Top Geriatric Care Services in Singapore

What is geriatric care?

Geriatric care is the process of coordinating and planning the care of the elderly with physical and mental impairments. It aims to maintain their independence for as long as possible while meeting their long-term needs and improving the quality of their life. 

Who is geriatric care for? 

Geriatric care is generally for older adults who have certain diseases and disabilities. Examples of such diseases are dementia, arthritis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. 

Who provides geriatric care? 

The most common provider of geriatric care is geriatric nurses. Geriatric nurses are nurses who work in the geriatric field, also known as gerontology. They focus on providing care and support for the seniors. Geriatric nurses are highly educated and trained to understand and treat the various needs of the elderly community. There is a growing need for nurses who are equipped to meet the social, medical and psychological needs of the senior population. 

Here are some geriatric care services for you to consider: 

Why is geriatric care important? 

Have you ever wondered why some people are willing to spend on engaging geriatric care services? Well, as our body ages, it becomes prone to medical conditions, both physical and mental. Ageing is something that cannot be prevented, but we can equip ourselves with the knowledge on how to deal with arising conditions for our loved ones’ great health. Among the other health concerns, dementia and memory loss are the most common concerns. 

Benefits of having an in-house geriatric care service

If you are a caregiver of an elderly family member and you struggle because you do not understand their needs fully and you do not have the expertise to care for them at home, engaging in an in-house geriatric care service might be a better option for you and your family. 

Comfort

The most obvious and main benefit of having an in-house geriatric care service is the ability to stay in a place that is most familiar and comfortable for the elderly family member. They can continue their daily routines without having to adapt to too many changes in their life. For dementia patients, being in familiar surroundings is beneficial for them. 

Personalised Care

With in-house geriatric care service, there is no need to adjust to the routines and schedules of geriatric care facilities because there is a specially designed home care plan to fit your family’s needs. Home care is flexible and can adapt easily to different clients, whether you need a few hours or all-day geriatric home care service. 

Quicker recovery 

Studies have found that patients who remain in their own homes recover from illness much quicker and more successfully than those who are not in their own homes. They also have a reduced risk from developing infections from exposure to germs in medical facilities and generally have fewer hospital re-admissions. 

Undivided attention 

In-house geriatric care enables one-on-one attention to your elderly family member. Usually, an in-house caregiver only attends to a single client, rest assured that your loved one’s needs are met effectively and efficiently as compared to a medical facility. 

Cost-effectiveness

Most in-house geriatric care services are charged hourly, so there is a lot more flexibility when it comes to the expense. In some cases, you might be eligible for free-of-charge in-house geriatric care services, which means you can save your pocket entirely. There are also long-term insurance plans available that can help to cover the cost of in-house geriatric care services. 

Family involvement 

When you opt for in-house geriatric care services, it allows you and your family to be part of the planning process of the care plan. With a good geriatric care agency, you can have a direct line of communication with the caregiver assigned, and you will receive frequent updates from a care manager. 

Why do you need a geriatric care professional? 

When caregiving for an elderly family member becomes overwhelming, you might need help from a geriatric care professional. It might be time for a geriatric care professional to take over if: 

The family member you are caring for has many psychological or medical issues

• The family member you are caring for is unable to live safely in his or her current living environment 
• You have limited time and expertise in dealing with your family member’s chronic care needs
• You need help with dealing with the family member’s dementia behaviours 

Working with geriatric care professionals

• Gain a better understanding of chronic and acute health issues in the ageing population 
• Discussion of common concerns relating to health, such as falls, changing sleep patterns, diet and hydration, short-term memory, disease prevention, and incontinence. 
• Organise, order and manage medications and monitor for the occurrence of possible side effects
• Recommend and explain suitable adjustments to daily routines or medication regiment 
• Assess cognitive thinking skills and mental status 

Tips for caregiving an elderly family member 

Have a support system

If you know you are unable to spend enough time taking care of your elderly family member due to work or other commitments, do consider engaging professional geriatric care services and let the professionals take over. 

Visiting the doctor

It is crucial to schedule periodic visits to the doctors, even if it is for a simple check-up. As the main caregiver, you should also familiarise the medical history, current medication and dosage of the elderly you are taking care of. 

Exercising and healthy dieting 

As the main caregiver, it is recommended that you accompany the elderly you are taking care of for morning and evening walks. Believe it or not, your presence will help them recover quicker, and this is a perfect opportunity to spend more time together. As for their meal intake, keep a close eye on what they eat as they are unable to consume much at their age due to indigestion. 

Fall-prevention 

For elders, most of the fatal and non-fatal injuries are associated with falls. Each time an elderly falls, it increases the risks of physical health problems. Ensure that the environment that the elderly is living in is organised, and the floor should be laid with anti-slip mats and rugs to prevent unnecessary fall accidents. 

Conclusion 

It is never easy to take care of older adults, assuming we are non-professionals who are not aware of underlying issues and needs that only professionals understand. Sometimes, engaging in professional geriatric care services might be the best choice for you and your family as the professionals can take care of the elderly better. 

Editor’s Note:

Disclaimer: While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information. If you have a medical condition, it is always better to consult with a certified health care professional directly instead of relying on any material in this website or any other literature.

If you are a service provider and wish to be featured in this listing (MediaOne reviews are read by hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans), please contact us at [email protected]. There is no charge! Please allow us up to 3 working days to review before adjusting the information or including your entry.

Author Bio

Tom Koh is widely recognised as a leading SEO consultant in Asia who has worked to transform the online visibility of the leading organisations such as SingTel, Capitaland, Maybank, P&G, WWF, etc. Recently he was instrumental in consulting for a New York-based US$30B fund in an US$4Bn acquisition. Tom is a Computational Science graduate of the National University of Singapore. In his free time he performs pro-bono community work and traveling.
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