尽早制定预先护理计划 为医疗危机做好安排 (Having an Advance Care Planning discussion early in the event of a medical crisis)

​Ms Khoo Chew Yen, Senior Medical Social Worker, Medical Social Services, JCH, shared that having an Advance Care Planning (ACP) discussion early allows your loved ones and the care team to know your healthcare and care preferences. This allows them to honour your wishes in the event of a medical crisis when you may not have the capacity to make decisions. She listed the key components of ACP and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), and elaborated that caregivers could start the conversations on ACP and LPA with their care recipients to better understand their wishes.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Start Planning with your Loved Ones – Know More About ACP and LPA” happening on 25 March 2023 are listed.

“明智养生”中文课 让丰加北居民学习管理慢性病 (Hospital rolls out “Wise & Well” preventive health programme in Chinese for Hong Kah North residents to better manage chronic diseases)

​At the Health On Track @ Hong Kah North event on 11 March, NTFGH and JCH introduced “Wise & Well 2.0”, a Chinese preventive health programme designed by dietitians, therapists and other members of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Shin Min Daily News, 11 March 2023, Page 6, 黄廷方综合医院首次深入社区 办华语健康课程教居民防慢性病
• 8world, 11 March 2023, “明智养生”中文版健康计划正式推出 丰加北居民先受惠 
  

青春期孩子行为怪异？ 家长应多聆听 少批评 (Odd behavioural traits from your adolescent child? Parents should listen more and criticise less)

​Ms Eunice Lim, Psychologist, Department of Psychology, NTFGH, shared that common behavioural traits of an adolescent child can include increased self-consciousness and self-centeredness, experiencing volatile emotions, boundary-testing behaviours with parents and school authorities, as well as wanting to try out novel things with peer groups. It is thus normal that the child wants to pull away from their parents in search of their identity, and perceives their peer groups as a safe haven to experiment new ideas. She provided some tips for parents to take note of when communicating with their adolescent children, and emphasised the importance being of a mentor-figure to them, rather than an authoritative figure.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Connect With Your Teen” happening on 25 February 2023 are listed.

照顾卧床者 挑战藏细节中 (Noting the details when taking care of bedridden patients)

​In this feature on taking care of bedridden patients, Ms Jessie Chan, Senior Occupational Therapist, NTFGH, detailed the steps to helping them wash hair. She elaborated that the patient’s preferences for haircare products, water temperature and timing of the day based on the usual routine should be considered for a more personalised experience.

Ms Joan Kristine Auxtero Descallar, Senior Staff Nurse, JCH, explained that sponging bedridden patients is safer than showering because they may be unfit to shower or may not tolerate showering activities. She listed the steps to take, and emphasised that the environment around the patient should be safe and clutter-free. She also added that clothing should be removed only from areas to be washed, and patients should be dried and redressed in sections to prevent them getting cold.

如何妥善保存药物？(How to store medications safely?)

​Ms Charmaine Sng, Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, JCH, shared that medications should be stored in cool and dry place conditions, and not in places which are hot and humid. She also explained that it is not recommended to buy medications online because they may contain ingredients leading to unwanted side effects. Medications sold in Singapore have to be screened by Health Sciences Authority to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

为患者准备药物清单 (Preparing a medication list for patients)

​Ms Charmaine Sng, Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, JCH, explained that a medication list should include details like the patient’s medical conditions, as well as food/drug allergies. It should also list all the medications, supplements and traditional medicines that the patient is taking, how they are taking it (the dose and frequency), and what they are taking it for. If the patient is only taking it when necessary, it should be indicated on the list as well.

看护者遇哪些挑战？(What challenges do caregivers face?)

​Ms Charmaine Sng, Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, JCH, shared why it is important for caregivers to know what medications their loved ones are taking. She elaborated that when there is a medication change, caregivers are able to help monitor for effectiveness and side effects. Caregivers can also provide the necessary information during emergency situations when the patient is unable to recall his or her medications, or unable to communicate effectively with the healthcare professional.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Medication Management” happening on 28 January are listed.

