HomeWise › Caregiver Guides › Part-Time Caregiver
Care at HomeUpdated November 2026 · 5 min read
When a parent needs help with bathing, meals or getting around for a few hours a day, there are two ways to get a part-time caregiver in Singapore: subsidised home personal care through AIC, or a private caregiver you book yourself. The Home Caregiving Grant can help pay for either. This guide sets them side by side.
The short version
Subsidised home personal care starts from $25 an hour before subsidy, and needs a doctor's referral.
Private caregivers can be booked directly. Government service subsidies do not apply.
The Home Caregiving Grant pays $200 to $600 a month in cash, and can be used for either route.
Providers you can contact are listed below. HomeWise is not paid to list them.
| Subsidised (AIC HPC+) | Private caregiver | |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it | AIC-appointed providers | Private companies and agencies |
| How to get it | Assessment and referral by a doctor, or help at an AIC Link | Book directly with the provider |
| Price before subsidy | From $25 an hour (AIC) | Set by each provider |
| Government service subsidy | Means-tested, for Singapore Citizens and PRs | Does not apply |
| Home Caregiving Grant | Can help pay, if you qualify | Can help pay, if you qualify |
Choose the subsidised route when cost matters most and you can wait for the assessment. HPC+ carers help with feeding, dressing, toileting, washing and moving around, medication, simple exercises set by a therapist, and some household chores, according to AIC.
Choose a private caregiver when you need help soon, want to pick the hours yourself, or do not qualify for the subsidy.
Subsidised home personal care starts from $25 an hour before subsidy. After the means-tested subsidy, families pay less. The subsidy table is in our home nursing and home care cost guide.
Private caregivers set their own rates. As one example, Helpling listed rates on 6 November 2026 from $21 an hour for regular, longer bookings to $30 an hour for a one-off two-hour session, with higher rates for sessions starting between 10am and 1pm.
Sources: AIC, Enhanced Home Personal Care, read on 6 November 2026; Helpling elderly care rates, read on 6 November 2026. Check the price with the provider before you book.
Yes. AIC says the grant can be used for care needs such as hiring a helper, paying for home care services, or buying healthcare items. It is paid in cash each month, so it works with a subsidised or a private caregiver.
| Household income per person | Grant a month |
|---|---|
| $0 to $1,500, or no income and a home with an annual value of $21,000 or less | $600 |
| $1,501 to $3,600 | $400 |
| $3,601 to $4,800 | $200 |
If the household owns more than one property, the grant is $200 a month. Source: AIC, Home Caregiving Grant, read on 6 November 2026.
The person cared for must permanently need some help with at least 3 of the 6 activities of daily living, be a Singapore Citizen or an eligible PR, and live at home. See the full rules in the Home Caregiving Grant guide.
Subsidised home personal care starts from $25 an hour before government subsidies, according to AIC, and costs less after the means-tested subsidy. Private caregivers set their own rates. One large provider, Helpling, listed rates from $21 an hour for regular bookings to $30 an hour for a one-off two-hour session on 6 November 2026.
Yes. AIC says the grant can be used for care needs, such as hiring a helper, paying for home care services, or buying healthcare items. It is a monthly cash payout of $600, $400 or $200, so the family decides how to spend it.
Subsidised home personal care (HPC+) comes from AIC-appointed providers, needs an assessment and referral, and is means-tested. Private caregivers can be booked directly, but government service subsidies do not apply to them.
Talk to the doctor at the hospital or polyclinic, who can assess the need and refer you. You can also get help at an AIC Link or call the AIC hotline on 1800-650-6060.
A part-time caregiver suits a few hours a day or a few days a week. When help is needed most of the day or overnight, families often compare a live-in helper, where the maid levy concession may apply. The Care Cost Estimator compares both.
Subsidised and private providers you can call or message directly. HomeWise is not paid to list these providers. They are in alphabetical order.
AIC-listed providers and phone numbers are from AIC's list of home nursing providers (December 2025). Check prices and which subsidies apply with the provider before you book. AIC's list of home nursing providers ↗
Compare the monthly cost of home care, a live-in helper, day care or a nursing home, before and after subsidy. Nothing is saved.
Open the Care Cost Estimator →