What is palliative care?
Palliative care is care, support and treatment for patients who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and they will likely pass on soon. Palliative Care aims to improve the quality of life for patients and relieve suffering by caring for the person emotionally, physically, spiritually and psychologically. Palliative care also aims to make full use of whatever time the patients have left to be as active and healthy as possible.
Why do you need palliative care?
For someone who is diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal illness, long-term care and support are needed to manage the complicated conditions.
How can palliative care help?
Palliative care brings healing and comfort through
- Financial Counselling
- Emotional support
- Grief and bereavement support
- Pain and symptom control
- Guidance for family members for decision-making and planning
Palliative care services
- Home care
- Day care
- Inpatient care
- Consultative services
Some palliative care in Singapore to consider:
Care |
Assisi Hospice |
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About |
Assisi Hospice delivers palliative nursing to inpatients, kin which restores general health or well-being, physically, mentally. Inpatients including all ethnicities, beliefs or income levels receive care from the big group of trained doctors, nursing, occupational care, or pastoral counselling staff. After facing the terminal level diseases, their patients get medical attention, or also some counselling, palliative, or spiritual therapy. Assisi Hospice delivers care to patients spanning the stretch of Home nursing, Inpatient or Day nursing. Such lets patients or family kin to progress along the clinic team they remain connected to, or to get care within the manner that these want. The 6-storey care-centred hospice delivers a cosy quarter with comfortable rooms for patients or the kin, family. Holding 85 Inpatient Beds, covering clinical wards over Dementia Palliative Care or Paediatric Palliative Care, a Day Care Centre, or the visits of their Home Care team, they care for over 2,000 patients every year. Started from 1969 over some Sisters of the Franciscan missionaries of the Divine motherhood (FMDM), they consist the charity aided by donors, volunteers, or corporate outfits that progress with them in their care. |
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Service |
Palliative nursing, pastoral counselling staff, Dementia Palliative Care, Paediatric Palliative Care, Day Care Centre |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: assisi@assisihospice.org.sg |
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Website |
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| Address |
832 Thomson Road, Singapore 574627 |
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Contact |
+65 6832 2650 |
| Operating Hours |
24/7 |
| Review 1 |
The best care was given to my father in the last 3 weeks of his life. Thanks to.all the staff and volunteers who cared for him. 🙏♥ |
| Review 2 |
The doctors and nurses are very professional and the patient’s are well taken during their last days of their lives. |
| Review 3 |
Our late mother was there for 22 days before she passed on recently. A clean and good place with great, caring, compassionate and thoughtful team of doctors, nurses and staffs. We are very thankful and so blessed to have them taking care of our loved one. |
Care |
Bright Vision Hospital |
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About |
BVH delivers inpatient care over Sub-acute, Rehabilitation, Palliative, Chronically ill patients. Though BVH delivers care over general community or the full spectrum of nursing over general holistic nursing of patients with their kin, the hospice also delivers the training or education classes to professionals or public for community nursing over the old or frail. Patients hold the choice to choose within 6-bedded or 8-bedded well, widely ventilated wards that stay all packed with common bathroom toilets or television viewing. Many that desire some more privacy (over palliative patients solely) can opt to choose air-conditioned single-bed Wards that cover bathroom toilets, the sofa bed, or some television. Patients may access Wireless Internet availability from every ward. From February 2011, they initiated fully the 24-hour homecare nursing to assist patients having advanced diseases get care within the home. They take referrals over Tan Tock Seng Hospital then persist in caring for patients discharged to home from hospices. They deliver:
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Services |
Sub-acute, Rehabilitation, Palliative, Chronically ill, psychiatric counselling |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: darren.thng@bvh.org.sg |
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Website |
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| Address |
5 Lorong Napiri, Singapore 547530 |
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Contact |
+65 6248 5755 |
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Operating Hours |
24/7 |
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Review 1 |
Nice and ventilated place. Quite a number of vending machines for pasta, drinks, etc. Some taxi drivers are not aware of this located; so you may just ask them to drive to Bowen Secondary School. This hospital is located just opposite the school’s main gate. |
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Review 2 |
Generally a rehabilitative hospital with peaceful environment. |
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Review 3 |
