Meet Dexie, Our Newest Teammate in Dementia Care

SCH is the first public healthcare institution in Singapore to integrate Dexie, a social interaction humanoid robot, into inpatient dementia care.

When Dexie first rolled into our wards, some patients didn’t quite know what to make of the cheerful humanoid robot. Patients who often refused therapy were sceptical, but eventually warmed up to Dixie’s helpful prompts.

"It’s nice to see the patients become more motivated and engaged during sessions with Dexie," shares Ms Lisa Tee, Physiotherapist. "One patient who often refused treatment became fully cooperative. Another, who barely spoke, began interacting and encouraging peers during group activities."

Moments like these remind us why we do what we do. This September, as we mark World Alzheimer’s Month, we’re proud to share how SCH is the first public healthcare institution in Singapore to bring a social robot into inpatient dementia care.

Dexie isn’t just about technology, it’s about connection. Speaking in English, Mandarin, Malay and Chinese dialects, Dexie makes therapy sessions more engaging for our diverse group of patients. From upper-body exercises to music and memory games, the robot gives patients many chances to stay active and connected.

Behind Dexie is a team effort — from Rehab colleagues to IT partners and research collaborators. Together with vendors Dex-Lab and Goshen Consultancy Services, our staff helped design and test how Dexie could fit into real-world care.

"Patients with dementia will have their neural pathways deteriorate over time," explains Dr Bryan Han, Director, Dementia and Cognitive Care Service. "Having Dexie work with our patients at a suitable intensity and frequency may help slow this decline."

The results speak for themselves. In our pilot, patients attended more sessions, showed better attention and memory, and most importantly, enjoyed the process. Since then, Dexie has supported over 1,400 patients across SCH — a milestone we achieved in just months.

And this is only the beginning. The team is now developing a playbook to guide other community hospitals, drawing on lessons and best practices from SCH.

At SCH, innovation always has one purpose: to bring dignity and joy to our patients. Dexie may be a robot, but the heart of this story is still about the people — our teamwork and shared belief that care is more than treatment.

Early positive results and expanding our impact
Our pilot programme with 28 patients (79% with dementia or cognitive impairment) demonstrated significant impact. Each patient completed at least six therapy sessions, resulting in a 32% increase in positive engagement, with 46% showing cognitive improvements in visual scanning, attention, and working memory.