Return to Wellness with Social Prescribing

Patients at SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCH) are engaged during their ward stay with activities of their choice before being linked to community partners to continue those activities and remain active in the community after discharge.

When 88-year-old Mdm Foo Siew Yin discharged from Sengkang Community Hospital (SKCH), she left with not just health advice and medications but took away an additional “social prescription” of rhythmic exercises at the Seniors Activity Centre near her home in Ang Mo Kio.

Mdm Foo had suffered a fall in July and was admitted to SKCH for rehabilitation. She caught the attention of Wellbeing Coordinator (WBC) Ms Amy Chan, who recalled the elderly lady looking upset and feeling depressed. WBCs are healthcare professionals specially trained for Social Prescribing. As a WBC, Amy builds relationships with patients and engages them in activities with the Outreach and Volunteers team before connecting them to community partners. This way, patients can continue the activities and remain active after discharge.

Mdm Foo had suffered a fall in July and was admitted to SKCH for rehabilitation. She caught the attention of Wellbeing Coordinator (WBC) Ms Amy Chan, who recalled the elderly lady looking upset and feeling depressed. WBCs are healthcare professionals specially trained for Social Prescribing. As a WBC, Amy builds relationships with patients and engages them in activities with the Outreach and Volunteers team before connecting them to community partners. This way, patients can continue the activities and remain active after discharge.

After Mdm Foo’s discharge, Amy reached out to the Outreach and Volunteers team who linked them up with Ms  May Hung, a volunteer, for continued support. “Mdm Foo lives with her older sister and they mostly stayed home during the pandemic.

Initially they were not too keen to leave the house but after repeated encouragement from Amyand me, they now not only attend weekly rhythmic exercises at the Seniors Activity Centre but go for strolls and even marketing,” said May.

May has been volunteering with SCH for the past five years and finds it immensely satisfying to help the elderly like Mdm Foo. “I am very happy that both sisters are attending the exercise sessions regularly and this has visibly improved their wellbeing!”


PARTNERING US ON OUR SOCIAL PRESCRIBING JOURNEY
Having partners who have a firm commitment to the health and well-being of our community is instrumental to the success of our social prescribing journey. One key partner who had given generously towards this cause is global semiconductor company, STMicroelectronics. Their gift has made it possible for SCH to enhance our social prescribing programme to benefit more than 2,000 patients to date!