YEAR 2013 ISSUE 07
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION BY THE AGENCY FOR INTEGRATED CARE
YOUR GUIDE TO INTERMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM CARE IN SINGAPORE
Nextstep issue 7 new khl.indd 1
Caring for
caregivers
Care options to help
those taking care of
frail loved ones
11/20/13 11:01 AM
p1
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
3
In Focus
A Silver Lining for Caregivers
Shower Time Now Easier
7
In Your Shoes
CAN I Help You?
A Friend to Turn to
11
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 1
Comforting Touch
A Helping Hand for Caregivers
13
Pro Files
15
Gotta Have It
17
Ask an Eldercare Expert
A Soft Spot for the Elderly
Hold the Sugar
About the Agency for
Integrated Care
The Agency for Integrated
Care (AIC) was set up by the
Ministry of Health (MOH)
to oversee, coordinate and
facilitate all efforts in care
integration. Our mission
is to achieve best care
outcomes for our patients
by empowering them
with health and social care
information and arranging
for their care when they are
discharged from hospitals.
We enable stakeholders to
raise the quality of care, and
also enhance collaboration
by working with health
and social care providers to
increase services to support
the ageing population. Our
work in the community brings
care services and information
closer to those in need. For
more information, please visit
www.aic.sg.
NEXTSTEP is a
publication by the
Agency for Integrated
Care. The views and
opinions expressed or
implied in NEXTSTEP
do not necessarily
reflect those of AIC or
its directors or editorial
staff. All information is
correct at time of print.
PUBLISHER
Agency for
Integrated Care
www.aic.sg
CHIEF EDITOR
Andy Seet
EDITORIAL TEAM
Elizabeth Njo
Pai Su Qin
For all editorial
queries, feedback or
to subscribe to the
magazine, please
e-mail [email protected]
MCI (P) 122/04/2013
11/19/13 12:57 AM
A
Editor's
Note
EDITOR'S NOTE
p2
s Singapore ages, more of us will take on the role of caring for our
loved ones. In this issue, we highlight caregivers and their selflessness
– both family caregivers and neighbours who shower the elderly with
warmth and concern like Mary (page 7).
To better support caregivers, this issue of NEXTSTEP introduces some community resources available that assist caregivers in caring for their loved ones.
For instance, there are financial assistance schemes like the Seniors’ Mobility
and Enabling Fund (SMF) (page 5). It is now enhanced to better benefit needy
families with frail seniors in purchasing items such as wheelchairs, commodes,
diapers, spectacles and hearing aids, among others.
There are also care options to support caregivers who juggle work and
caregiving. Alice is one caregiver who now has renewed zest in caring for her
father with dementia, thanks to the day care service offered by St Hilda’s Community Services (page 9). Caregivers can also turn to a home care service. Find
out more about one such home care option through the story of professional
caregiver Peck Keow (page 13).
Finally, there are online and community networks connecting caregivers to
services and information. One online network is the enhanced Singapore Silver
Pages v2.0, now a one-stop resource on eldercare and caregiving (page 3). For
caregivers of those with dementia, find out how the Community, Resource, Engagement and Support Teams (CREST) connected Zaleha to services, provided
emotional support and taught her to manage her parents’ condition (page 11).
To close the issue, we have thrown in two tasty and healthy recipes for diabetic
patients. Get them now on page 15.
Caregiving has its joys and rewards like Mary, Peck Keow, Alice and Zaleha will
share. However, our caregivers still require much support, and we hope that
through this issue, they will realise that they are not alone in this journey.
To all caregivers out there, remember to care for yourself while you take care of
your loved one. Find out how caregiving stress can be alleviated through support groups and training on page 17. A happy caregiver is a good caregiver!
ANDY SEET
Chief Editor
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 2
11/19/13 12:57 AM
p3
IN FOCUS
A Silver Lining for Caregivers
One-stop portal Singapore Silver Pages has been enhanced to offer more
comprehensive information on eldercare and caregiving
T
he Singapore Silver
Pages (SSP) was
enhanced in July
2013 to become
a one-stop resource on
eldercare and caregiving.
The portal by Agency
for Integrated Care (AIC)
now includes social care
information on matters such
as social day care centres,
home care services like
personal care, meals delivery
and escort services, as well
as grants that help caregivers
who hire domestic helpers to
care for their loved ones. This
means that the SSP can now
help caregivers make better
decisions in caring for their
loved ones, especially if they
are caring for them at home.
