Singapore initiative expands Dementia care to homes
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Dementia Singapore and Lien Foundation launched Post Diagnostic Support Plus (PDS+), a $3.3 million program in Singapore providing early palliative care and home support to dementia patients as they leave day care.
The initiative aims to ease the transition for patients and their families, addressing both physical and emotional challenges. Lynn Leng, a caregiver for her husband George, received support from PDS+ including a physiotherapist and additional help at home after her husband’s care needs increased following a health episode.
PDS+ builds on a previous program started in 2020 and focuses on supporting individuals in the later stages of dementia. Unlike traditional palliative care, PDS+ intervenes earlier, recognizing that dementia often co-occurs with other long-term illnesses affecting both mental and physical health. The program also utilizes an AI tool, ACP GO!, to help people with dementia express their care preferences while they still can, reducing potential family conflict later on.
Dementia Singapore expects to train at least 80 staff members and support over 280 families with PDS+ over the next two years. Given that approximately 74,000 people in Singapore lived with dementia in 2023, a number projected to reach 152,000 by 2030, the program addresses a growing need for comprehensive and accessible care. Dementia Singapore intends to expand the program and share its tools with other healthcare providers to provide ongoing assistance beyond the initial year of support.