Nice nurses and docs. Patient and you can actually sense the care and concern. Just speak with them, you will know wat i mean. |
Care |
Dover Park Hospice |
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About |
Dover Park Homecare takes referrals over Tan Tock Seng Hospital in some areas in the central location of Singapore. The referrals might be completed by doctors seeing to the patients through Agency for Integrated Care platform. After taking in referrals, calls link patients or families to comment on nursing or to set timing for visits. |
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Services |
Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Nursing home, psychiatric therapy, Integrated Care |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: info@doverpark.org.sg |
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Website |
https://www.doverpark.org.sg/ |
| Address |
10 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308436 |
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Contact |
+65 6500 7272 |
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Operating Hours |
Daily: 11 am to 7 pm |
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Review 1 |
My dad spent his last days in Dover Park Hospice which spanned just under two months. It was during the critical period of the Circuit Breaker and in the face of Covid-19 challenges. He received great care from the medical and nursing teams as well as all working personnel on site. The social worker was always in touch too. He knew he was well taken care of and the teams gave my family members peace of mind as there was no way we could have given him the same care at home. Thank you once again to all working personnel at Dover Park Hospice for taking care of my father (Bed 119) from May till July 2020. Take care and stay well. |
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Review 2 |
Staff were approachable and friendly. Very prompt to contact family members when situation calls for it. Took good care of patients of all race, religion. Appreciate the hard work by Dr Yung and the nurses who were incharge of Level 1 bed 123. Thank you very much! |
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Review 3 |
Excellence service given by doctors and nurses and the staff, when my mum was there for 9 months and was well taken care of till today beautiful service by homecare team and the hair cut volunteers keep it up cheers!!! |
Care |
Homage sg |
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About |
Palliative care extends over terminal nursing. Excluding end-of-life, with hospice nursing, that occurs generally upon the end of curing therapy, palliative nursing may enhance general wellness of living for many having life-threatening ailments, even with no general cure at hand. To consider, patients having cancer within the curable level might be taking chemotherapy or getting palliative nursing over the same periods to ease the symptoms or side effects over all the conditions or treatment, inclusive of pain or nausea. Palliative care takes nursing over the physical, mental, and soul of the patient, that may become too much to the un-trained family nurse to apply. To add, the multi-disciplinary group of Doctors, Nurses, Therapists, Social helpers, or Counsellors may work over to give holistic palliative care over patients. To add to caring over the kin, family, family caregivers may also have to retain their emotions in balance to stop depressing the patients they nurse over, that may make caregiving generally Physically, Mentally, or Emotionally draining. |
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Services |
Terminal illness, nursing home, Palliative care, hospice nursing, psychiatric counselling |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: careadvisory@homage.co |
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Website |
https://www.homage.sg/ |
| Address |
157B Rochor Road, Level 3, Singapore 188432 |
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Contact |
+65 6100 0055 |
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Operating Hours |
Monday to Friday: 9 AM to 9 PM Saturday and Sunday: 9 AM to 6 PM |
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Review 1 |
My mum’s helper was hospitalised suddenly and I needed urgent help to take care of my mum who has advanced dementia. Homage was able able to find caregivers for my mum within a very short notice. The caregivers possessed the skill sets that I had requested and were of great help to me in my time of need. Thank you Homage! |
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Review 2 |
Had a good experience with Homage’s teleconsultation. The doctor is qualified, friendly and guided me on examination. She also explained my symptoms to me in detail, which is useful. The report provided has detailed information, and medicine was delivered to me on the same day even though my appointment was in the evening. |
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Review 3 |
This is the first time I engaged caregivers from Homage and it has been a pleasant experience. So far, all the caregivers assigned to my dad have been patient, experienced and responsible. |
Care |
Metta Hospice Care |
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About |
