Poorly managed chronic diseases can lead to complications and morbidity, said Clinical Associate Professor Tan Ngiap Chuan, director of research at SHP.
While SHP already engages helpers during a patient’s regular visits, it is now looking to tailor a proper curriculum for them. It is also exploring conducting lessons in languages that the workers are proficient in.
For a start, it is aiming to roll out a workshop around year-end to equip them with the relevant skills. SingHealth will pilot this at its Eunos polyclinic, starting with up to 15 helpers per class.
It plans to study viability and scale, and is looking at tying up with employment agencies.
“What we can do is to bridge this gap,” said Assoc Prof Tan, who is also vice-chair of research at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme.
When the helpers come together, they can provide their own unique set of circumstances, he said.
“They can share their experience taking care of an older person in the home with each other and we can identify the problems that they face, and then at the workshop we can actually address them,” he said.