Mr Lau is 66 and the eldest of three brothers. He has spent much of his life looking after his family.

Today, he lives in a 4-room HDB flat with his second brother, Mr Jason Lau (63), and his nephew, who is currently pursuing a Polytechnic diploma. The family has faced more than their share of health challenges over the years, but they continue to support one another as best they can.

Mr Lau is semi-retired and works as a remiser, helping a small group of long-time clients buy and sell stocks. Most of his clients are from his own generation and trading activity is much quieter these days. Depending on demand, he earns between $900 and $1,100 a month, enough to cover his own daily expenses and contribute to the household.

What weighs most heavily on his mind is his youngest brother, Yin Huo.

A Brother Who Needed Full-Time Care

Yin Huo, now 62, was diagnosed with autism as a child. Although he briefly worked as a quality control officer, he found it difficult to sustain employment because of his condition. For many years, he lived with Mr Lau, who helped provide for his daily needs and ensured he had a stable home.

Everything changed in 2023 when Yin Huo suffered a stroke.

After his hospital stay and rehabilitation, doctors advised that he would require permanent nursing home care. He had become fully dependent on caregivers for most activities of daily living, and his brothers were no longer able to meet his care needs at home.

A nursing home placement had to be arranged quickly. Since then, Yin Huo has remained there under long-term care. His condition has gradually become more complex. Recently, he was placed on tube feeding because he can no longer eat normally.

Despite these limitations, Mr Lau says his brother still finds joy in simple moments.

“He is happy when there are festive celebrations like Chinese New Year,” he shared. “He enjoys taking part in the activities.”

The Cost of Keeping Him Safe

Even with those subsidies, the monthly fees range from about $1,000 to $1,200, depending on the medical care Yin Huo requires.

For the past three years, Mr Lau has taken responsibility for paying these fees. His monthly income has never been enough to comfortably cover the cost. Instead, he relied on savings accumulated over many years. Month after month, those savings were used to bridge the gap.

Today, there is very little left.

Jason, his second brother works as a flyer distributor and earns about $1,400 a month. His income supports both himself and his son, who is also a stroke survivor and requires additional care and transportation support while completing his studies.

Mr Lau has also delayed drawing down his CPF until age 70, leaving him without another source of regular income.

While he continues working whenever clients contact him, he is reaching a point where paying the nursing home fees means cutting back on his own essential living expenses.

Mr Lau has worked with the nursing home to explore additional subsidies and partial MediSave deductions. He is also considering downsizing from his current 4-room flat to a 3-room flat to help manage future expenses. These efforts take time, and the nursing home fees continue each month.

What We Are Raising Funds For

Ray of Hope aims to raise $7,329.60 to provide Mr Lau with 6 months of nursing home fees, giving him temporary financial relief while he continues seeking longer-term assistance and funding options for Yin Huo’s nursing home care.

The support received will help ensure that Yin Huo can continue receiving the care he needs without compromising Mr Lau’s own basic living necessities.

How Your Support Will Help

Your support will help ensure that Yin Huo can continue receiving the care he needs in a safe and appropriate environment.

It will also ease the financial strain on Mr Lau, who has spent years supporting his younger brother and is now running out of resources to continue doing so alone.

For this family, maintaining Yin Huo’s care means preserving stability and dignity for all three brothers as they face the years ahead together.

* The total campaign goal includes a payment processing fee of 1.8%