Founded in 2000 to deliver free home hospice nursing to terminally ill. Palliative or hospice care remain the 2 general themes of their services. Though former care covers pain relief or relief of all symptoms inclusive of nausea or fatigue, the latter sees to some Physical, Emotional, mental, or spiritual demands of patients or the carers. They deliver a holistic solution that seeks to ease suffering and stretch wellbeing, of living. Along with this goal is the full stretch of Medical, Nursing, Social, Emotional or Spiritual help which gives the patients get a smooth transfer from acute care from hospitals to a home care surrounding that is clean or secure. To help the building of personal care schemes, they talk to doctors to initially evaluate the needs and conditions to get the optimal, suited form of care. The frequency of home visit timings and habits, supply of medical equipment remain slowly paced for following the severity of the diseases over subsequent visits. Aside supplying medication or counselling, their medical personnel talk to the patients’ main physicians to get total care help. They also lend medical equipment inclusive of hospital beds, Oxygen supply, wheelchairs, Walking Aids, and equipment free of cost to ease care of the clients in the ease of the residences. |
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Services |
Hospice nursing, terminal illness care, Oxygen supply, wheelchairs, Walking Aids |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: mwa@metta.org.sg |
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Website |
https://www.metta.org.sg/hq/index.php/our-services/metta-hospice-care/ |
| Address |
32 Simei Street 1, Singapore 529950 |
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Contact |
+65 6580 4695 |
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Operating Hours |
Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
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Review |
Hope can be volunteer to cheer all dying patients up, as well as living handicap patients n be fair to comfort all living n dying patients. |
Care |
MWS Home Care |
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About |
They help all low-income seniors spanning the huge spectrum of needs and elder care. Such cover personal care or nursing services to weak and frail elders living in home; those holding chronic illnesses that need round-the-clock nursing care; and medical or nursing therapy to the home-bound terminal diseased. They also provide shelter to the un-housed at the home to the Destitute. The Homes MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang MWS Nursing Home – Yew Tee MWS Christalite Methodist Home MWS Home Care and MWS Home Hospice |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: ce@mws.sg |
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Website |
https://mws.sg/centre-location/mws-home-care-home-hospice/ |
| Address |
2 Kallang Avenue, CT Hub #08-14, Singapore 339407 |
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Contact |
+65 6435 0270
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Operating Hours |
Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
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Review 1 |
This Home really offers the best service and care to the residents. The residents are well groomed and well mannered. The environment is conducive for resting as there is proper ventilation and it is well maintained. The food really looks delicious and nutritious. It was meticulously prepared and properly served! Staffs are really accommodating and polite to the visitors. You can really see that they were well- trained and compassionate in taking care of the residents by attending their needs in a holistic manner. Their work performance shows proper ethics, disciplined and team work. |
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Review 2 |
Love the architecture n vibe of the bldg Wonder when was it built n its history |
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Review 3 |
I have went to this home in many occasions, there many Entertainment group come forward to do events , distribution of foods and we MGR Event Promoters have done our part too. Celebration your birthday with them, major festival with them, the old age folks will be very happy. The staff’s are very kind to the elderly by making them happily. To big Organisation my request is to do some upgrading the stage area with a good sound system. |
Care |
Ninkatec |
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About |
Palliative care hopes to deliver care and give the top tier wellness of life over patients with the families. Care is given by a multi-disciplinary group, where all works together to ease patient or families over the illness growth. A tailored nursing plan for patients over the advent of sombre, life-threatening diseases inclusive of: Stroke, Cancer, Pneumonia, Heart Failure, Advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Dementia, Kidney Failure, Alternate life-threatening illness Palliative care remains needed at all ages or at all stages of the terminal illness. Over the end of enhancing quality of life for all patients or the family/caregivers, palliative care helps to provide relief over the symptoms or stress for the illness that might arise. Symptoms could cover pain, Shortness of breath, Constipation, Weakness of appetite. The blog posting Palliative Care Guide within Singapore shows in greater detail the help and forms of palliative treatment accessible, or how Ninkatec delivers top palliative care to the residence for the help of the family, kin. |
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Services |
Palliative care, terminal illness, Shortness of breath, Constipation, Weakness of appetite |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: care@ninkatec.com |
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Website |
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| Address |
