When the pandemic started, many elderly and their caregivers became more housebound, placing them at risk of physiological and social effects from the outbreak. This is especially challenging for persons living with dementia and their caregivers, where patients may exhibit behaviour such as agitation and aggression.
With limitations to healthcare access and fear of the infection acting as barriers to dementia care during the pandemic, St Luke’s Hospital supported persons living with dementia and their caregivers with a multidisciplinary Community Response Team (CRT), a pilot project funded by the Agency of Integrated Care. The CRT project is led by Associate Consultant Dr Linus Chua.
Through CRT, our healthcare workers head to homes to help to diagnose and stabilise patients with urgent mental health conditions through pharmacological management, behavioural intervention and caregiver training. Patients are also linked to community service resources such as home help and daycare centres. These interventions help to minimise visits to emergency departments and hospitalisation.
Dr Linus, who clinched the Superstar Award, is one of 188 exemplary staff from SLH to be recognised at the Singapore Health Quality Service Awards (SHQSA) ceremony on 8 February 2022.
The nation-wide event celebrates the exemplary efforts of healthcare professionals in improving patient experience was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health, who thanked healthcare heroes for persevering through these difficult times.
Organised by the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre since 2011, the SHQSA awards and celebrates the exemplary efforts of healthcare professionals in improving patient experience.
