Finding a maid for elderly care in Singapore is one of the more emotionally loaded household decisions a family makes, and it is very different from hiring a general helper. Caring for an ageing parent can mean helping with mobility and transfers, managing a wall of medications, supporting hygiene and toileting, and, increasingly, handling the patience that dementia demands.
I have spent a lot of time researching how the maid industry in Singapore works, including how agencies screen for and match specialised caregiving skills, and how MOM publishes their retention and transfer data. This guide is built on that research, not on marketing claims.
Below are nine agencies I would trust to find a helper with genuine eldercare experience, plus the context that matters: what to verify, how a helper differs from a trained nurse, and the levy concession your household can claim. If you are still choosing nationality, my guide to the best maid agencies in Singapore covers the wider field.
Key Takeaways
- 1 Elderly care is a specialised skill: mobility help, medication reminders, hygiene, and often dementia care, not just housekeeping.
- 2 Verify genuine caregiving experience and, where relevant, dementia or bedridden-care history with contactable references.
- 3 Households with an elderly member can apply for the concessionary maid levy of just S$60 a month.
- 4 A helper is not a trained nurse. For medical needs, pair her with home nursing or a doctor rather than relying on her alone.
- 5 Always confirm the agency is MOM-licensed and check its retention and transfer rates first.
Why elderly care needs a specialised helper
Eldercare sits on a spectrum. At one end is a largely independent parent who needs companionship, meals, and light help around the home. At the other is a bedridden elder who needs help with transfers, feeding, and hygiene around the clock. Be honest with yourself and the agency about where your parent sits, because it changes the experience you need:
- Mobility and transfers. Helping someone in and out of bed or a wheelchair safely is a skill, and a physical one. Ask about manual handling experience.
- Medication routines. Many elderly parents are on multiple daily medications. A helper needs to be reliable and literate enough to follow a schedule precisely.
- Dementia care. This demands patience and specific techniques. A helper who has done it before is worth a great deal.
- Hygiene and dignity. Bathing, toileting, and personal care handled with patience and respect.
- Companionship and language. A helper who can chat with your parent, ideally with some shared language or dialect, lifts mood and reduces isolation.
One honest caveat: a domestic helper is not a trained nurse. For genuine medical needs, pair her with home nursing visits or your doctor rather than expecting her to manage clinical care alone.
Helper, home nursing, or nursing home: matching care to need
A live-in helper is the right answer for a lot of families, but not all. Here is how the main options compare so you can place your parent honestly on the spectrum.
| Domestic helper | Home nursing / care | Nursing home | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Daily care and companionship at home | Clinical needs, visits as required | High-dependency, round-the-clock care |
| Setting | Live-in, your home | Visiting, your home | Residential facility |
| Medical training | Caregiving, not clinical | Trained nurses or aides | Trained staff on site |
| Indicative cost | S$550–750+/month salary | Per visit or package | From ~S$2,000–3,500+/month |
For most families, a well-matched helper plus occasional home nursing covers the need at a fraction of nursing-home cost. The agencies below are the ones I would trust to find a helper who can genuinely do the caregiving part.
What to verify before hiring a helper for elderly care
As with infant care, a generic line about caregiving on a biodata sheet is not enough. Work through this with the agency before you commit:
- Specific eldercare history. Who did she care for, for how long, and what did the role involve? Bedridden care and dementia care are very different from companionship.
- References you can speak to. A previous employer who can confirm she handled transfers, medication, and difficult moments calmly is worth more than any course certificate.
- Physical capability. Transfers and lifting are demanding. Be realistic about whether the helper can safely manage your parent.
- Language and dialect. A shared language, even some Mandarin or a dialect, transforms daily companionship and reduces your parent's isolation.
- Temperament. Patience is everything in eldercare, especially with dementia. A face-to-face or video interview tells you more than any document.
A strong agency will know its candidates well enough to answer all of this confidently. If one cannot, keep looking.
1. Inter Great Employment
Inter Great built its name on specialised caregiving, and elderly care, including patient care, is exactly what it screens for. Founded in 2013, it has earned the Singapore 500 Enterprise Award and Best Maid Agency from Parents World, and its consultants are used to matching helpers with verifiable eldercare and dementia experience to families who need it.
