Caregiver support founders shortlisted for Singaporean of the Year award

Adrian Tan and Greg Tan established SG Assist in 2017 to provide resources and advocacy for people caring for family members.

The pair met during their national service and bonded over their personal experiences as caregivers for their own parents. Adrian Tan cared for his mother following her cancer diagnosis, while Greg Tan looked after his father after a heart procedure. They launched the organisation with nearly $300,000 in personal funds and contributions from friends.

The founders faced a crisis in 2024 when Adrian Tan suffered a stroke that partially paralysed his body. This event led Greg Tan to question if they should continue their work, but the dedication of their staff motivated them to keep the organisation running. To ensure the long-term sustainability of their mission, the pair restructured the organisation to include the Care Innovation Institute, a for-profit arm that provides consultancy and training to fund their social work.

SG Assist operates a call centre that monitors the well-being of seniors living alone and runs a resource centre in Khatib. This centre includes a lab where people can test gerontechnology, which refers to products that help seniors live independently. Because donors often prefer funding specific patient groups over general caregiver support, the founders created their commercial arm to bridge the funding gap.

The two men have been shortlisted for the 2026 Singaporean of the Year award for their contributions to the community.