More patients in Singapore to receive hospital-level care at home and in nursing homes

The team reviewed residents’ health, adjusted care plans and supported nursing home staff at the facility. 

After the one-year pilot involving 300 residents, unplanned hospital admissions and emergency department visits fell by about a third. More than 60 per cent of residents also did not need hospital admissions during the period.

Reducing unnecessary hospital transfers can make a significant difference for residents, said assistant nurse clinician Anushiya Rajendran from Ren Ci @ Woodlands.

“Hospital visits can be very tiring for the residents,” she said, adding that fewer trips to the hospital have also given seniors more time to spend on meaningful activities.

She said that having direct access to specialist support has boosted the nursing home staff’s confidence in managing residents with complex medical needs.

Woodlands Hospital hopes to expand the THRIVE (Transforming Health and Resilience In Vulnerable Elders) programme to more nursing homes beyond Ren Ci @ Woodlands, while building a more sustainable model of care.