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Home|Media & Publications | KWSpotlight | Caring for Our Seniors: Community Screening Helped Spot Dementia Early in the Heartlands
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30 May 2025
2025

Caring for Our Seniors: Community Screening Helped Spot Dementia Early in the Heartlands

Looking after our seniors means helping them stay healthy and independent for as long as possible — and that includes keeping an eye on changes in memory, mobility, and mental well-being. That’s why Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (KWSH) teamed up with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) to bring a special health screening to the heartlands. 

An elderly lady undergoing the ICOPE screening

From 21 to 25 April 2025, seniors aged 60 and above took part in a free screening using the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) tool at KWSH’s care centres in St George’s and McNair. This easy and friendly screening helped spot early signs of decline in areas like memory, movement, vision, hearing, and mood — even before symptoms get serious. 

The ICOPE tool, developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), involved a simple nine-question assessment and was carried out by trained assessors from SUSS. What made this initiative so special was that it wasn’t just about testing — it was about empowering our seniors to take charge of their health. 

Each of our seniors who participated received: 

  • A personalised one-page care plan with goals for staying active and healthy 
  • A community directory with useful services like hearing tests and nearby clinics 
  • Advice and support to help maintain or improve their well-being 

Those who needed medical follow-up were referred to healthcare professionals, and participants were encouraged to return for a follow-up screening after six months. 

Representatives from KWSH and SUSS

This initiative reflected KWSH’s strong commitment to preventive care and supported the national Age Well SG campaign, which promotes confident ageing through community support. Increasing the access of these services to the community has allowed seniors to get the help they needed — early and close to home. 

“By bringing this to the heartlands, we made preventive care more accessible and empowered older adults to age confidently in their own communities,” said Dr Mok Ying Jang, CEO of KWSH. 

Thanks to this meaningful effort, many seniors took important steps to stay healthier and more independent — and had some fun along the way too! With friendly faces, useful tips, and a little encouragement, this initiative showed that taking charge of your health doesn’t have to be daunting. It can be empowering, uplifting, and even enjoyable. Here’s to more vibrant years ahead for our seniors!

Have a glimpse of the event!

Click on the photo to have a better view.