380 Jln Besar, Singapore 209000 |
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Contact |
+65 6247 9247 |
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Operating Hours |
Open 24 hours |
Care |
Outram Community Hospital |
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About |
The 550-bed Outram Community Hospital (OCH) is in SingHealth Tower. Housing a community hospital upon campus provides SGH patients that need rehabilitative, sub-acute and palliative care to receive easy transfer from the acute care surrounding. This persistence of care of patients in a home suited to the needs and helpful to their living or health ends. OCH patients may even profit over multi-disciplinary tertiary or quaternary expertise housed on the SGH Campus, over SGH or the 5 national specialty centres. |
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Services |
Rehabilitative, sub-acute, palliative care, specialty centres, acute care |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: schrecruitment@singhealthch.com.sg |
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Website |
https://www.singhealth.com.sg/SCH/our-hospitals/outram-community-hospital/about-och |
| Address |
10 Hospital Blvd, Singapore 168582 |
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Contact |
+65 6222 3322 |
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Operating Hours |
Open 24 hours |
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Review 1 |
A big thank you to Ward 8C nurses, social workers, therapists and doctors for taking care of my dad (91yr old) Mr Chew bed12 discharged on 27Feb2021 and thanks to the staff from business office for your help. Nurses are friendly and helpful to visitors, caring and patient towards patients, my dad also said Ward 8C services are 👍 |
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Review 2 |
Nice good service |
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Review 3 |
Brand new hospital with 1 ward opening today (Ward 7B). Eateries and shops are not opened yet. Nearest shop is at National Heart Centre (opposite the community hospital). Foe those visiting relatives at this new hospital, bring your own food for the ab-initial days or risk trekking through the “mountainous terrains” of SGH in search for food! |
Care |
Singapore Cancer Society |
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About |
From 1964, SCS has assisted most low-income patients or helped the war over cancer via the many programmes or services that cover:
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Services |
Cancer Treatment Subsidies, Financial and Welfare Aid, Oncology Home Care, Rehabilitative Support |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: enquiry@singaporecancersociety.org.sg |
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Website |
https://www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg/get-help/hospice-home-care/about-hospice-home-care.html |
| Address |
9 Bishan Pl, #06-05, Junction 8, 579837 |
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Contact |
+1800 727 3333 |
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Operating Hours |
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 6 PM Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
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Review 1 |
All staffs are very nice,efficient and Very friendly . Will call up for reminders if you are due for the next check up. If tests are negative, they will call and email you. |
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Review 2 |
Staffs and doctor are friendly, screening is fast and painless. |
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Review 3 |
I’m very happy with the professionalism of the staff and the doctor. They’re very friendly and informative. They encourage you to do self check, and teach you how to do it. I just want to say thank you and I’d highly recommend this place. |
Care |
Seng Kang Community Hospital |
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About |
Over the openings, patients own the chance of opting between their air-conditioned single-bed or 4-bed wards, alternatively the well ventilated 5-bedded wards, that remain all joined with bathroom toilets or television sets. Available are therapy rooms in the wards for giving good entry to patients or therapists, inclusive of the communal spaces in all the wards to spur rehabilitation in all events, over to mobile patients for walking around as these might from home or within the neighbourhood. There remains access to gardens that patients may get the exercises from with the close review of their care group. |
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Services |
Therapy rooms, exercises, air-conditioned single-bed or 4-bed wards, rehabilitation, communal spaces |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: feedback@skh.com.sg |
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Website |
https://www.singhealth.com.sg/SCH/our-hospitals/sengkang-community-hospital/about-skch |
| Address |
1 Anchorvale Street, Singapore 544835 |
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Contact |
+65 6930 6000 |
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Operating Hours |
Open 24 hours |
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Review 1 |
I’ve been two times there last week . First time bring my second son, second time bring my first son. Hahaha. Everyone in this hospital ( from the front temperature taking officer to the last cisco security who helped direct me to my car park ) was amazing. The triage was fast , they were so friendly they speak like they are our friend. Docs were so comforting nurses as well. They are like a big family ! Kudos to everyone! Hope the eatery can open till late a bit because we were hungry at 11pm but no more food . |
