掌握家人服药信息 妥善上心管理药物 (Understanding family’s medications for effective management)

Ms Syatirah Harun, Pharmacist, JCH, shared that caregivers can help to prevent medication errors by ensuring that the five “rights” of medication administration are followed: right patient, right medication, right time, right dose and right route. She added that patients or caregivers who are more IT savvy can make use of phone apps such as HealthHub to keep track of medication lists. Another option is to take pictures of all the medications with clear labels and keep them in an album in the phone. Otherwise, a note in the phone or a handwritten medication list would suffice. She also mentioned that some patients may be overwhelmed or confused if they have many different conditions and medications. To simplify medication-taking, it is advisable to separate long term medications from those which are taken on a “when necessary” basis. This will avoid inappropriate administration of medication.

அன்னைமடி தேடிய அன்பு (Mother’s guidance is akin to life compass)

​Mr Ilandari Deva Nishantha, Senior Healthcare Assistant, JCH, expressed his joy to be back home in Sri Lanka, after not seeing his family for more than two years due to COVID. He shared that he became a healthcare worker because both his grandmother and mother were nurses. The article also mentioned that he received the Exemplary Service Excellence Award at last year's Public Sector Transformation Awards.

午夜下班暖心时刻 - 接到马国妈妈来电 (Nurse receives heartwarming call late at night from mother in Malaysia after work)

​Ms Agnes Ting Jin Ying, Staff Nurse, JCH, shared that she wasn’t able to go home to visit her family in Sarawak for more than two years during the height of COVID, but managed to stay connected with them through phone calls and playing online games. With the reopening of Malaysia’s borders last month, she went home and was touched that her mother prepared her favourite home-cooked meals.

Hospitals deploy Internet of Things systems to track wheelchairs, patient location

​In a feature on how technology is used in hospitals to track moving assets, it was mentioned that NTFGH and JCH use a system to keep track of patients as they move around the campus. Upon admission, all patients are issued a wrist-worn RFID tag that contains information such as their names, NRIC numbers, ward numbers and addresses. This enables patients to be automatically registered at their assigned ward, and when they are transferred between NTFGH and JCH. It is also used as a safety feature in case patients with additional care needs wander off or get lost.

Verbal and physical abuse of public workers on the rise

​Figures released during the debate on Ministry of Health's (MOH) budget in March showed that there was a rise in the reported cases of healthcare worker abuse over the last few years. National University Hospital saw about 100 physical and 160 verbal abuse cases in 2021, up from 80 physical and 120 verbal abuse cases in 2020. Mr Ng Kian Swan, Chief Operating Officer of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital, said 52 cases of abuse in total were reported in 2021 by staff at both hospitals, up from 36 cases in 2020. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung noted that healthcare workers have been going through a challenging and difficult time amid the pandemic. Hospitals said some cases may go unreported. This was despite encouraging healthcare workers to report incidents when they occur.

多家医院办新春活动 让病患感受春节气息 (Various hospitals organized

​This Chinese New Year, various hospitals including Jurong Community Hospital and Alexandra Hospital have organised activities to bring festive cheer for patients who are unable to celebrate with their loved ones.

At Alexandra Hospital, more than 200 patients in all wards were personally handed Chinese New Year greeting cards by hospital staff. The cards, which were specially designed by the hospital, were also individually customised for patients with their surnames. Mr Alan Ho, Manager, Alexandra Hospital Patient Experience Matters, said he hopes that this gesture could bring some warmth and joy to the patients who were not able to receive visitors during this festive period.

Jurong Community Hospital community partnerships team and nursing co-organised Chinese New Year activities for its inpatients such as a virtual tour around Chinatown as well as nurses distributing mandarin oranges to inpatients. 

• Shin Min Daily News, 4 February 2022

选电动辅助工具 要考虑3因素 (3 factors to consider when choosing motorised devices)

​Ms Sri Marni Moonshi (Senior Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy, JCH) explained that when purchasing a motorised device, one needs to consider whether a scooter or a powered wheelchair is more suitable. She also shared the specification requirements of bringing a motorised device onto public transport, and emphasised that a device of standard size should be sufficient for most people.

如何正确使用电动辅助工具 (How to correctly use a motorised device)

​Ms Sri Marni Moonshi (Senior Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy, JCH) explained that motorised devices are recommended for patients who have limitations in their mobility. These devices can maximise a person's independence, especially for those who stay alone and need to go out to attend medical appointments. She also provided a list of dos and don’ts when using motorised devices.