Information in the newlycreated Caregivers’ Resources
This means that
the SSP can now help
caregivers make
better decisions in
caring for their loved
ones, especially if
they are caring for
them at home.
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 3
section covers the basics
of caregiving and beyond.
Articles touch on the roles of
caregivers, falls prevention,
legal planning, home
modification, caregiver
wellbeing, end of caregiving,
and even working with
medical professionals. These
have been categorised
according to the different
stages of caregiving.
available, find out how to
apply for financial assistance
schemes, as well as learn the
symptoms and management
of common chronic illnesses.
For their own personal
wellbeing, caregivers can
also pick up tips on staying
healthy, ageing actively and
even financial planning.
New caregivers for example
can zoom in on information
most relevant to them.
Stories of, and questions,
by fellow caregivers can be
viewed too.
Interactivity is also enhanced
on SSP with the help of
more videos, recipes and a
new Readspeaker-enabled
feature which allows
caregivers to listen to the
content while doing other
things.
In other SSP sections,
caregivers can search for
providers of care services for
their loved ones, understand
the types and costs of care
Find out how the SSP has
supported caregivers Li Li,
Rachel and Adam as they
come together and share
their caregiving experiences!
Your one-stop resource on eldercare and caregiving
To visit the SSP and sign up
for its free e-newsletter, visit
www.silverpages.sg.
11/19/13 12:57 AM
IN FOCUS
My mum had a fall 3 years ago
and she‘s wheelchair-bound.
p4
My granny had dementia
for many years. She passed
away 2 months ago
My dad recently suffered a
stroke and is bedridden.
Adam
Rachel
Li Li
Care Options
Are there any
options to care for
dad at home? I
don’t want to
send him to a
nursing home.
Check out SSP’s
Eldercare Services
to find out what’s
available, especially
for home care.
I wish we knew about
SSP earlier. We really
had trouble locating
care services for my
granny then.
Money Matters
But how do I cope
with the costs? For
instance, I need to
buy a hospital bed
for dad.
I found a scheme
listed on SSP that will
subsidise the cost of
assistive devices, like
the bed for
Mone
your dad.
Ma y
tters
Yes, SSP has
a list of
Financial
Assistance
schemes
for those who
need help.
Financial
Assistance
schemes
Yes, with its Eldercare
Locator, you can easily
search for service
providers
and their
Eldercare
contact
Locator
details.
That’s where I learnt
about the Foreign
Domestic Worker
Grant to help hire a
domestic helper for
granny.
Caregiver Wellbeing
You seem so stressed.
Please take care! Who’s
going to care for your
dad if you fall sick?
I know… but I can’t
help worrying
about his health
and the bills. How
did you cope as a
caregiver?
It was a challenge
sometimes. But I’ve
found useful tips on
SSP in the Caregiver
Wellbeing
section.
Caregiver Resources
Where can I attend
caregiver training
courses? And
what’s the cost?
Check out the Caregivers
Training Grant administered
by AIC. It subsidises the
cost of approved caregiver
training
Care
Traingivers
ing G
courses.
ra
nt
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 4
Careg
Resou ivers’
rces
SSP’s Caregivers’
Resources is full of other
information, like preventing falls. There are guides
you can download too.
If you’re stressed
about caring for your
dad properly,
maybe you should
go for caregiver
training.
I even found out how to
manage mum’s grief
when granny passed on.
11/19/13 12:57 AM
p5
IN FOCUS
Shower Time Now Easier
Getting a simple shower chair with a huge subsidy from the Seniors' Mobility and
Enabling Fund has been a boon for Yasmuddin bin Rasul
Yasmuddin bin Rasul , 92
The padding and
the back rest on the
chair also make for
a more pleasant
and comfortable
shower experience.
The chair is both
lightweight and
stable, and has
non-slip legs.
F
or 92-year-old
Yasmuddin bin Rasul
who has weak knees,
taking his daily
shower has been easier since
he obtained a shower chair
that was heavily subsidised
under the enhanced Seniors'
Mobility and Enabling Fund
(SMF).
Before taking delivery of
the chair in late July, he had
to navigate his way inside
the bathroom slowly and
carefully, using the grab bars,
to get to the toilet bowl in a
far corner inside. He then sat
on the toilet bowl to shower.
