Taking Control of the Future

Siew Kueen is already a donee to her elderly parents. For practical reasons, she prefers to explore other options when it comes to appointing a donee to make important decisions on her behalf should she lose mental capacity one day. 

“It is not wise for my siblings to be my donee as we are around the same age. What if something happens to them? I don’t want to add on to each other’s burden,” says Siew Kueen, who is single and works in the special needs sector. 

“My single friends also feel the same way. They are aware that their own donees may not be able to fulfil their role when the time comes due to life’s unpredictability and changing circumstances.” 

Siew Kueen’s anxieties were eased when she came across TPDD while researching for professional services on the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) website. 

Avoiding uncertainty and safeguarding one’s wishes

“I was excited when I realised that TOUCH has a team of certified professional donees who can be appointed as a proxy decision maker. I like the fact that TOUCH is providing this service as an organisation,” adds Siew Kuen, who spent half a year mulling over her decision before she did her LPA to appoint TOUCH as her professional donee.

Caption: Providing service continuity through TOUCH Professional Deputies & Donees

Ms Lai Yen Hoon, who is TOUCH’s senior social worker and a professional donee, shared with Siew Kueen a holistic approach to planning her future needs. The in-depth discussions covered the key areas of personal welfare, and property and affairs. Two other professional donees were also assigned as back-up donees.

“A professional donee has the experience and skillset to guide me in ways that neither my loved ones nor friends ever could. It helps me think through important issues that matter to me. This will help me carry out my wishes according to what I want,” says Siew Kueen, who adds that this is the right time to plan as she can think clearly and has no health concerns.

“It helps to appoint a neutral party to be your professional donee. Sometimes, it can be hard to hold sensitive conversations with loved ones and friends. If we are prepared to invest in insurance, then we should also be willing to invest in our future care needs and to seek someone reliable who can provide a professional service,” says Siew Kueen. 

Siew Kueen now enjoys peace of mind, knowing that TOUCH provides service continuity with safeguards in place as professional donees are registered with the OPG. 

“I think appointing a professional donee is about being responsible, so that your loved ones need not worry about who will take care of you in future,” adds Siew Kueen. 

For more enquiries, please call 9653 1076 or email enquirypdd@touch.org.sg. 

=====

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