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Review 2 |
Had vasectomy done here, 47 years as Singaporean and this is the best institution I’ve been to. Highly recommended, be nice and see wonders unfold in front of you. The whole team amazed me, from the front desk to medical professionals, you guys rocks! Thank you Dr Raj and team 👏👏👏 |
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Review 3 |
I think one of the best public hospitals around. Comforting nurses and doctors. Customer service that call before your appointment to remind you. But still a long wait time for subsidized patients, so that’s one star taken off. |
Care |
St Andrew’s Community Hospital |
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Accommodations |
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Services |
Shared bathrooms, Therapy space, therapy gymnasiums, Occupational therapy, spacious wards |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: general@sach.org.sg |
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Website |
https://www.sach.org.sg/ |
| Address |
8 Simet Street 3, Singapore 529895 |
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Contact |
+65 6586 1000 |
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Operating Hours |
Open 24 hours |
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Review 1 |
The F&B was superb after i feedback on the food. Staffs and management are customer centric driven. Really thanks to all the staffs in ward5. |
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Review 2 |
My mom stayed there 3 separate times (2- to 6-week stay each time) over a span of 2 years. Sadly, she passed away lately at their “Violet” Ward (specially done up for those in their last days as I understood it to be). I visited mom almost daily; my heavy heart was comforted by the tender care and support the hospital rendered day by day. Besides the flexible visiting hours, well ventilated spaces and serene atmosphere, they have the most attentive and caring doctors/staffs/therapists. Beyond words and a heart full of gratitude. |
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Review 3 |
The nurse here are friendly, mostly for rehab elderly. Do note that electrical plug are payable for usage. Place have a dining area downstairs. No limitation of number of visitors unlike CGH. |
Care |
St Luke’s Hospital |
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About |
St Luke’s Hospital, labelled from the founding saint of the medical career, remained the initial hospital in Singapore dedicated over to elderly sick. They eventually extended the services more than elderly to help more elders. An Institution of a Public Character, they nurse to 2,000 inpatients or 3,000 outpatients a year, of all races, languages, or religions. As diseases could be long or chronic, they care holistically over patients’ physical, emotional or mental wellness. Impact heavy, inventive in easing community nursing, they were original top recipient of the President’s Award for Social Impact (2012), or the top community hospital to get the National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medal (National University Hospital – St Luke’s Hospital Integrated Care Path, 2016). They were top of Community Hospital Patient Experience Survey, 2018. |
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Services |
Physical, emotional, mental wellness, palliative care, terminal illness |
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Website |
https://www.slh.org.sg/ |
| Address |
2 Bukit Batok Street 11, Singapore 659674 |
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Contact |
+65 6563 2281 |
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Operating Hours |
Open 24 hours |
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Review 1 |
Fantastic team of staff. Patient, empathetic and dedicated |
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Review 2 |
Staffs in ward ID are super nice, they are all caring and helpful, appreciate they take care my mum so well.Thank to all the nurses and Doctor Tan. |
Care |
St Joseph’s Home |
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About |
This gives most of the care for patients that need moderate to maximum help for daily living like eating, bathing, and transfer from bed to seats or more. The nurses also watch over to the patients’ mental well-being and physical care inclusive of wound dressing, medication disposal or fall risk evaluation, with others. |
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Services |
Mental well-being, physical care, wound dressing, medication disposal, fall risk evaluation |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: volunteer@stjh.org.sg |
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Website |
https://www.stjh.org.sg/ |
| Address |
36 Jurong West Street 24, Singapore 648141 |
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Contact |
+65 6268 0482 |
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Operating Hours |
Daily: 10 AM to 12 PM, 2:30 PM to 9 PM |
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Review 1 |