Now, his attentive wife
Rahmah bte Abdul Gani, 83,
can place the shower chair
near the door inside the
bathroom so that it is easier
to get to - an important
point considering that Mr
Yasmuddin had once fallen
in the bathroom some time
back. The padding and the
back rest on the chair also
make for a more pleasant
and comfortable shower
experience. The chair is both
lightweight and stable, and
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 5
11/19/13 12:57 AM
p6
IN FOCUS
THE SENIORS' MOBILITY AND
ENABLING FUND
The $50 million Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF),
an enhanced version of the Seniors’ Mobility Fund launched in
2011, was fully rolled out by Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)
on 1 July 2013.
The SMF aims to provide holistic and comprehensive
support for seniors to help them remain mobile and to live
independently in the community. It also offers support to
caregivers looking after the elderly.
Rahmah bte Abdul Gani, 83
"During a visit to Mr
Yasmuddin's home, I saw that
he is not very mobile and
there was no shower chair
in the toilet. I thought the
device would be helpful for
him so I made the application
for him," says Sujata Nari, 38,
a case worker from Goodlife!,
a nearby senior activity
centre run by the Marine
Parade Family Service Centre.
Mr Yasmuddin did not know
what a shower chair was until
it arrived, she adds.
With the SMF subsidy for
the $60 chair and Goodlife!
covering the remaining $6,
Mr Yasmuddin did not have
to fork out any money for it.
The Agency for Integrated
Care (AIC) urges more needy
families with frail seniors to
apply for SMF.
Kelvin Lim, Chief of AIC’s
Social Care Division says:
“The Seniors’ Mobility and
Enabling Fund was enhanced
Nextstep issue 7 new khl.indd 6
on 1 July as a result of public
feedback to benefit more
seniors like Mr Yasmuddin.
By subsidising their purchase
of devices, seniors can now
live more independently
and actively at home and in
their community. We have
also made applications for
the SMF more convenient
by increasing the number
of access points where
caregivers can go to apply
for SMF. So if you are caring
for a senior who is eligible for
the fund, do tap on it so that
your loved one can live more
actively.”
For more information on the
eligibility criteria and
application process:
CONTACT US!
has non-slip legs.
Website:
www.silverpages.sg/SMF
E-mail:
[email protected]
Tel: 6603 6800
Enhancements to the fund:
1
More places for applications to be made
There are now 114 access points across Singapore which
can process and approve SMF applications, up from just
one in the past, making it easier for caregivers
to apply.
2
Simplified assessment for SMF devices
Seniors living in 3-room HDB flats or smaller and
receiving devices costing below $500 will automatically
qualify for a 90% subsidy.
3
Wider range of assistive devices
SMF now covers more assistive devices, including
motorised wheelchairs and accessories, pressure
relief cushions and mattresses, commodes, shower
chairs, hospital beds, spectacles, hearing aids, geriatric
chairs and other special equipment such as an oxygen
concentrator.
4
Transport subsidies extended to more seniors
Besides seniors receiving active rehabilitation at day
rehabilitation centres, transport subsidies are now
available to seniors receiving care at dementia day care
centres and renal dialysis centres funded by the Ministry
of Health.
5
Consumables now qualify
Frail seniors receiving home-based healthcare services
and patients under the AIC's Singapore Programme
for Integrated Care for the Elderly (SPICE) can now get
subsidies for consumables such as diapers, milk feeds,
catheters and various types of wound dressings.
11/20/13 11:02 AM
p7
IN YOUR SHOES
E
ach day, Mr Petha
Perumal Murugajahal,
72, eagerly awaits the
arrival of someone he
addresses as 'Kakak', or older
sister in Malay.
Mr Petha, who is wheelchairbound after losing the use of
his legs following an accident at a construction site,
would promptly open the
door for Madam Mary Chau,
60, a carer under the Caring
Assistance from Neighbours
(CAN) programme. The
divorced mother-of-two is
keen to extend assistance to
those in need after having
received help in the past
from a big-hearted neighbour when she was ill.
CAN I Help You?
As a caregiver under the Caring Assistance from Neighbours
programme, Mary Chau is friend and helper to five seniors,
including Petha Perumal Murugajahal who lives alone
“A neighbour was kind
enough to help me for the
first few months when I had
a stroke 13 years ago. Now,
while the left side of my
body is not as strong as before, I can still talk and think.
I can still help others,” says
Madam Chau, adding that
she gets satisfaction from
seeing her elderly neighbours happy and eating well.
