important role of a sector enabler. The Dementia Singapore Academy has been providing training not just to families in need, but also consultancy to other Social Service Agencies as it strives to raise the capability and capacity of dementia care nationally. The task at hand, however, is not just Dementia Singapore’s alone. A truly Dementia-Friendly Singapore can only be achieved when everyone plays our part.” 

The donation from Keppel will support Dementia Singapore’s various programmes and services to meet the growing demand for dementia care and strengthen the effectiveness of the dementia care ecosystem: 

- Approximately $600,000 will be provided to subsidise attendance fees for needy clients across all four of Dementia Singapore’s New Horizon Centres which provide daycare services and support for persons with dementia with the aim to maintain or improve the psycho-social and mental well-being of clients, while providing relief to caregivers by taking care of persons with dementia during the day; 

- Approximately $150,000 will be provided to support the Family of Wisdom enrichment programme, which provides a continuum of community care for persons with dementia who have completed outpatient programmes and have been discharged for community care; 

- Approximately $150,000 will be provided to enhance and continue the Voices for Hope programme, a self-advocacy and empowerment programme for persons with dementia and their care partners, which aims to change societal attitudes, reduce the stigma of dementia and improve the landscape of how persons with dementia are perceived and supported; 

- Approximately $100,000 will be provided to support the Memories Café programme which provides alternative platforms, such as restaurants and cafes, for social interactions and respite to persons with dementia and their caregivers outside of their long-term care environments and their homes.

The donation reflects Keppel’s focus on contributing to the community, and is also in line with the Company’s plans to grow its involvement in the senior living sector. Keppel currently owns a 50% stake in one of the largest senior living operators in the United States, Watermark Retirement Communities (Watermark), which offers a variety of services including independent living, assisted living and memory care. Keppel will leverage its capabilities in senior living to explore opportunities for further collaboration with Dementia Singapore. In addition, Keppel’s staff volunteers will work with Dementia Singapore to organise activities to engage persons with dementia and their care partners.  

Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman of Keppel Corporation, said, “Keppel aims to make a positive impact in the community wherever we operate. The number of persons with dementia in Singapore is expected to rise with increasing life expectancy and ageing populations. In line with the Keppel Group’s growing involvement in the senior living sector, we are pleased to collaborate with Dementia Singapore to support the needs of persons with dementia and their caregivers and increase the accessibility of dementia care services for the underprivileged.” 

Dr Ang Peng Chye, Chairman of Dementia Singapore, said, “With this donation from Keppel, Dementia Singapore will be able to propel and enhance our programmes and services for families impacted by dementia. As dementia becomes more prevalent with more people seeking help, it really takes a collective effort from organisations like Keppel, community partners and individuals to improve the dementia landscape in Singapore.” 

Dementia is a general term that describes a wide range of symptoms such as loss of memory, difficulties in communication and problem-solving, and other reduced cognitive abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. 

According to the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study led by the Institute of Mental Health in 2015, one in 10 people aged 60 and above may have dementia. Locally, there are an estimated 100,000 people in Singapore who have dementia, and that number is rising.