Rather than hand over a stack of biodata, the team walks through each candidate's care history in detail, which is precisely what eldercare hiring demands. It maintains a 4.9-star Google rating with branches in Katong, Ang Mo Kio, and Bugis. The one caveat: ask for a full fee breakdown upfront, as transfer pricing is not always published.
Website: intergreat.sg
Location: Katong, Ang Mo Kio, and Bugis
Track record: 4.9-star Google rating, Parents World Best Maid Agency, caregiving specialisation
Best for: Families who want a helper with verified eldercare or dementia experience.
2. JForce Employment Service
JForce explicitly covers elderly care and care for persons with disabilities, not just housekeeping and childcare, and sources experienced helpers from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Cambodia. Licensed by MOM (licence 14C717) and rated 4.9 on Google, it pairs meticulous screening with tailored training.
Crucially for eldercare, JForce actively helps eligible families, including those with elderly members, tap the concessionary maid levy, which brings the monthly levy down to S$60. It publishes salaries by nationality and manages the whole process end to end, with branches in Boon Keng, Ang Mo Kio, and Jurong East and a responsive WhatsApp line.
Website: jforce.com.sg
Location: Boon Keng, Ang Mo Kio, and Jurong East
Track record: 4.9-star Google rating, MOM licence 14C717, eldercare and disability care
Best for: Families who want eldercare experience plus hands-on levy concession help.
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3. Best Home Employment Agency
Best Home specifically screens and trains helpers for caregiving alongside housekeeping and cooking, and pairs that with CaseTrust accreditation, which protects your deposit. For eldercare, where you want both a capable caregiver and a financially safe agency, that combination is reassuring.
In business since 1996, it takes a consultative approach, taking time to understand your parent's needs rather than pushing the first available candidate. It also offers part-time options if your parent needs help for only part of the day, which not every household realises is possible.
Website: besthome.com.sg
Location: Three branches
Track record: CaseTrust-accredited, caregiving training, in business since 1996
Best for: Families who want a trained caregiver and deposit protection.
4. A1 Employment Agency
Eldercare placements carry real stakes, which is why A1 earns a high spot on guarantees. Its Ultimate Maid Assurance Policy offers both a refund and a replacement if a placement does not work out, beyond the standard MOM 50 percent refund. If the match is wrong for your parent, you are not trapped.
Serving over 10,000 families since 2007 with a 0.75 percent transfer rate over 19 years, A1 provides structured pre-deployment training and sources from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar. Ask for candidates with genuine eldercare history and lean on the guarantee for peace of mind.
Website: a1maid.com.sg
Location: Singapore (see website for branch details)
Track record: 0.75% transfer rate over 19 years, refund and replacement guarantee
Best for: Families who want strong guarantees on a high-stakes placement.
5. Nation Employment
Nation Employment brings a data-led, methodical approach to matching, which matters when you are placing someone with a vulnerable parent. It posts a 69.42 percent retention rate and a 0.35 percent transfer rate with no demerit points, matching on experience and personality rather than just availability.
Founded in 2009 with three branches placing close to 300 helpers a year, it won the Singapore Prestige Brand Award in 2025 and holds a 92 percent recommendation rate across nearly 300 Facebook reviews. Ask specifically for verified eldercare experience and its structured process handles the rest.
Website: nation.sg
Location: Three branches
Track record: 0.35% transfer rate, 69.42% retention, zero demerit points
Best for: Families who want careful, data-backed matching.
6. Maidcity
Continuity is everything in eldercare. A parent who builds trust with a helper, then loses her after a few months, is set back emotionally as well as practically. Maidcity's matching-first philosophy, built over 25 years, is designed precisely to avoid that by getting the match right the first time.
It has been part of MOM's Advance Placement Scheme since the 2016 pilot, so you can interview a candidate about her eldercare experience face to face before committing. Named a ThreeBestRated Top Maid Agency for several years running, with branches in Toa Payoh, Kovan, and Clementi.
Website: maidcity.com.sg
Location: Toa Payoh, Kovan, and Clementi
Track record: 25+ years, MOM APS participant, ThreeBestRated Top Agency
Best for: Families who want a lasting match for continuity of care.