“I wasn’t well off when I was
younger. Now that I have
more disposable income, of
course I must help others,”
Madam Chau says.
A grateful Mr Petha describes
Madam Chau as a kind soul.
“She buys me food and chats
with me. She comes twice a
day,” he says.
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 7
Mary Chau , 60
Petha Perumal Murugajahal, 72
11/19/13 12:57 AM
IN YOUR SHOES
During one of her regular
visits to Mr Petha's flat at York
Hill, she gently chides him for
giving money to a stranger
who had come knocking at
his door, and reminds him
not to open the door to just
anyone.
Apart from being wheelchair-bound, Mr Petha also
suffers from dementia,
diabetes, hypertension and
heart problems. Worried
that he might not take his
medicine correctly on his
own, Madam Chau keeps all
his medication in her flat at
Jalan Kukoh.
Twice each day, she travels
more than one kilometre
to his home and hands him
the various types of medicine, pre-packed by a nurse
from the Thye Hua Kwan
Senior Activity Centre, that
he needs to take. Her efforts
have ensured that Mr Petha
takes the right medication at
the right time.
Under the CAN programme,
Madam Chau also provides
the same loving care for four
other elderly neighbours
who live in her block, leaving
home by 8am daily to begin
her morning round, and
repeating the routine in the
evening.
THE CAN PROGRAMME
The Caring Assistance from
Neighbours (CAN) programme is a
joint effort by the Ministry of Social and
Family Development and the Agency for
Integrated Care.
Working with partners such as NTUC
Eldercare, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities
and Lions Befrienders through their senior
activity centres, the programme supports
the vulnerable elderly living alone and
seniors whose caregivers have difficulty in
providing them with quality care.
Through these senior activity centres
in Bukit Merah, Geylang, Taman Jurong
and Kallang, neighbours are roped in
and trained to be carers. By befriending
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 8
Though younger than Mr Petha,
Madam Chau acts like an older sister
looking out for a younger sibling.
the neighbours under their care, visiting
them regularly and keeping a close eye on
them, they provide them with emotional
support and ensure their well-being.
Particularly in Taman Jurong and Bukit
Merah, carers like Madam Mary Chau go
through an extra 10 hours of training.
They then take on the responsibility of
reminding their charges to take their
medication, monitoring their health and
ensuring that they attend their medical
appointments regularly.
Carers with healthcare training are
given an allowance of $80 a month per
client while the other caregivers get $200
per 40 hours of interaction.
Currently, 41 carers are supporting 237
seniors under the CAN programme.
If you are interested to join Madam
Chau as a carer under the CAN
programme, please contact one of the
senior activity centres listed below:
1) NTUC Eldercare
Tel: 8612 8301
2) Thye Hua Kwan
Moral Charities
Tel: 6589 0690
3) Lions Befrienders
Tel: 6681 4939
CONTACT US!
With Madam Chau's constant
presence, Mr Petha does
not feel lonely even though
he is single and lives alone.
Though younger than Mr
Petha, Madam Chau acts like
an older sister looking out for
a younger sibling.
p8
11/19/13 12:57 AM
p9
IN YOUR SHOES
M
s Alice Ng used
to worry daily
about how her
94-year-old
father was faring all alone at
home while she was working
as a packer at a supermarket
near her flat in Tanjong Rhu.
She is the sole caregiver
for her widowed father, Mr
Ng Joon Guan, who was
diagnosed with dementia in
2011.
Dementia has made Mr Ng
forgetful and unable to comprehend or do simple things
like going to the toilet and
taking his medicine.
Stressed and tired, Ms Ng, 50,
wished that she could quit
her job to take care of her father full-time, but she could
not afford to do so.
Ng Joon Guan, 94
A Friend to Turn to
Once tired, frustrated and in despair as the solo caregiver for
her 94-year-old father who has dementia, Alice Ng has found
respite through day care centre Friends Plus
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 9
Thankfully, early this year,
she was referred to Friends
Plus – a day care centre for
the elderly managed by St
Hilda's Community Services.
Since then, she has been
able to drop her father off at
the nearby centre on weekdays before heading to work.
On a typical day at Friends
Plus, after breakfast, staff will
discuss the day's top news
stories with the seniors,
showing off news websites
and videos on their tablets.
Mr Ng then joins other
clients in interactive sessions
such as simple exercising, art
and music appreciation, and
11/19/13 12:57 AM
IN YOUR SHOES
even cooking. There are also
English language classes –
which Mr Ng is particularly
fond of – that use newspapers and children's assessment books.
