Naw Bway Pale Wah
Senior Staff Nurse
One evening, an 80-year-old patient living with dementia repeatedly told Senior Staff Nurse Pale Wah that she needed to go home.
When Pale Wah gently asked why, the patient explained that her mother would worry if she did not return. In her mind, she was still a young girl under her mother’s care.
Her fear was real.
Rather than correcting her or trying to convince her that she was mistaken, Pale Wah could sense her anxiety and fear and she listened and reassured the patient that she was safe and cared for, then stayed beside her, speaking gently and offering comfort until
she gradually settled and fell asleep.
For Pale Wah, moments like this have shaped the way she sees dementia care.
“Even when a patient can no longer find the words, they are still trying to tell us something. Sometimes, we just need to slow down, listen with care, and be there for them.”
Pale Wah’s journey into dementia care came after more than two decades in nursing.
With support from St Luke’s Hospital, she pursued an Advanced Diploma in Gerontology to deepen her understanding of the needs of older persons. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she completed a clinical attachment in a dementia ward, where she gained greater insight into the challenges faced by persons living with dementia.
After completing her studies, Pale Wah joined the hospital’s dedicated dementia care ward. There, she began applying what she had learnt to her everyday practice — looking beyond physical needs to recognise distress, confusion and unmet needs that may be expressed through changes in behaviour.
Over time, she began to approach challenging moments differently.
Instead of asking, “How do I manage this behaviour?” she began asking, “What might this be telling me?
Sometimes, what helps can be simple: a warm smile, gentle eye contact, or simply sitting quietly beside someone who is distressed.
“These moments may seem small, but they can make a difference,” she says. “They can help patients feel more settled, build trust and preserve their dignity.”
Her path into nursing was not always certain.
After high school, Pale Wah was torn between nursing and engineering. She prayed for guidance, and soon after, received an acceptance letter from the nursing school.
“I believed this was God’s plan for me,” she said. More than 20 years later, that decision has led her into a specialised area of care where patience, attentiveness and consistency matter every day.
Of the values that guide her work, reliability is the one Pale Wah holds closest. For her, it means being someone patients and colleagues can count on — noticing small changes, anticipating what someone might need, and staying present when things become difficult.
Today, her work spans nursing care, managing behavioural changes, wound care and end-of-life support. She feels especially privileged to walk alongside families as they navigate some of the most difficult moments in their loved one’s journey.
Through her experience in dementia care, Pale Wah has learnt that a diagnosis never tells the whole story of a person.
A patient may not remember her name or be able to explain what they need. But the need to feel safe, respected and cared for remains.
For Pale Wah, dementia care is about noticing what a patient may be expressing — through words, gestures, changes in behaviour or even silence — and responding with patience and understanding.
And when memory and communication become more difficult, there is still something she believes we can give: the feeling of being seen, heard and cared for.
Read more stories
Learn More About #togetherwec4re Campaign
St Luke’s Hospital is proud to introduce Together, We C4RE campaign, celebrating the dedication of our healthcare team and their profound impact on patients, families, and the community.
