SPECIALIST CARE IN NURSING HOMES

As part of the broader effort moving healthcare beyond hospital walls, another initiative is to bring specialist geriatric care directly into nursing homes.

"Seniors already account for about 40 per cent of (all) acute hospital admissions, and many of these are avoidable,” said Dr Sharen Lim, consultant in geriatric medicine at Woodlands Hospital.

Furthermore, Dr Lim said that nursing home residents are admitted at a higher rate than the elderly population in the community, making it increasingly important to strengthen care within these homes.

To reduce hospitalisation among frail elderly residents in nursing homes, Woodlands Hospital piloted a programme at Ren Ci @ Woodlands nursing home, where a team comprising a geriatrician, an advanced practice nurse and a community nurse worked alongside nursing home staff.

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.