Singaporeans face a significant gap between long-term care expectations and reality, with home care costs underestimated by 32% as caregiver burnout scales, according to a study by Great Eastern.
The study released by the insurer on 11 June 2026 reveals that there is a great disconnect between long-term care expectations and reality, with home care costs underestimated by 32% as caregiver burnout scales.
Great Eastern MD Kwek-Perroy Li Choo said, “We now recognise that that long-term care is no longer solely about fulfilling medical needs. There is a desire by Singaporeans to maintain their dignity when under long-term medical care. Everyone, regardless of age or ability, wants to continue to be seen, heard and valued, and will treasure a sense of belonging to familiar environments, hence we see increasing preference for home-based care.”
With half of healthy Singaporeans expected to develop severe disability at some point in their lifetime, whether due to injury or illness, long-term care is becoming an increasingly important reality for individuals and families regardless of age. The study found that
• 62% of GREAT CareShield claimants are under the age of 50.
• Close to 3 in 10 long-term disability claims stem directly from injuries.
• Among all injury-related claims filed by policyholders, a striking 63% came from individuals in their prime working years, aged between 30 and 49.
The Great Eastern long-term care study also unveils a disconnect between awareness and action, reflecting the underestimation of one’s risk of disability as a possible reason in delaying enhanced protection. The study is based on the research conducted by NielsenIQ from Oct 2025 to Jan 2026, with a sample size of 1000 among Singapore residents aged 30-64.