The Community Psychogeriatric Programme: a pilot project in the eastern sector of Singapore

Sin GL, Ng LL
Correspondence: Dr Sin Gwen Li, sin.gwen.li@sgh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
As the population in Singapore ages rapidly, there is a race against time to prepare for the growing psychiatric needs of this population. The community psychogeriatric programme was set up in Changi General Hospital to provide community mental health services for early detection and treatment of psychogeriatric disorders in the eastern sector of Singapore. The model of care involves working closely with community partners to provide training on mental healthcare in the older person, case discussion and consultation as well as clinical home visits. Efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues faced by our greying population have been encouraging but challenging. We hope that by reducing stigma and raising awareness, early access to treatment in the community will help to keep our older persons in the community for as long as possible.

Keywords: community, education, elderly, geriatric psychiatry, mental health
Singapore Med J 2011; 52(7): 463-465