Twice a week, the seniors are
taken for a stroll at a nearby
park.
Other than social activities, Mr Ng also undergoes
rehabilitation aimed at
maintaining his mobility, as
well as specific exercises to
train his tongue to help his
speech and to overcome his
difficulty in swallowing.
Social worker Pauline Yeo,
who oversees operations at
Friends Plus, describes Mr Ng
as active and always eager to
join the activities.
“Despite his lack of speech,
he is very positive and always
enjoys the social interaction.
We believe being meaningfully engaged has also
helped his condition to stabilise, and most importantly he
looks happy,” she says.
After placing her father at
the centre, Ms Ng too began
to approach her caregiving
responsibilities with renewed
zest and began taking the initiative to play a more active
role, according to Ms Yeo.
The centre was so impressed
with Ms Ng that it nominated
her for the Eastern Health
Alliance Caring Award, which
she duly won recently.
“It is still not easy (caring for
my father). But I have more
energy now and I learn how
to take better care of my
father from the staff here,"
says Ns Ng.
“I have peace of mind knowing he is safe while I am at
work, and at home I enjoy his
company and try to care for
him to the best of my ability.
There is a wonderful feeling
now at home,” she adds with
a wide smile.
FRIENDS @ ST
HILDA’S LINK
Friends @ St Hilda's
Link, managed by St Hilda's
Community Services, offers
two facilities under one
roof for seniors residing
in Tanjong Rhu. They
comprise Friends Plus, a
day care centre which Mr
Ng attends, and Friends
Special, a day rehabilitation
centre.
Besides providing care,
Friends Plus also engages
the elderly mentally
and physically through
activities such as art and
music appreciation, group
games and even language
classes. Friends Special
provides comprehensive
rehabilitative care as well
as home care for seniors
with chronic illnesses and
caregiver support.
For more information
on Friends @ St Hilda’s Link:
Website:
www.sthildascsc.org.sg
CONTACT US !
It is still not
easy (caring
for my father).
But I have more
energy now and I
learn how to take
better care of my
father from the
staff here.
p10
E-mail:
[email protected]
Tel: 6345 0054
Alice Ng , 50
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 10
Walk-in: Blk 10 Jalan Batu,
#01-06
Singapore 431010
11/19/13 12:57 AM
p11
COMFORTING TOUCH
A Helping Hand for Caregivers
Madam Zaleha bte Abu has it doubly hard, taking care of two aged parents with
dementia, but help from the Community Resource, Engagement and Support Team, or
CREST, has eased her load
H
ousewife Zaleha
bte Abu, 42, has
the difficult task of
taking care of not
one, but two aged parents,
both of whom have been
diagnosed with dementia in
the past year.
Madam Zaleha and her
husband Nazree Sham, 43,
a driver, are the primary
caregivers for her mother
Nashua bte Adam, 71, and
father Abu bin Salleh, 77.
There have been frequent
trips to the hospital for their
treatments, and their erratic
and sometimes volatile behaviour has not helped.
“My mom changes into a
different person every few
weeks, and she is also having hallucinations. In the
past, she had thought that
people in the other block
were peeping at her. Now,
she thinks there are children
in the house,” says Madam
Zaleha.
Madam Nashua’s preexisting diabetic condition
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 11
Zaleha bte Abu, 42
Abu bin Salleh, 77
Nashua bte Adam, 71
11/19/13 12:57 AM
COMFORTING TOUCH
p12
THE LINK BETWEEN DEMENTIA,
DIABETES AND MENTAL HEALTH
By Dr Tan Wee Hong, Clinical Psychologist
Mr Abu, who worked as an
army specialist for three
decades, also developed
dementia this year following
a stroke. “He has mood
swings, and he becomes
aggressive and tries to hit
people,” she says.
But the cheerful Madam Zaleha has coped, she says, by
simply taking it one day at a
time, and most importantly,
choosing to be positive.
“I believe life is a matter of
choices. I have a choice to be
positive or negative, and if I
choose to be negative, it will
bring me nowhere,” she says
matter-of-factly.
She adds: “My religion really
helps me, as I can pray and
ask God for help. It also helps
me to understand that as a
child, it is my duty to care for
my parents because of all
that they have done for me.”
Her husband Nazree has
been a great help. “Of course
there are difficult moments,
but we have to remember
that we are in this together.”
