Feeling Assured through Deputyship

Xavier, 44, and his wife, Jin Feng, are devoted parents to three children aged 7 to 14. Like many families, the couple take charge of schoolwork, household chores and preparing meals. However, when they're outdoors, they switch roles—their children become their “eyes and ears,” watching out for their safety. This is because both Xavier and Jin Feng are blind.

On top of parenting, Jin Feng has to care for her 74-year-old father who has dementia. Her mother, who was also blind, passed on two years ago. The pressure was great. The bills were mounting each month and Xavier, the sole breadwinner, had to support seven family members. He struggled with his family’s finances while taking care of his father-in-law’s care needs which could go as high as $900 per month.

The breaking point

“At one point, I almost broke down. I did not know how to improve our situation. I was at a loss,” recalls Jin Feng. “I knew I had to find a way to rent out my father’s flat, but I did not have the legal powers to do so.” Jin Feng sees it as her duty to care for her father. Her mother, who was also blind, passed on two years ago. “I knew something was amiss when my father forgot he withdrew money from the bank. As my family lives nearby, I was able to check on him every day. He also started having personal hygiene issues,” adds Jin Feng.

Rising above disability to cope with caregiving duties

In 2024, after several hospital admissions, her father was admitted to a nursing home, adding to the financial strain already felt by the couple. There, a social worker advised Jin Feng to apply for Deputyship so she could legally manage her father’s assets and use them to cover his care expenses.

This was the start of Jin Feng’s search for such services. However, her initial attempts to approach law firms were futile — the long processing times and costly fees seemed out of reach.

“I am a wife, mother of three and a daughter. Some people told me to just focus on my own family. But I can’t do it,” says Jin Feng with a resolute smile. “Xavier and I don’t give up easily. I told the medical social worker we had to find another way.”

Her persistence paid off when the medical social worker finally directed her to TOUCH Professional Deputies and Donees (PDD).

Reconnecting with TOUCH

TOUCH is no stranger to Jin Feng and Xavier. In 2023, Xavier crossed path with TOUCH when he joined the Digitally Ready Family (DRF) Programme organised by TOUCH Cyber Wellness with their eldest son, Nico, then 12, who was struggling with gaming issues. This programme equips children and parents from low-income families with essential digital skills and promotes healthy family device use. 

Caption: Jin Feng (left) believes in nurturing her children with strong values that will anchor them through life

Caption: With TOUCH’s support, Xavier and Jin Feng learnt useful strategies to manage their son Nico’s (right) gaming issues.

Their two children Naomi, seven, and Nikkie, 10, are also currently under the care of TOUCH Young Arrows (Punggol), where they receive academic and emotional support.

Taking the faster, simplified route

With support from the TOUCH PDD team through the Simplified Deputyship Application (SDA) service, Jin Feng was placed on the simplified online application track via the Integrated Family Application System (iFAMS) under the Family Justice Court. Unlike the usual three to six months, this simplified route required only four to six weeks to appoint a deputy for the individual who has lost mental capacity.

TOUCH’s Senior Social Worker, Ms Liau Yi Fang, who is also a certified and registered Professional Deputy and Donee, supported Jin Feng every step of the way. With limited vision, Jin Feng needed help consolidating documents such as bank statements, renovation quotations, and utility bills. Yi Fang also guided her through legal correspondences with clear explanations and follow up tasks.

Caption: Senior social worker Ms Liau Yi Fang (right) checking in on Jin Feng during a home visit 

Caption: Jin Feng receiving step-by-step guidance to complete her deputyship application with confidence

“With TOUCH’s help, my financial load is lessened as the rental income can now be used to pay for my father in-law’s care expenses. I am grateful for this service,” adds Xavier, who also finds the SDA service reasonable.

With Jin Feng’s Deputyship secured, she can focus on her family with greater peace of mind. “The TOUCH staff are very friendly. I feel supported. I am glad I didn’t give up,” she shares with a smile. “If there’s a will, there’s a way.”

If you know of any individuals who can benefit from TOUCH’s SDA service, do contact us at 9653 1076 (Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm) or email us at enquirypdd@touch.org.sg.

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About TOUCH Professional Deputies & Donees

TOUCH Professional Deputies & Donees (TPDD) was set up in 2019, following the launch of the PDD scheme by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in 2018. TPDD is part of TOUCH Family Services’ efforts to build enabled communities and strengthen family relationships. Leveraging its decades of community service, including serving the elderly and people with special needs, individuals can be assured of reliability and service continuity. TPDD has a pool of professionals certified and registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Individuals, who want to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and do not have a suitable Donee or replacement Donee, are now given the option to appoint a Professional Donee under TOUCH to manage their Personal Welfare, Property & Affairs, or both, when they lose mental capacity. TOUCH also partners with Trust companies, with TOUCH managing the personal welfare, while the Trust companies manage Property & Affairs for those with significant assets.

Story published in 2025