CAPE is a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral project built on our aspiration to co-create ecosystems to support the health of seniors in existing neighbourhoods and to evaluate these ecosystems.
Unmet Needs
In view of the rapidly ageing population in Singapore, preserving functional ability should be prioritised and we hope to achieve that through CAPE. As such, the primary goal of CAPE is to delay frailty. Alongside maintaining and enhancing physical health, CAPE also strives to address the social determinants of health and enhance the health-related quality of life and well-being of our local senior populations to enable them to age-in-place.
Approach
To achieve these goals, CPHRI, together with our partners and collaborators, will 'retrofit' care into public housing estates by effectively integrating (i) Care, (ii) Built Environment and (iii) Technology in the creation of CAPE.
This suite of CAPE interventions includes the provision of care services and supporting lifestyle programmes that can help seniors of all frailty status to maintain their health and well-being. At the same time, the physical space will be assessed and enhanced to facilitate care and social services, and to improve the accessibility and safety of their neighbourhood. With social health and mental well-being in mind, we also aim to create meaningful spaces that open up opportunities for recreation and avenues for residents of all ages to socialise. Lastly, we hope to empower seniors for better self-management through the use of technological innovations to assist daily living and improve health outcomes.
Ultimately, we hope that the impacts of our CAPE ecosystem will result in reduced healthcare utilisation of the local healthcare system and is cost-effective. To assess its feasibility, effectiveness, sustainability and propensity to be scaled up, CPHRI will adopt a participatory mixed-method approach guided by implementation science in the evaluation of this project.
It is our belief that a rigorous and holistic approach is essential in addressing the needs of seniors and supporting ageing-in-place. Together with our collaborators and partners, we will enable the integration of built environment, technology, and care to create an evidence-based ecosystem that supports seniors to age and live well in their communities, surrounded by their loved ones.
Progress
We will be engaging senior residents from selected blocks within the SingHealth region to understand their lifestyles and health-related needs and preferences. The insights gained will be used to inform the design of ideal ecosystems, with targeted interventions tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each neighbourhood and resident.
Moving forward, we intend to engage more residents in our participatory research and increase the reach of our efforts. This system of co-creation will involve the voices of the masses of senior residents, allowing them to co-create, co-design, and express their preferences and reap the benefits of CAPE.