She has also found support from the Community
Nextstep issue 7 new khl.indd 12
Resource, Engagement and
Support Team, or CREST,
a basic community safety
network for people with
dementia and depression, as
well as their caregivers.
“CREST started helping after
my mom became ill, as we
were referred to them by
the hospital. Before CREST
stepped in, it was very difficult because I did not know
much about dementia,” says
Madam Zaleha.
CREST teams reach out to
and support seniors with
mental illnesses and their
caregivers through education, identifying seniors who
are at risk of dementia, linking them to useful services
and assistance, as well as
providing emotional support.
For more information on
CREST, please contact the
following organisations:
CONTACT US !
had made her more prone
to mental illnesses such as
dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease.
1) Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities:
Tel: 6100 1201 (Chong Pang)
Tel: 6589 0690 (Beo Crescent)
Tel: 6242 2483 (Bedok Radiance)
2) Goodlife! (Marine Parade):
Tel: 6445 0570
3) NTUC Eldercare (Taman Jurong):
Tel: 8612 8302
re:
4) Ang Mo Kio Family Service Cent
Tel: 6453 5364
5) Care Corner (Toa Payoh):
Tel: 6258 7550
Dementia is an illness affecting the
brain where people become forgetful or
there is a decline in other mental skills serious enough to affect daily life. Alzheimer’s
disease is a common form of dementia.
In diabetes, the body has high blood
sugar because of an insulin problem.
Insulin is a hormone that regulates the
amount of sugar in the blood.
We often hear of people who suffer from dementia or
diabetes, but both chronic diseases can occur together.
Diabetics may worry that if their blood sugar levels are not
controlled well, they may become blind, suffer nerve damage or have kidney failure. They may fear having their limbs
amputated. Family and friends may also not understand why
they need to change their lifestyles. It is not surprising that
diabetics may become depressed or more anxious.
Dementia sufferers may also become moody and frustrated. This is particularly so in the earlier stages of the disease.
They become more aware that they are losing their ability to
remember and to communicate with others. They may lose a
sense of who they are. They can feel cut off from society, and
become more lonely, depressed and anxious.
If you suffer from diabetes or dementia, you can get help
from doctors and allied health professionals such as psychologists and dieticians. They can offer simple strategies to
help you cope with changes in your thinking, planning and
language skills or draw up practical solutions to help you
remember your diabetes treatment plan.
Your doctors can refer you to a community-based counselling
service known as the Health Wellness Programme, set up by the
Eastern Health Alliance and the Agency for Integrated Care. The
programme, managed by the Community Intervention Team
comprising healthcare professionals, can support you in managing your diabetes, other chronic health problems and mood
changes. Please visit www.easternhealth.sg for more information
on the programme.
Please visit www.silverpages.sg/diabetesandmentalhealth
for the full article by Dr Tan.
11/20/13 11:02 AM
p13
PRO FILES
A Soft Spot
for the
Elderly
Kwek Peck Keow finds meaning in
becoming a professional caregiver
after switching career to follow her
passion to help the aged sick
T
he seeds of professional caregiver Kwek
Peck Keow’s desire
to help the elderly
were planted two decades
ago when her grandfather
suffered a stroke that left him
wheelchair-bound and with
slurred speech. Peck Keow
recalls how her mother, who
lacked both the knowledge
and the experience, struggled to take care of him.
“The stress was very great.
You had to really struggle to
bring him out of bed, and
when there was no one helping, it could be really tough,”
says Peck Keow, 38, the eldest of four children.
Over the years, the constant
sight of frail elderly folk in
her housing estate struggling to make their way to
Nextstep issue 7 new khl.indd 13
the polyclinic on their own
also spurred her towards a
new calling.
She decided to quit her job
in the food and beverage
industry where she was
feeling burnt-out after five
hectic years. She then signed
up for a three-month eldercare training course with
the Tsao Foundation before
joining NTUC Eldercare last
August as a professional
caregiver under its Care@
home programme, which
provides home-based care
services. Known as an iCare
officer, she started out by going to the homes of clients to
provide services such as light
housekeeping, leading them
in light exercises or providing companionship.
She performed so well that
Kwek Peck Keow, 38
While she now
plays more of a
supervisory role,
she still enjoys
personally
taking care of
elderly clients
whenever
she gets the
opportunity.
within six months she was
promoted to team leader,
taking charge of about 40
iCare officers.
ent was not able to recognise
her despite the regular visits,
and would even curse and
swear at her.
