S$4.48m community rehab programme aims to help 2,000 Parkinson's patients over five years
More than 10,000 people in Singapore are estimated to be living with Parkinson's – the country's second-most common neurodegenerative disease.
A new community rehabilitation programme called Kickstart Exercise and Empower Parkinson’s (KEEP) aims to aid 2,000 people with Parkinson’s disease in Singapore over a period of five years. The initiative is being implemented by the Lien Foundation in collaboration with Parkinson Society Singapore (PSS), NHG Health’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), and other SingHealth institutions.
The programme was designed by a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical social workers, and movement disorder specialists. It incorporates fitness and rehabilitation exercises early in the disease progression, as well as group sessions to combat social isolation that often arises as Parkinson’s advances. The KEEP programme was co-designed by experts from NNI and TTSH and has been introduced through 13 day rehabilitation centres.
Dr Chloe Chung, a senior physiotherapist at TTSH, explained that the programme aims to teach patients how to walk more effectively by improving their step length and speed, which in turn reduces the risk of falls. Regular six-month assessments will be conducted to monitor participants' progress and adjust their rehabilitation and mental health plans as needed.
Parkinson’s disease affects the regulation of movement, but patients can learn techniques to move more efficiently. The programme also addresses the social and psychological aspects of the condition, as patients may experience depression due to societal expectations and judgment. Caregivers will receive six training sessions to help them better understand the disease and provide appropriate support.
The Lien Foundation's S$4.48 million investment (approximately US$3.5 million) includes S$1.2 million allocated for the creation of a second PSS centre dedicated to the KEEP programme. Additionally, a public awareness campaign is being developed to foster empathy and reduce the stigma associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
