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NEW HOMECARE TRAINING
PROGRAMME FOR CAREGIVERS


Together with Northeast Community Development Council (Northeast CDC), Changi General Hospital (CGH) launched the Skills For Life: HomeCare programme on 18 January 2000. This innovative hands-on programme which teaches carers basic techniques of caring for a bedridden person at home was launched by Mr Chan Soo Sen, Parliamentary Secretary, Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Health.

     
Mdm Doris Chan getting hands-on coaching at the HomeCare course

To meet the needs of a growing elderly population who prefers to live with their families and who may need basic home care when they are sick, CGH has developed the Skills For Life: Home Care programme. This programme comprising a carers training session, a training manual and a set of English and Mandarin Video CDs is developed by a home care specialist team which includes nurses, geriatric medicine specialists, rehabilitation medicine specialist, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical social workers and pharmacists.

The concept for the programme arose from focus group discussions that the hospital held to identify unmet needs of families who are caring for the elderly, sick or bedridden at home. Ms Lee Yen Yen, Deputy Director of Nursing and Chairperson of the Skills For Life: HomeCare Committee recalled, "We discovered that many patients had difficulty in home care once they are discharged from the hospital. At these sessions, most participants including nursing staff expressed their difficulty in getting resources to care for their bedridden loved ones at home. From this feedback, the hospital decided that we can help by developing a comprehensive hands-on programme that train patients and their caregivers to cope with their home care needs."
     

Since the inception of the pilot programme in August 1998, the hospital has trained more than 539 carers.

CGH partnered Northeast CDC to bring this programme to the community. Through the CDC's wide grassroot network, the hospital will be able to bring this programme to the residents who require these skills. The CDC will also be distributing the materials to General Practitioners, grassroot organisations and Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWO) throughout the 13 constituencies. It will also be encouraging residents to attend classes at the VWOs and the Hospital.

Mr Han Tan Juan, General Manager of Northeast CDC said, "Northeast CDC believes that the Skills For Life programme is an important asset for anyone to learn. Not only is it a beneficial life skill for one's own knowledge, but more crucially, it also helps families support their loved ones who are ill, and even for neighbours to lend a helping hand. These trained residents could then serve as a resource person for their own family or others needing advice and assistance in caring for their aged sick and frail elderly. It thus promotes family togetherness and a sense of helping one's community."

The Skills For Life : HomeCare programme is also developed in collaboration with Alexandra Hospital, Home Nusrsing Foundation, Hospice Care Association and Tsao Foundation. Together with these partners who are established in home care provision, this programme can be extended to all Singaporeans who need home care skills.

HOMECARE FOR STROKE
MUM MADE EASY

For 6 years, Mdm Doris Chan, 40 has been through a lot of stress looking after her aged mother who had a stroke. Although she had a maid to help her and rotated the care schedule with her sister, it was tough.

She is working as a clinic assistant, but that did not make it easier as she was not trained to handle a stroke patient. That is until recently.

She read about CGH's Skills For Life: HomeCare programme in the newspapers and signed up immediately. After attending the two hands-on sessions, she now knows the right technique to care for mum.

She said, "I learnt many things through this course. For example, in the past, bringing my mum for her medical check-up was a mammoth task. It was very difficult to transfer her from the wheelchair to the taxi, and put her in the seat in a proper position. Similarly, when I needed to change her diapers, we needed two persons. Now, it is easier. I know how to transfer her from the wheelchair and I can change her diapers alone."

With great relief that she is now able to care for her mum better, she added, "I wish there was such a course years ago. Nevertheless, I hope more people will come forward to learn these vital skills."