Peck Keow remembers vividly her first client, a 97-yearold who had dementia and
was also bedridden. The cli-
But she did not give up. She
has since worked with many
clients whose appreciation
of the service she provides
11/20/13 11:02 AM
PRO FILES
p14
A TYPICAL WEEK
FOR PECK KEOW
Make house visits
3 days a week
2-3 cases each time
2-3 hours each case
Supervise iCare officers
during house visits
Collect payment from
clients
On call 24-7
Peck Keow is a team leader in
charge of 40 iCare officers at
NTUC Eldercare.
of elderly clients whenever
she gets the opportunity.
Peck Keow advises new or
aspiring iCare officers to have
patience, compassion and to
persevere, and assures that
the job gets easier with more
experience.
makes her day. The ability to
develop a close relationship
with elderly individuals in
a one-to-one home setting
has affirmed her choice to
work in the home care arena.
While she now plays more
of a supervisory role, she still
enjoys personally taking care
Nextstep issue 7 new khl.indd 14
For the clients, a small act
may mean a lot. She shares
the story of a bedridden patient in his 60s who was diabetic. Gangrene had affected
his legs but amputation was
out of the question for him.
Before Peck Keow and her
colleague took up his case
and gave him a sponge bath
and changed his bed sheets
and clothes, he had not had
a bath for two weeks as his
wife was not strong enough
to move him on her own.
The patient's wife called the
next morning to inform her
that he had passed away.
"At least we managed to do
something, however small,
for this uncle by cleaning
his body so he could leave
peacefully,” Peck Keow says.
70%
Outside Office
30%
In Office
Match
Match iCare officers
to new cases
Examine feedback
from clients
Admin work
ABOUT THE CARE@HOME PROGRAMME
NTUC Eldercare is among the Agency for Integrated
Care’s partners for the agency's Senior Home Care (SHC)
programme. Supporting caregivers looking after frail elderly
loved ones, SHC provides meal delivery, escort of seniors for
medical appointments, and an en-suite package that includes
personal hygiene, housekeeping, and other personal care
services such as wounds dressing.
Lower-income families with seniors who need the services
can apply for substantial government subsidies.
NTUC Eldercare provides these services under its Care@
home programme. For more information on SHC or to find
other providers that offer the programme, please visit
www.silverpages.sg/SHC
11/20/13 11:02 AM
p15
GOTTA HAVE IT
Hold the Sugar
People with diabetes have blood sugar levels that are
persistently higher than normal, a chronic condition that is
becoming more prevalent in Singapore. Complications can
arise if diabetes is not treated. They include heart problems,
kidney or eye disease and a higher risk of developing
infections. While seeking treatment is important, diabetics
should also adopt a good meal plan and a healthy lifestyle
to keep the condition in check. Traditional Chinese medicine
physician Lim Lay Beng and the National University Hospital
(NUH) each share a diabetic-friendly and simple recipe.
Recipe provided by Dietetics Department, NUH
CHICKEN AND
MANGO SALAD (Serves 6)
Ingredients:
• 300g lean chicken breast
• 2 cups shredded green
mango
• 1 tomato (cut into small
pieces)
• 6 cloves garlic chopped
• 5 shallots finely sliced
• 2 tbsp finely-chopped
rind of lemon or lime
• 1 tsp chilli minced
• ½ cup mint leaves
• 3 kaffir lime leaves
shredded
• ¼ cup roasted peanuts
(pounded)
• Coriander for garnish
• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
Method:
1. Boil the chicken in water
until it is thoroughly
cooked. Cool and shred.
Put aside.
2. Place the ingredients for
the dressing in a mixing
bowl.
3. Pour the dressing over
the other ingredients and
toss well with the chicken
shreds. Sprinkle with
peanuts and garnish with
coriander.
USEFUL TIPS
If green mango is not available,
you may substitute it with 2
cups chopped green apples and
1 cup shredded carrot.
Dressing:
• 6 tbsp lime juice
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 15
11/19/13 12:57 AM
GOTTA HAVE IT
p16
Recipe provided by Lim Lay Beng, YS Healthcare TCM Clinic
NOTE
Anyone with a complex medical
history should consult a
physician before consuming any
herbs. Do not self-medicate.
