New $3.3m Dementia Singapore-Lien Foundation initiative offers early palliative care, home support

A new $3.3 million initiative from Singapore's Dementia Singapore and Lien Foundation provides early palliative care and home support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. The Post Diagnostic Support Plus (PDS+) program, launched in September 2025, is currently being piloted at four New Horizon Centres across Bukit Batok, Jurong Point, Tampines, and Toa Payoh.

Designed for those in the late stage of dementia, PDS+ bridges the gap between center-based and home-based care by offering assistance for up to one year. Traditional palliative care typically serves patients with a prognosis of less than a year, usually starting near the end of life. PDS+ fills this gap by addressing the unique needs of dementia patients and their families, who often face additional chronic illnesses and physical decline.

Since late November 2024, the program has supported 64 families through its advance care planning conversations. Over the next two years, more than 280 individuals and their families are expected to benefit from PDS+. The initiative aims to mainstream its services, with the foundation's chairman, Dr Phillip Yap, emphasizing the importance of integrating dementia care with overall health management.

An interactive AI tool called ACP GO! helps individuals with dementia express their care preferences earlier in their journey, reducing distress and conflicts in decision-making. Dementia Singapore CEO Bryan Tan highlighted the program's significance, sharing his own experience in speaking with his father about his dementia diagnosis. PDS+ offers critical support for families grappling with these challenging conversations, and the program will continue to provide assistance even after the one-year mark.