A Step-by-Step Guide on How You Can Get Geriatric Care and Medicine in Singapore

Step 1: Understand the Geriatric Services Offered

• Overview of Geriatric Medicine: Geriatrics is a specialized field focused on the health and well-being of older adults. It encompasses comprehensive physical assessments, managing chronic conditions, cognitive decline (like dementia), medication reviews (to prevent adverse drug interactions), and rehabilitation services. Geriatricians are trained to treat complex medical issues common in older adults, helping to improve their quality of life.

• Common Geriatric Services in Singapore: In Singapore, various hospitals and medical centers offer specialized services for seniors. Some common geriatric services include:

• Memory Clinic: For seniors with memory issues or early signs of dementia.

• Falls Clinic: Designed to help those who have a history of falls or balance issues, providing assessment and preventive strategies.

• Continence Clinic: Focused on managing urinary incontinence, offering solutions like bladder retraining or continence aids.

• Stroke Rehabilitation Clinic: For seniors recovering from strokes, helping them regain mobility and manage vascular risk factors.

• Home-Based vs. Institutional Care: Geriatric care is offered in both home-based and institutional settings. Home-based services, like community-based programs and home nursing, allow seniors to receive care in the comfort of their own homes. Institutional care includes hospital-based geriatric wards, nursing homes, or rehabilitation centers, which offer more intensive care for seniors with complex medical needs.

Step 2: Identify Your or Your Loved One’s Geriatric Care Needs

• Self-Assessment or Caregiver’s Role: Determining when geriatric care is needed is a critical step. You can use a simple checklist to assess your or your loved one’s condition: these questions help assess whether specialized geriatric care might be beneficial, as older adults often need more personalized and comprehensive care than general practitioners (GPs) can provide.

• Are they frequently falling or experiencing balance issues?

• Do they have memory loss or confusion?

• Are they struggling with basic activities like bathing, dressing, or eating?

• Have they been hospitalized for chronic conditions, like heart disease or diabetes, and require ongoing management?

Step 3: Explore Healthcare Schemes and Subsidies Available for Geriatric Care

• CHAS (Community Health Assist Scheme): CHAS is a government initiative that provides healthcare subsidies to Singaporeans. Seniors can use CHAS to receive subsidies for chronic diseases or acute care in community settings like clinics. This helps to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for low- and middle-income seniors. CHAS also assists to provide essential vaccinations at no additional cost to patients.

• Medisave and Medishield Life: Medisave is a compulsory savings plan that allows Singaporeans to set aside part of their income for future healthcare needs. Seniors are given a yearly allowance from Medisave funds for outpatient treatment of chronic disease management, this includes geriatric services. MediShield Life is a national health insurance plan that covers large hospital bills and expensive treatments, ensuring that seniors are protected financially when accessing hospital-based geriatric care.

• Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Packages: These packages provide additional healthcare benefits for older Singaporeans. Seniors under the Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Packages receive enhanced subsidies for outpatient care, including geriatric services. These subsidies help reduce the cost of managing chronic diseases and accessing specialist care.

• CareShield Life: CareShield Life provides financial support for seniors who become severely disabled and need long-term care. It offers payouts to help cover the cost of caregiving, rehabilitation, and other long-term care services.

Step 4: Access Geriatric Services Through Public and Private Providers

• Start with Your General Practitioner (GP): A GP can serve as the first point of contact in identifying geriatric care needs. They can refer seniors with more complex needs to a geriatrician for more comprehensive care. Regular checkups with a GP can also help monitor chronic conditions and prevent complications, which is especially important as seniors age.

• Specialized Clinics and Hospitals: Singapore has several hospitals with dedicated geriatric centers. For example, Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) have specialized geriatric departments that offer tailored services. Seniors or their families can contact these hospitals to schedule appointments for consultations, rehabilitation, or memory and falls assessments.

• Community-Based Services: Beyond hospitals, Singapore offers community-based geriatric services. These include community nurses, eldercare centers, and outreach programs that provide geriatric care at home or in community settings. These services are ideal for seniors who have limited mobility or prefer receiving care in a familiar environment.

Step 5: Get Informed Through Local Resources

• Government Websites and Hotlines: Numerous resources are available online to help Singaporeans navigate geriatric care. Websites like the Ministry of Health (MOH), Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), and HealthHub provide information about available services, subsidies, and how to access them. Hotlines and contact numbers are also available to assist with queries and provide personalized guidance on geriatric care options.

• Engage with Geriatric Care Advocates: There are various organizations, such as the Singapore Silver Pages, that offer support in navigating the complex landscape of geriatric care. These advocates can help families understand their options, apply for subsidies, and find the best care services for their elderly loved ones.

By following these steps, Singaporean seniors and their families can take advantage of the specialized geriatric services available, ensuring a higher quality of life and better health outcomes as they age.

Benefits of Seeking Geriatric Care Early

Improved Quality of Life

Timely access to geriatric care can greatly enhance the overall quality of life for seniors. By addressing their unique medical needs early on, geriatric care helps older adults maintain independence and dignity as they age. Specialized services like mobility assistance, cognitive assessments, and chronic disease management allow seniors to stay active and engage in daily activities with minimal discomfort or dependence on others. Whether it's managing medications or getting help with memory issues, geriatric care focuses on optimizing seniors’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Seniors receiving this care experience better health outcomes and a more fulfilling lifestyle.

Prevention and Early Intervention

One of the key advantages of geriatric care is its focus on prevention and early intervention. Many age-related health issues—such as falls, malnutrition, and cognitive decline—can be mitigated if detected early. Geriatric specialists conduct thorough assessments to identify risk factors for these conditions and provide personalized interventions. For example, a senior who is prone to falls can benefit from a falls clinic where balance training, strength-building exercises, and home safety modifications are recommended. Similarly, early intervention for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can slow cognitive decline, helping seniors maintain mental sharpness for a longer time. Proactive care helps prevent hospitalizations and more serious health issues later on.

Reduced Caregiver Stress

Caring for aging loved ones can be overwhelming, especially when caregivers are left to manage complex health issues without professional support. Geriatric care reduces this burden by providing expert guidance and support to both seniors and their caregivers. Caregivers can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with knowing their loved one is receiving the right medical attention, rehabilitation services, and emotional support. Many geriatric services also include caregiver education, offering strategies for managing difficult behaviors, such as those related to dementia, or techniques for assisting with daily living activities. This not only improves the senior's care but also reduces stress and burnout among caregivers, making it easier for them to balance caregiving with their own lives.

By accessing geriatric care early, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life, and caregivers can receive the necessary support, ensuring that everyone involved benefits from a holistic approach to aging.