BITTER GOURD
SOUP (Serves 1-2)
Ingredients:
• 200g fresh bitter gourd, sliced with seeds removed
• 10g barbary wolfberry fruit (
Gouqizi)
• 50g lean pork meat
• 4 slices fresh ginger
• Pinch of salt
Method:
1. Place diced lean meat into a pot, add water and ginger
and bring to a boil on high heat.
2. After the contents come to a boil, reduce the heat and
simmer until the pork is fully cooked. Add wolfberries,
bitter gourd and pinch of salt and boil until cooked and
ready to serve.
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 16
Suitable for:
Diabetics with insufficient
qi and yin energy, where the
symptoms include fatigue,
heavy sweating, shortness
of breath, constant thirst,
a feverish sensation over
the palms, soles and chest,
insomnia, yellowish urine,
constipation and a fast and
thin pulse. This recipe can
help reduce blood glucose
levels. Not suitable for:
Patients with weak
digestive systems,
including loose stools
or diarrhoea, who are
advised to avoid bitter
gourd and wolfberries.
Those with external
heat – which leads to
swelling, inflammation,
flus and colds – should
also not consume
wolfberries.
11/19/13 12:57 AM
Ask an Eldercare Expert
p17
ASK AN ELDERCARE EXPERT
Q:
My friend’s father was recently discharged
from Singapore General Hospital (SGH)
following a stroke. While my friend does not talk
about his problems for fear that people would not
understand, I know that he is finding it a challenge
to take care of his father at home as he has said
that he and his family are under stress. I think it
would help for him to share his challenges with
others. How can I help?
ANSWER...
Many caregivers face
the same issues as your
friend, and you are right
that talking about his
problems would help him
feel better. It might help
for him to join a stroke
support group where he
can talk to others who are
also caregivers to stroke
patients, and exchange
knowledge and tips on
caring for his father’s
condition.
There is a Stroke Club
at SGH jointly set up
by the hospital and the
Singapore National Stroke
Association (SNSA).
Members, including stroke
survivors and caregivers,
meet once a month for
one-hour sessions led
by trained facilitators
to discuss the physical,
mental, social, emotional
and financial aspects of
post-stroke care. Your
friend can call SNSA at
6358 4138 from 9am to
5pm (Mondays to Fridays)
or email sporensa@
singnet.com.sg to join the
club.
If the stress from
caregiving is due to a lack
of skills in caring for his
father, your friend can
also consider attending
caregiver training. He can
apply for the Caregivers
Training Grant – worth
$200 annually – to
subsidise the cost of
approved courses. For
relevant courses and
to find out more about
the grant, visit www.
silverpages.sg/CTG.
If you have any questions relating
to the elderly, you can e-mail us at:
[email protected]
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 17
Q:
I am looking for a long-term nursing home
for my father, who is wheelchair-bound.
What are the procedures involved in admitting him
into a subsidised home?
ANSWER...
Moving to a nursing
home is a long-term
commitment and requires
careful planning.
If you have exhausted
all possible options in
caring for your father at
home, you may approach
the Medical Social Work
Department at the
hospital or polyclinic
where your father has
been receiving treatment.
The Medical Social Worker
(MSW) will assess your
father’s eligibility for a
subsidised nursing home.
Criteria include:
 Have physical or mental
disabilities because of
medical conditions.
 Is semi-mobile,
wheelchair- or bedbound, needs daily
nursing care and help
in daily living activities
such as going to the
toilet.
Tried and exhausted
all possible care
arrangements such
as hiring a domestic
helper or using day
care/home care
services, etc
 Not able to be cared
for at home by other
family members or
community providers
 Pass the means test
for long-term care
subsidies
If he is eligible, the MSW
will help you apply to the
Agency for Integrated
Care (AIC) for placement
at a subsidised nursing
home. The MSW will also
help explore other care
options.
To find out more about
other eldercare options
such as home care or
day care services, you
can visit Singapore
Silver Pages at www.
silverpages.sg. To talk to
someone from AIC, you
can call 6603 6800 during
office hours or visit AIC at
City Square Mall (#B219/20).
11/19/13 12:57 AM
Nextstep issue 7 khl.indd 18
11/19/13 12:57 AM
To find the best-suited
intermediate and
long-term care for you
FOR YOUR INTERMEDIATE
AND LONG-TERM CARE
Published by:
For more information
on long term care and
caregiving, please visit
www.silverpages.sg
Tel: +65 6603 6800
Email: [email protected]
Nextstep issue 7 new khl.indd 19
11/20/13 11:03 AM