Enhanced community health posts bring care closer to Singapore seniors

In May, the two areas were announced as Age Well Neighbourhoods, where enhanced care services and senior-friendly infrastructure are introduced in towns with more seniors. 

Lee Chien Earn, deputy group chief executive of SingHealth’s regional health system, told ST that services at these enhanced posts include on-site medication collection, teleconsultations with doctors from SingHealth Polyclinics, and medication reviews with community nurses. 

The posts will also offer community pharmacy and nutrition services, in addition to existing services such as weight management and smoking cessation counselling, he added. 

“All enhanced community health posts are open at least once a week and will continue to accept walk-in requests from residents,” he said.

Lee noted that SingHealth currently has more than 150 such posts within AACs, as well as other accessible locations such as community centres and places of worship. 

“To date, our SingHealth community health posts have seen approximately 58,800 unique residents for chronic conditions such as frailty, cognitive decline, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia,” he added. 

Together with its partners, SingHealth is constantly evaluating and exploring new sites and services to be provided by such posts, he added. 

The National University Health System (NUHS) said it has been progressively rolling out its enhanced community health posts since May, with three such sites at AACs in Bukit Panjang, which was also identified as an Age Well Neighbourhood in May. 

Another four community health post sites will be enhanced by end-March 2027, the NUHS spokesperson said.

Enhanced services at these posts include “structured care bundles” tailored to the individual needs of residents, packaging services such as frailty and chronic management together with health talks and lifestyle coaching. 

Early indicators are encouraging, with increased attendance and walk-ins observed at the enhanced community health posts, the spokesperson added. 

Ong Jing Fang, NHG Health chief operating officer of population health, said different towns require different approaches and interventions, adding that her cluster looks at the demographics and health profiles of each town to see what their health needs are.

“In parts of the north, for example, we see higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and lower levels of physical activity.

“In a mature estate such as Toa Payoh, healthy ageing, frailty and maintaining independence become increasingly important,” she said.

“The health priorities of the community should determine how we organise our efforts around residents.”

Seow Mei Poh, a community health senior staff nurse at NHG Health, said her work involves making seniors aware of the various avenues of healthcare available to them.

“The AAC staff build a rapport with the seniors and tell them, ‘Why not come and see the nurse to share your problems?’” said Seow, who works with community health posts in the Toa Payoh area.

This allows the community health nurses to better understand their situation and refer them to the appropriate services when necessary, she said, adding that this in turn allows more issues to be managed within the community, reducing the burden on the tertiary health system.

NHG Health’s Ong said moving healthcare into the community allows residents to receive support before they become seriously ill, rather than waiting until they need hospital care.

“Ultimately, success is not measured by how many people come into our hospitals. It is measured by how many never need to,” she said.