7. Universal Employment Agency
Universal is worth a look for eldercare because of its transfer pool. A transfer maid already in Singapore with proven eldercare experience can start quickly, and you can meet her face to face first, which is invaluable when an ageing parent needs support sooner rather than later.
Operating since 1986 with a 75.35 percent retention rate, well above the 63 percent average, Universal has the institutional knowledge to match carefully. If you want an experienced helper who is already settled into life here and can step into a caregiving routine fast, it belongs on your shortlist.
Website: universal.sg
Location: Three branches island-wide
Track record: 75.35% retention rate, since 1986, 10,000+ families
Best for: Families who want an experienced transfer maid who can start fast.
8. Island Maids
Island Maids' advantage for eldercare is the size of its candidate pool. Placing well above the industry average each year across 11 branches, it has more helpers with specific eldercare skills to put in front of you, which matters when you are filtering for experience with mobility, medication, or dementia.
The 11 branches also mean you can review biodata and interview a shortlisted candidate in person wherever you live. It won the Reader's Digest Best Quality Service Award in 2020, and clients consistently praise its efficient paperwork handling. A strong choice when you want genuine options.
Website: islandmaids.com.sg
Location: 11 branches island-wide
Track record: Reader's Digest Best Quality Service Award 2020, high placement volume
Best for: Families who want a large pool of eldercare-experienced candidates.
9. Green Employment
Green Employment's Love and Compassion philosophy fits eldercare naturally, and the numbers back the soft language: a placement volume above 300, a transfer rate under 0.4 percent, and a 4.9-star Google rating across its Toa Payoh and Serangoon branches. For families navigating eldercare for the first time, that patience counts.
The team will not rush you toward a candidate who is not right for a vulnerable parent, and its embassy accreditations from Indonesia and the Philippines mean the sourcing quality is there. A reassuring choice when you want careful guidance rather than a fast transaction.
Website: greenemployment.sg
Location: Toa Payoh and Serangoon
Track record: Sub-0.4% transfer rate, 4.9-star Google rating, embassy-accredited
Best for: Families navigating eldercare for the first time who want careful matching.
Frequently asked questions about hiring a maid for elderly care in Singapore
Can a domestic helper provide medical care for my elderly parent?
No. A helper provides caregiving, companionship, mobility help, medication reminders, and hygiene support, but she is not a trained nurse. For clinical needs, pair her with home nursing visits or your doctor rather than relying on her alone.
How do I find a maid experienced in dementia care?
Ask the agency specifically for candidates with dementia care history, and speak to references who can confirm it. Dementia care demands particular patience and techniques, so general eldercare experience is not always enough on its own.
What is the levy concession for households with an elderly member?
Households with an elderly member, generally aged 67 and above, can apply for the concessionary maid levy of S$60 a month instead of the standard S$300. A good agency will help you check eligibility and apply.
Should I choose a helper of a particular nationality for eldercare?
Experience and temperament matter more than nationality, but a shared language or dialect genuinely helps companionship. Many families value Indonesian and Myanmar helpers for eldercare, while a Filipino helper may communicate more easily in English with doctors.
How do I check an eldercare maid agency is legitimate?
Search the agency on MOM's Employment Agency Directory and check its licence, retention rate, transfer rate, and demerit points. Above 65 percent retention, below 1 percent transfer, and zero demerit points is a strong sign.
Elderly care is a role where the right match changes a family's daily life, and the wrong one adds stress when you can least afford it. The agencies above are the ones I would trust to find a helper who can genuinely do the caregiving, from Inter Great and its caregiving specialisation to JForce and its hands-on help with the levy concession.
Be honest about your parent's needs, verify the experience, speak to references, and interview before you commit. For the wider field, see my guide to the best maid agencies in Singapore.
And if you run a maid agency, a clear, fast website with strong local SEO is what turns Google searches into real enquiries. That is exactly what I do at Terris. Take a look at my web design services or get in touch for a free consultation.
Written by
Terris
Founder & Lead Strategist
Terris is a Singapore-based web designer and digital strategist who has spent 8+ years building websites for local businesses. His Terris Recommends series shares personal picks for the best service providers across Singapore, informed by his experience working with businesses across industries.
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