百名医护人员为西部贫困家庭进行大扫除 (100 healthcare workers spring clean homes of needy residents in the west)

​More than 100 healthcare staff from NTFGH and JCH volunteered to de-clutter and spring clean 17 households in the Healthy Home community event held on 14 January 2023. The majority of the residents are frail elderly living alone or with little family support. This is also the 10th year of the outreach initiative, and the first time the event is resumed to this scale since 2019.

Mr Lee Hong Wei, Senior Staff Nurse, NTFGH, said that his team spent three hours to clean a unit in Boon Lay. Although it was a tiring experience for the first-time volunteer, he shared that it was satisfying because he could help seniors in the community.

医院人满为患犹如打仗 护士长“调兵遣将”共克时艰 (Hospital overcrowding akin to a war, head nurse "dispatches troops and generals" to overcome difficulties)

​Ms Ng Sow Chun, Chief Nurse, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, related the measures she had taken as Chief Nurse during the COVID-19 surges, to manage the scores of patients at NTFGH's Emergency Department. She received The Public Administration Medal (Gold) (COVID-19) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Singapore’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

黄廷方医院与裕廊社区医院 为病患安排两周圣诞庆祝活动 (NTFGH and JCH organise two weeks of Christmas activities for patients)

To bring festive cheer to patients, NTFGH and JCH organised Christmas activities from 5 to 23 December. They included carolling performances and art jamming, which were put up by eight community partners and two groups of healthcare workers who signed up to perform Christmas carols in wards. The activities were were enjoyed by 450 patients.  

为患者带来温暖 (Bringing warmth to patients)

​Healthcare teams volunteered to form Christmas carolling groups so that they can bring festive cheer to patients. Since the easing of COVID restrictions, this is the first time NTFGH and JCH are organising a series of activities taking place over more than two weeks.

医疗团队组成圣诞颂歌小组 为患者演唱圣诞歌 (Healthcare teams perform Christmas carols for patients)

​To celebrate Christmas with patients, NTFGH and JCH have organised a series of festive activities taking place over more than two weeks. Ms Lilian Lim, Senior Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy, JCH, and her team performed Christmas carols for patients to enjoy. She shared that the team wanted to bring cheer to patients who couldn't return home to celebrate Christmas, and seeing them sing along was a rewarding experience.

无偿理发献爱心 (Showing kindness through free haircuts)

​Mdm Teo Lung Hiang, a volunteer who offers free haircut services for patients at Jurong Community Hospital, shared how she picked up hairdressing skills 20 years ago at a free course offered by the Singapore Development Assistance Council. For the past two decades, she has been volunteering her services for children with autism, as well as long-stay elderly patients in hospitals. Her most memorable experience was when a patient held her hand to bid farewell after getting a haircut. 

阿尔茨海默氏症患者 口腔保健易被忽略 (Oral care is often neglected in persons with Alzheimer’s Disease)

Dr Madeleine Tan, Associate Consultant, Division of Restorative & Preventive Dentistry, Department of Dentistry, NTFGH, explained that persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) have increased dependency on care needs because AD is a condition with progressive cognitive and functional decline. Functional losses affect their ability for self-care, including forgetting to perform daily oral hygiene routines. Another reason is that caring for teeth or dentures is complicated and can cause confusion. She shared that if caregivers face resistance, try again later because forcing oral hygiene procedures may trigger a stressful event and catastrophic reaction. Another tip is to try in a different location of the house.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Oral Health Care For The Elderly With Alzheimer’s Disease” happening on 17 December 2022 are listed.

Relawan gunting rambut pesakit demi bawa keceriaan (Volunteer brings cheer to patients with haircut service)

​Mr Mohd Taha Leman, a volunteer who offers free haircut services for patients at Jurong Community Hospital, shared that after his wife’s passing, he hopes to contribute his time to help those in need. Through volunteering as a barber, he gets to interact with seniors and give them words of encouragement. It also allows him to reflect on life and reminds him on the importance of health. There are three volunteers in the hospital’s free haircut programme which benefits about 30 patients every month.