Monday 12 September
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 05:03AM Today was the only day we had site tours in Singapore. Two visits the first to the United Medicare Centre and then on to the All SAINTS Tampines.
Both sites were most hospitable with tea, coffee and a wide range of cakes and pastries. This included "moon cake" used prior to the revolution to smuggle messages.
United Medicare centre cates for 236 residents and operates at between 90 - 95% occupancy. Their Exec Director Lai Foong Lian was very knowledgeable about aged care in different countries and provided delegates with a comprehensive presentation about he work and the challenges they face.
United Medicare is a private NH and they depend heavily on a workforce from other countries. Wards have either 4 or 6 beds per room. They do not have any volunteers and advise difficult it is to get Singaporeans to take an interest.
They advise that they receive a lot of complaints from families who rarely visit. Also commented on he verbal abuse staff receive from visitors etc.
The afternoon visit was to All Saints Home - Tampines a 180 bed nursing home providing residential,and rehabilitation services. This he is an NGO and a NFP. It maintains full occupancy but depends heavily on staff from various countries who live on site.
Pauline Tan the DON is heavily involved in lobbying government about reforms in aged care.
This home had wards with10-12 beds per area and type vast majority of residents were in wheelchairs. Many residents were restrained but all seemed quite happy. There is a heavy emphasis on rehabilitation but little evidence seen of residents independently mobilisig.
Staff work 12 hour shifts.
Pam Sent from my iPadion