Went there with one other to see someone. Raining that day. First time there. Don’t know anyone except myself and the person I am with. The place is quite nice. There was church in the compound with a big building to house old people. It have cery nice architecture. It have a canteen with what lots like a italy street cafe. Free water and drinks like coffe and tea for me. Have lifts at there. Saw some old church sister nuns in there riding on automated wheelchairs smiling at me. Place recently renovated. Place looks really clean. Have a good system there. Have a abandoned boys home or something beside the compound. |
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Review 2 |
Future of Work designed Eldercare – integrated Home, Dementia Ward and Hospice using latest AI for tracking of safety of residents. Equipped with hydro therapy pool and gym Tonic for rehab. Childcare is integrated for multi generation programmes. Designed like apartment living rather than traditional nursing homes with privacy with common areas like pantries. Lots of greenery and quiet garden with pool. Volunteers organised weekly trips to nearby shopping malls for residents to enjoy shopping therapy! 👍 |
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Review 3 |
The sisters and nurses are so kind . They work from the heart . Thank you from the bottom of my heart for looking after my father. |
Care |
Tsao Foundation (Hua Mei Mobile Clinic) |
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About |
In Hua Mei Counselling and Coaching, they passionately hope that: By delivering the virtual Caregiver’s Village, they hope to help more to assist you via (1) conveying experiences or advising tips, (2) delivering ideas of CAREGIVING and standing as CAREGIVER, or last but not lower, (3) retaining well the ideal of joy and hope via delivering care nursing. The staff of counsellors or community-based eldercare nurses may be gathering a reserve of content covering audio visual or print material, over topics reaching from relaxation therapy to moving stories of care. Lively, chatting sessions may start running soon formally. |
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Services |
Caregiving, care nursing, community-based eldercare, counsellors, Caregiver’s Village |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: info@tsaofoundation.org |
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Website |
https://tsaofoundation.org/ |
| Address |
298 Tiong Bahru Road, #15-01/06 Central Plaza, Singapore 168730 |
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Contact |
+65 6593 9500 |
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Operating Hours |
Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM to 6 PM Friday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
Care |
Yishun Community Hospital |
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About |
Yishun Community Hospital features a top Singapore large community hospital to give rehabilitation care. Housed next to acute-nursing Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, the 2 hospitals are joined by sky link walks and deliver well the integrated care experience to patients, via connected help of healthcare teams, information reports or treatment scheme. The 428-bed Yishun Community Hospital gives intermediate care to recovering patients that do not need the intensive care help of the acute-care nursing. YCH palliative care service features a ward that delivers great, cost friendly intensive care for patients having severe chronic disease or terminal illness. Their services may seek to ease patient’s recovery and to restore the health and basic functioning through therapy or training. The palliative care staff covers palliative trained physicians or nurses that work over with allied healthcare nurses to help and ease the patient and kin over the end of raising the wellness of life through the run of the severe disease. |
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Services |
Advanced care planning, spiritual help, end-of-life Therapy, Palliative rehabilitation, counselling |
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Pricing |
Request a quotation: corpcomms@ktph.com.sg |
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Website |
https://www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg/ |
| Address |
2 Yishun Central 2, Singapore 768024 |
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Contact |
+65 6807 8800 |
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Operating Hours |
Open 24 hours |
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Review 1 |
Convenient location. Good layout with Airy rooms. Friendly and efficient. |
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Review 2 |
Likened to that of a 5 star hotel or resort. A beautifully designed hospital with great facilities and very comfortable rooms and furnishings. Staff is very warm, attentive and friendly. Rooms are carpeted and have built in wardrobes and kitchenette facilities. Here is the view from the TOP floor loft lobby. |
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Review 3 |
Nice modern clean airy, not what you’d expect of a hospital. Nurses seem friendly and jovial. |
Where is palliative care provided?
Palliative care can be provided in nursing homes, specialist clinics, at home, community and general hospitals, and hospices.
Who can benefit from palliative care?
Regardless of age, patients from all walks of life can benefit from palliative care if they are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. The illnesses include cancer in the later stages, chronic illnesses not limited to heart, neurological, lung, and end-stage kidney failure.
How to receive palliative care
You can receive palliative care through your doctor’s referral to a palliative care service. Do consult and seek advice from your doctor on what type of palliative care is most suitable for you.
