Nutrition & Dietetics

The provision of healthy, nutritious and textured appropriate meals is a core component in the overall care management of our patients. This is accomplished through individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy for patients by the Clinical Dietitian and by trained Cooks and Kitchen Assistants preparing and serving the textured appropriate and nutritionally balanced meals and in accordance with accepted food hygiene and professional standards of Dietetics and Healthcare Practice.

Our in-house Clinical Dietitian provides Medical Nutrition Therapy to both the in-patients, Day Rehab patients as well as their caregivers. Educational Nutritional talks are also available for patients, staff and the public upon request.

We actively promote the health benefits of a healthy vegetarian diet to our patients, staff and visitors. Vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. We run a Vegetarian café, Monday to Friday, from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm, where we offer a colourful, tasty and nutritious smorgasbord of vegetarian cuisine.

Pharmacy

Our pharmacy stocks a range of commonly used medication to cater to the needs of our patients. The pharmacy team works closely with our doctors and nurses to ensure that our patients get the best outcome from their medication treatment.

Patients and caregivers are also counselled on how to take their medication correctly including any necessary precautions to observe with the medication upon discharge from our hospital.

Medical Social Service

Medical Social Workers (MSWs)
The Medical Social Services (MSS) team plays an integral role in the holistic care provided by our multi-disciplinary team. We help our patients and families to cope with their social, psychological, financial and medical needs.

Financial Assistance
Affordability of medical care is a major concern amongst many patients. As part of helping patients cope with the impact of their illness, the MSWs are available to assist and discuss with family members on issues of financial assistance. Our Business Liaison Office provides support and advice to patients and family members on Medisave and ElderShield payments. Apart from government assistance schemes such as Medifund, if necessary, the MSWs also link patients with external resources to look into other areas of financial support.

Counseling
Counseling aims to help patients and family members to cope with stressful events and better manage their illnesses. Patients and family members may experience many emotional issues like grief and loss, anxiety and worry, and lack of motivation. Our MSWs offer supportive counseling, to empower patients and family members. MSWs also provide crisis counseling to patients and family members who may be going through violence at home (elderly abuse, caregiver abuse, etc) and suicide ideations. We work closely with government and community agencies to help patients and family members feel supported and protected.

Discharge Care & Planning
Caregivers of frail elderly may face increasing care-giving stress. MSWs provide care assessment and an individualised care plan for each family’s unique needs and requests. We help to coordinate care and services so that patients will be better cared for at home or in suitable community care facilities, where applicable. MSWs will refer patients to relevant services to ensure proper home care management. Institutionalisation will be the last resort if there is no other alternative.

Types of Care Arrangement:
1. Day Care Centres
2. Day Rehabilitative Centres
3. Home Nursing, Home Help
4. Sheltered Homes
5. Government Nursing Homes
6. Private Nursing Homes

Please refer to http://aic.sg for a comprehensive list of community resources available to meet that above needs.

Home Visits
As part of post-discharge services, home visits are conducted to establish patients’ ability to cope in their home environment. The MSWs will discuss with the families on any difficulties they may have. Where appropriate, patients will then be linked with other community resources.