There is no treatment currently available to cure dementia or to alter its progressive course. Numerous new treatments are being investigated in various stages of clinical trials.
Much can be, however, offered to support and improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers and families. The principal goals for dementia care are:
- early diagnosis
- optimizing physical health, cognition, activity and well-being
- identifying and treating accompanying physical illness
- detecting and treating behavioural and psychological symptoms
- providing information and long-term support to caregivers.
Caring for a loved one with Dementia
Caring for a dementia patient can be challenging, as well as stressful. It can also take a physical and emotional toll on the caregiver. To provide the best possible care for patients, caregivers can start by looking after their own health and wellbeing.
Having a strong support network really helps too. Apart from friends and family, help can also come from fellow caregivers in support groups. Support groups provide caregivers a place to share their feelings, gain emotional support and talk to people who they can relate to.
List of mental health support services available in Singapore
Counselling Centres and Helplines
| Agency | Address | Telephone Number |
|
Singapore Alzheimer’s Disease Association |
New Horizon CentreBlk 157, Toa Payoh Lorong 1#01-1195, Singapore 310157 | 6353 8734 |
|
Association of Women for Action & Research (for women in distress) |
Block 5 Dover Crescent #01-22 | 1800-774-5935 / 67797137 |
|
AWWA Centre for Caregivers (for caregivers) |
No 9 Lorong Napiri | 65115318/ 1800 299 2992 |
|
Care Corner (Mandarin) |
8 New Industrial Road #06-03 | 1800 353 5800 |
|
Counselling and Care Centre |
Blk 536 Upper Cross Street #05-241 Hong Lim Complex |
65366366 |
|
Eagles Mediation & Counselling Centre |
177 River Valley Road #05-19 Liang Court | 67888220 |
|
Fei Yue Community Services |
Blk 604 Choa Chu Kang St 62 #01-53 | 65631106 |
|
Hua Mei Centre for Successful Ageing |
298 Tiong Bahru Road Central Plaza #15-00 | 65939565 |
|
Mount Elizabeth-Charter s Helpline |
Mount Elizabeth Hospital 3 Mount Elizabeth | 1800-738-9595 |
|
O Joy Care Services |
Blk 5 Upper Boon Keng Road #02-10 | 67490190 |
|
Raffles Counselling Centre |
Raffles Hospital, 585 North Bridge Road | 63111222 |
|
SAGE Counselling Centre |
1 Jurong West Central 2 #06-04 Jurong Point Shopping Centre |
63541191 |
|
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) |
Block 10 Cantonment Close #01-01 (HDB Multi-storey carpark) |
1800-221-4444 |
|
Shan You Counselling Centre |
Block 5 Upper Boon Keng Road #02-15 |
6741 0078 (Mandarin) 67419293 |
|
Singapore Action Group of Elders (SAGE) (for older adults) |
19 Toa Payoh West | 1800 555 5555 |
|
Singapore Association for |
Blk 69, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-365 | 1800 283 7019 |
|
Tsao Foundation |
298 Tiong Bahru Road #15-01/06 Central Plaza |
65939500 |
|
Wings Counselling Centre |
179 Bartley Road | 63835745 |
Polyclinics
| Polyclinic | Address |
| Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic (Health & Mind Clinic Please call 6355 3000 to make an appointment.) |
Blk 723 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 #01-4138 (S) 560723 |
| Bedok Polyclinic | Blk 212 Bedok North St 1 #03-147 (S) 460212 |
| Bukit Batok Polyclinic | 50 Bukit Batok West Ave 3 (S) 659164 |
| Bukit Merah Polyclinic | Blk 163 Bt Merah Central #04-3565 (S) 150163 |
| Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic | 2 Teck Whye Crescent #01-00 (S) 688846 |
| Clementi Polyclinic | Blk 451 Clementi Ave 3 #02-307 (S) 120451 |
| Geylang Polyclinic | 21 Geylang East Central (S) 389707 |
| Hougang Polyclinic | 89 Hougang Ave 4 (S) 538829 |
| Jurong Polyclinic (Health & Mind Clinic Please call 6355 3000 to make an appointment.) |
190 Jurong East Ave 1 (S) 609788 |
| Marine Parade Polyclinic | Blk 80 Marine Parade Central #01-792 (S) 440080 |
| Outram Polyclinic | 3 Second Hospital Ave Level 2 (S) 168937 |
| Pasir Ris Polyclinic | 1 Pasir Ris Drive 4 #01-11 (S) 519457 |
| Queenstown Polyclinic | 580 Sterling Road, #01-01 (S) 148958 |
| Sengkang Polyclinic | 2 Sengkang Sq #01-06 Sengkang Community Hub (S) 545025 |
| Tampines Polyclinic | 1 Tampines Street 41 (S) 529203 |
| Toa Payoh Polyclinic | 2003 Toa Payoh Lor 8 (S) 319260 |
| Woodlands Polyclinic | 10 Woodlands St 31 (S) 738579 |
| Yishun Polyclinic | 140 Yishun Central (S) 768826 |
Hospitals
|
Hospital |
Address |
Telephone Number |
| Institute of Mental Health | 10 Buangkok View, 539747 | 6389 2200 (appointment) 6389 2222 (emergency helpline 24hrs service) |
| Alexandra Hospital | Alexandra Hospital378 Alexandra Road Singapore 159964 |
6472 2000 |
| Changi General Hospital | Changi General Hospital 2 Simei Street 3 Singapore 529889 |
6788 8833 |
| Institute of Mental Health | Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View Singapore 539747 |
6389 2000 |
| Jurong Medical Centre | 60 Jurong West Central 3 Singapore 648346 | 6551 7888 |
| Khoo Teck Puat Hospital | 90 Yishun Central Singapore 768828 | 6555 8000 |
| KK Hospital | 140 Bukit Timah Road Singapore 229899 | 6225 5554 |
| National University Hospital | 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road Singapore 119074 | 6779 5555 |
| Singapore General Hospital | Outram Road Singapore 169608 | 6222 3322 |
| Tan Tock Seng Hospital | 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308433 | 6256 6011 |
References:
- World Health Organisation Dementia Factsheet
- Alzheimer’s Disease International
- Health Promotion Board, Singapore