Memory And Dementia Care Service (Helping memories stay golden)

Memory And Dementia Care Service Helping memories stay golden The Memory and Dementia Care Service helps patients with forgetfulness and other cognitive or behavioural complaints arising from dementia. With appropriate care, the multiple effects of this condition can be eased, helping sufferers and caregivers enjoy a higher quality of life.

We adopt a three-pronged strategy in treatment: • Medication • Cooled boiled water • Engagement through physical exercise, mental stimulation, psychosocial support and group based interaction • Caregiver training and education, lifestyle modification and the use of behavioural techniques to cope with difficult behaviours

Memory and Dementia Care The Memory and Dementia Care team has developed several specialised programmes geared towards helping persons with memory complaints, dementia patients and caregivers. Our programmes are tailored to the different levels of dementia, each designed and run by our team of doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists and occupational, speech and physiotherapists.

What services do we provide?

• Comprehensive memory and dementia assessment • Access to our services for brain stimulation, dementia care and support - “A New You” Programme - Memory Training Clinic - CARE Dementia Day Therapy Programme - Dementia Activity Prescription Patients Early

- Continence and Bowel Care - Nutrition and Swallowing Service - Exercise and Rehabilitation Programme - Dementia Caregiver Workshop - Behaviour Care and Counselling Clinic (BCC) - Dementia Support Group Moderate

Late

“A New You Programme

CARE Dementia Day Therapy Programme

Memory Training Clinic

Dementia Activity Prescription Continence and Bowel Care

Dementia Clinic Assessment

Nutrition and Swallowing Exercise and Rehabilitation Programme Caregiver Dementia Caregiver Workshop

Behavioural and Counselling Clinic (BCC)

Dementia Support Group

For Patients “A New You” Programme The “A New You” programme is designed for people with very early dementia and mild cognitive impairment to help them adapt and remain actively engaged in life.

This is a weekly 3-hour activitybased programme conducted in English or Mandarin. Physical exercises, brain stimulation and training, interactive group activities are offered.

Memory Training Clinic Recent studies have shown that people with mild cognitive impairment and early dementia can still benefit from memory training.

In these one-to-one sessions, we will teach you strategies to compensate for memory difficulties and provide you with brain training activities to help “re-train” weaker domains of your mind and harness the potential of the stronger areas.

CARE Dementia Day Therapy Programme The CARE dementia day therapy programme is specially designed for people with moderate dementia and their carers, and consists of a full day session once a week.

The programme explores and encourages meaningful interactions between you and your loved ones through participation in various types of activities. Also included are a series of educational talks for you to understand dementia and its symptoms as well as receive psycho-emotional support through group therapy and peer support.

Dementia Activity Prescription This service is run by our occupational therapists to provide activities customised to keep the person with dementia meaningfully engaged. Activities are prescribed based on an assessment and thorough understanding of the person’s mental abilities and unique preferences. Each session with the therapist lasts for 60 to 90 minutes.

Continence and Bowel Care Service

Exercise and Rehabilitation Programme

Urinary and bowel problems are common when the person enters into moderate stage dementia.

Urinary or fecal incontinence, very frequent visits to the toilet, constipation and proper use of urinary catheters are the usual problems encountered.

Exercise can benefit people with dementia not only in terms of their physical health but also for maintaining mental and emotional wellness.

Through a comprehensive assessment, we will determine the underlying cause and provide hands-on training to help you manage these problems confidently at home.

Nutrition and Swallowing Service Persons with dementia often have reduced appetites, swallowing difficulties and may even require tube feeding in later stages of the disease. They may present with drooling, very slow feeding or a refusal to eat.

We will perform a thorough assessment and teach you strategies to cope with the problem. We can provide advice on the need for a feeding tube as well as how to use and care for the tube.

We can customise an exercise programme based on your state of health and physical function.

For those with more advanced dementia who suffer from falls or are at risk of falling, we can assist with gait and balance training to help maintain mobility and reduce fall risk.

For Caregivers Dementia Caregivers Workshop Recommended for every family member of a relative with dementia, the workshop consists of talks, videos and discussions that cover the many aspects of the disease. It provides an opportunity to meet and hear about care-giving experiences from experienced caregivers and the chance to ask our doctors questions about the disease.

Behavioural Care & Counselling Clinic (BCC) Behavioural problems arise in dementia for different reasons.

Although medication may sometimes be needed to manage some difficult behaviour, most challenging behaviours arise from a lack of understanding of certain unexpressed and unmet needs in the person with dementia.

Each session lasts two hours, during which our dementia care specialist aids you in: 1. Understanding the needs of your loved one with dementia and improving the way you respond to him/her.

2. Exploring the life story of your loved one, by which his/ her personality and life experience will provide clues to understanding his/her present behaviour.

3. Equipping you with skills so that you may be able to manage the behaviours more creatively and confidently.

4. Providing you with dementia psycho-education and support through educational materials, videos and counselling.

Dementia Support Group This support group encourages interaction between caregivers and with the Dementia Care team.

The duration is usually two hours.

Sessions include talks by invited speakers, videos and discussions.

The different topics covered include legal issues in dementia, coping with difficult behaviour, vitamins and supplements for brain health.

Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group.

Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.

GRM.PG.02.0517