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Quite sad to learn of this. Cases of the elderly being basically abandoned by their kids at these nursing homes are reported to be on the rise. The report also mentioned that these aged parents being forsakened by their children did not want want go to the Small Claims Tribunal or resort to the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents because they were ashamed to be left there in the first place and did not want to further embarrass themselves to seek outside help. Granted some families genuinely faced financial difficulties or have strained relationships with their elderly but to dump them at the elderly homes is really not the right thing to do. One particular case was brought up which a local Singaporean even abandoning his mum at a JB nursing home and refused to pay up or pick up phone calls from the nursing home (Check out the embedded video from 1min 38s onwards). In the Chinese news, he was interviewed and claimed his two sisters would pay up and that he did not give two hoots what others thought of him as long as he live a happy life. From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1208889/1/.html Cases of families defaulting on nursing home payments on the rise By Vimita Mohandas/Lip Kwok Wai/Wee Leng | Posted: 20 June 2012 2123 hrs SINGAPORE: Some eldercare facilities in Singapore are seeing more cases of families defaulting on their payment and also facing the challenge of trying to contact family members. About half of the 110 patients at Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home have defaulted on their payments, which ranges from about one to two months. To help these financially strapped families, the home works out instalment plans and even offers subsidies, but more often than not its hands are tied as families are just not able to fork out the expenses. Some remain uncontactable, simply abandoning their loved ones. The home said it has tried to seek help from the Small Claims Tribunal and the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents, but it is not as easy as it seems. Manager of the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home Then Kim Yuan said: "We as a caregiver of the patient can help apply for this tribunal (The Maintenance of Parents Act), but we have to be authorised by the patient or by the parents. "Unfortunately, most of the time we don't get the permission because to them, it's a shame to be abandoned in the nursing home. If they were to force their children to pay for the expenses, they will feel even more embarrassed". Mr Then added that the process at the Small Claims Tribunal is also long and tedious and family members usually do not turn up for these sessions. The home also feels that the small fee that they have to fork out for the mediation process is not money well spent. This problem has also spread across the causeway to the Comfort Ville Home nursing care centre in Taman Johor Jaya. Representatives from the home said they have tried to contact Singaporean Joseph Tay, whose mother was admitted in March. The home alleges that Mr Tay owes them 6000 ringgit. Staff-in-charge at Comfort Ville Home Goh Ker Xin said: "When we admit a patient, we will collect a one-month deposit from the patients' families. However, Mr Tay said he couldn't afford it and we still decided to help him. But he hasn't come back to visit his mother and has disappeared." Mr Tay, who is unemployed, said he could not afford the bills and that his siblings would settle the expenses. Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, the Ministry of Health said it does not condone the abandonment of patients in residential healthcare institutions, such as nursing homes or hospitals. "We are saddened to see such occurrences," a ministry spokesperson said. "In such situations, institutions will engage the family on an amicable resolution, such as financial assistance through subsidies, Medifund, charity dollars or payment by installations. "The Maintenance of Parents Act can be exercised by elderly patients to pursue his/her child for maintenance, should such an unfortunate situation occur." - CNA/wm

Just come across this website on mobile payment - has anyone use this before ?? http://www.zong.com/

14 November 2007 In line with the revision of Annual Values (AV) of properties from 1 Jan 2008, the AV criterion for older low wage workers to qualify for the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme (WIS) will also be adjusted. 2. To qualify for WIS for work done in 2007 and 2008, the recipient must live in a property with AV at the end of 2006 and 2007 respectively of not more than $10,000. There is no change to the AV criterion. 3. For work done in 2009, the AV of the recipient

Guys anyone know of anyway whereby i can pay my monthly car instalment to Hong Leong using credit cards, or any other modes of payments that can help me earn credit card points/ internet banking points etc?