CapitaLand donates S$1m to elderly affected by Covid-19 in Singapore

REAL estate giant CapitaLand, through its philanthropic arm CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), is donating S$1 million to support the elderly affected by Covid-19 in Singapore.

The sum is part of the group's close to S$6 million pledge to support the immediate needs of communities in the Republic that are affected by the pandemic.

The latest pledge of S$1 million will go towards providing the elderly with meals and essentials such as daily necessities, smart communication devices and personal protection equipment, it said on Thursday.

Heightened Covid-19 precautions, such as restricted visitation, have resulted in a lack of volunteer support and supplies at elderly care homes, CapitaLand said.

CHF has partnered the Community Foundation of Singapore's Sayang Sayang Fund to contribute S$700,000 to the Agency for Integrated Care.

The money will be spent on personal protection equipment for community care providers, disinfection of premises if there is a confirmed Covid-19 case, and support for affected staff, elderly and their family members. It will also go towards a preparedness fund to keep the elderly engaged and safe.

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In addition, CHF will provide restaurant meals to the elderly and staff of AWWA Senior Community Home and Apex Harmony Lodge (AHL), a purpose-built lodge for people with dementia, CapitaLand said.

The company's meal initiative, launched with its malls' F&B tenants such as Creative Eateries Group and The Minor Food Group, will see 30,000 meals supplied to the elderly, children from low-income families and community care staff for the next six months.

CapitaLand also plans to send AHL 2,800 kilogrammes of rice from its Sino-Singapore Jilin Food project, as well as essential appliances such as air coolers and air purifiers, to help it transition better to split-zoning operations.

In addition, it will donate engagement tools such as smart tablets and cognitive stimulation kits to keep residents cognitively engaged and connected to loved ones who are unable to visit.

CapitaLand group chief executive Lee Chee Koon said that the company will continue to extend support to other vulnerable groups in Singapore, such as migrant workers.

On Tuesday, the group announced that its wholly-owned lodging business unit, The Ascott, will provide free accommodation for healthcare workers, such as the care staff of the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home.