勤于照护足部 避免脚趾间受真菌感染 (Regular foot care to prevent fungal infections between the toes)

Melissa Lee (Senior Podiatrist, Podiatry, NTFGH) explained the importance of practising food hygiene to prevent fungal infections. Exercises like high intensity interval training (HIIT) are gaining popularity as people are spending more time at home due to the pandemic. She elaborated that this may give rise to overuse foot injuries such as metatarsalgia, heel pain, or result in an acute injury such as an ankle sprain. Shoes should be worn while performing HIIT exercises as they help to absorb shock and provide support. Melissa also advised against purchasing shoes online as it is always recommended to try on shoes physically to evaluate specifications like the amount of support, whether they are too wide or narrow, and assess the potential of rubbing at the heel area.

借科技体验“甘榜之旅” 裕廊社区医院病患住院不寂寞 (Bringing Jurong Community Hospital patients on a digital kampong tour)

​In conjunction with Arts&Health Festival 2021, Jurong Community Hospital organised a virtual kampong tour for 16 patients on 30 September. “Welcome to Our Digital Kampong (Ubi Kayu)” is a pilot programme that will be expanded if feedback is positive. Lee Sze-Chin, an Art Therapist at JCH, explained that the session allowed patients to reminisce their past. A patient said that the virtual tour reminded her of her childhood days.

What caregivers should take note of when their elderly loved ones suffer from vision impairment

​In this live Mandarin radio interview, Fifiana Tan, Optometrist, Optometry, explained how vision impairment can affect the quality of life in seniors. She also elaborated on the common causes, symptoms and treatment methods.

There was also a concurrent Facebook Live session where Fifiana addressed listeners’ questions on the risk factors of common eye diseases, the considerations for choosing glasses, and how caregivers can help their elderly loved ones manage vision changes.

Registration details of Jurong Community Hospital’s virtual caregiver talk happening on 28 August 2021 were mentioned during the broadcast.

Healthcare assistant honoured for going beyond the call of duty

Mr Ilandari Deva Nishantha (Healthcare Assistant, Ward C10, Jurong Community Hospital) always pays close attention to his patients' needs, and is able to connect with unresponsive or uncommunicative patients. Nishantha also helps patients who face issues settling back at home after discharge. Nishantha recently received the Exemplary Service Excellence Award at the Public Sector Transformation Awards 2021 for his outstanding service.

在家这样做 增强腿部臀部肌肉 (Home exercises to strengthen leg and hip muscles)

Tou Yu Fang, Physiotherapist, JCH, demonstrated how to do a ‘sit to stand’ exercise which can be easily done at home. She explained that the elderly can do this exercise in three sets of 10 repetitions, and should stop to rest if they feel unwell. If the discomfort persists, see a doctor.

• Shin Min Daily News, 14 July 2021, Pg 7 (PDF 7.3mb)
• Shin Min Daily News, 15 July 2021, Pg 9 (PDF, 4.2mb)
• Shin Min Daily News, 17 July 2021, Pg 7 (PDF, 4.2mb)

解惑、鼓励 年长者运动 (Encouraging seniors to exercise)

​In this Shin Min Daily News feature on how caregivers can encourage their elderly loved ones’ to stay active, Tou Yu Fang, Physiotherapist, JCH, debunked myths related to seniors and exercising. She commented that the elderly can start with simple exercises, and how caregivers can explain the health benefits of keeping fit.

She also suggested that exercising can be a family activity, and gave examples of exercises that less mobile seniors can engage in.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Helping Your Loved Ones to Exercise and Stay Active” happening on 31 July 2021 are listed in the article.

从家居到户外 提升年长者的行动力 (Improving seniors’ mobility at home and outdoors)

zbLOHAS cover story on what caregivers can look out for to improve their elderly loved ones’ mobility at home and outdoors. The article includes tips on fall prevention and improving strength.

Dr Beatrix Wong, Associate Consultant, Division of Geriatric Medicine, NUH, explained that multiple parts of the body work together to keep a person mobile, and listed the possible reasons why a senior may want to seek help from the doctor. She also elaborated on the emergency steps to take if a senior falls at home.

Sonia Kurien, Occupational Therapist, JCH, commented that when choosing an appropriate mobility device, caregivers need to consider factors like the budget, the assistance rendered by caregivers, the distance travelled, whether it fits on public transport and the maintenance of the devices. Caregivers can consult the patient’s doctor who can refer the senior-in-need to an occupational therapist. She also shared that at home, caregivers need to be mindful of their loved ones’ medications and side effects. She provided tips on how to promote a healthy lifestyle at home, emphasising on the importance of proper footwear and home modifications. Outside the house, caregivers can accompany seniors when they are in public spaces to boost their self-confidence so that they are not confined to being at home.

Jeremy Mok, Senior Physiotherapist, AH, commented that fitness corners at HDB estate are equipped with machines that are suited for seniors. Equipment such as the hip swing, shoulder wheels and stationary cycling are helpful to maintain mobility in the hip, shoulder and knee. The article also included photo illustrations of simple home exercises to improve cardiovascular fitness, strength and mobility.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Improving the Mobility of our Loved Ones” happening on 26 June 2021 are listed in the article.