When to start palliative care
Palliative care typically starts with conversations. Let a trusted person know your thoughts on the following topics:
- Death
- Relationships
- Finances
- Personal Beliefs
- Care preferences
Don’t be afraid to discuss palliative care with your doctor even in the early stages of a life-threatening illness. You don’t need to consider palliative care only at the very end of your illness. In fact, palliative care is the most effective when there is sufficient time to discuss and understand the patient’s care goals, beliefs and values, so to work towards achieving those goals.
Costs of palliative care
Many Singaporeans perceive palliative care to be an unnecessary expense because it is too expensive. However, what they failed to realise is the true meaning behind palliative care and the importance of palliative care.
Inpatient palliative care
For inpatient palliative care, it is almost half the amount of general hospitalisation fees, ranging from SGD 250 to SGD 350 per day. In some cases, home palliative care is free of charge. After government subsidies, the cost can go as low as SGD 75 per day.
Home care
For patients who prefer to receive palliative care from the comfort of their homes, there is a home palliative care option available. Complimentary home palliative care is usually provided by voluntary organisations. However, to qualify for the service at no cost, there are certain criteria to be met:
- Doctor’s referral to the organisation
- Completed means-testing process
- Have a home caregiver
How is palliative care kept affordable?
Palliative care services are kept affordable through various financial schemes and subsidies. The government subsidy is available through means-testing. The level of subsidy is dependent on per person’s household monthly income. Medisave can be used for subsidising palliative care services. Speak to a social worker if there are any financial difficulties you might face.
Palliative care vs hospice care: what’s the difference?
The are similarities between palliative care and hospice care. Both types of care provide comfort for the patients. The main difference between the two would be that palliative care can begin at any stage of the illness, whether at diagnosis or at the same time as treatment. On the other hand, hospice care only begins after the treatment for the illness is terminated, and is mostly offered to patients who are predicted to live for another six months or less.
End-life care
End-life care is a crucial part of palliative care. As the name suggests, end-life care is care, support and treatment for people who are nearing the end of their life. Usually, end-life care is for people who are predicted to be living their last year of life. However, there are some cases where people receive end-life care only in their last weeks or days.
Who provides palliative care?
General care professionals
As part of their job scope, general care professionals provide daily palliative care to patients. These general care professionals should be involved after you are diagnosed as early as possible. They are the ones who will assess your wishes and needs, and those of your friends and family. They might refer you to specialist care professionals if they feel it is necessary.
- care workers
- your GP
- spiritual care professionals
- community nurses
Specialist care professionals
When it comes to providing palliative care, specialist care professionals are experts in this field, along with a strong background and experience in the field. Specialist care professionals typically work in teams to provide the patients with joined-up care, so if you are referred to them, you might see one or more of the specialist care professionals.
- palliative care doctors
- counsellors
- nurse specialists
- specialist health professionals including social workers, dieticians, and physiotherapists
Myths about palliative care
Myth: If I am under palliative care it means doctors have lost hope and given up on me
Fact: You can still receive active treatments alongside palliative care for your illness, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Myth: When I am under palliative care it means I am going to die soon
Fact: At any stage of your illness, you can receive palliative care, receiving palliative care does not necessarily mean that your time is up soon. Some people are under palliative care for years, or during their last weeks and days.
Myth: Palliative care is only about treating physical symptoms
Fact: The aim of palliative care is to provide a holistic approach to give the patient the best quality of life possible. This means giving emotional, social, psychological support and fulfilling other needs.
Myth: I have to go to a hospice for palliative care
Fact: You are not restricted going to a hospice for palliative care. There is a wide range of places that you can receive palliative care, namely your home, a care home, a hospital, or a hospice.
Conclusion
To conclude, receiving palliative care does not mean that you are dying soon. You can opt for palliative care at any stage of your illness, and it does not have to be at the later stage of the illness. If you are unsure of whether to opt for palliative care, consult your doctor and your doctor will advise you accordingly.
Editor’s Note:
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