What is the ABC suite of services?

Active Ageing for Well & Active Seniors

• Link to Active Ageing programmes

• Promote volunteerism or employment

Befriending & Buddying for Seniors with No or Limited Social Networks

• Provide support to seniors through house visits and phone calls

Care & Support for Seniors with Needs

• Provide information on relevant schemes, grants and support

• Make referral for simple cases

• Escalate and refer complex cases to other partners for detailed needs assessment

So what’s the difference between AAC and AACH?

The difference between AAC and AACH is that the latter will provide additional care services such as day care and community rehabilitation services for seniors who are more frail.

OK… What’s in it for Community Care professionals?

If you’re working in an SAC or SCC, your centre will likely transition into an AAC or AACH by 2024. The Ministry of Health announced during the Committee of Supply debate that 50 centres would come onboard to become AACs and AACHs each year.

By 2024, Singapore will have over 200 AACs and AACHs.

Since the initiative's inception from May 1, 52 centres have been onboarded so far.

We chatted with Ong Siew Chin, CEO of Blossom Seeds on how the transition has been.

How long did the transition take and what did it entail?

Blossom Seeds: We started Community Befriending Programme in 2018 for socially isolated seniors. Since August 2018, we also run Active Ageing Programmes at the centre for seniors. This provides a platform for seniors of various races and religion and from different housing types to interact. We bring the home-based seniors to the centre, so that they are able to stay connected with the community. We are happy to onboard the enhanced model.

Did you face any difficulties during the transition? How did you overcome them?

Blossom Seeds: There were teething issues while setting up the users in the system and aligning the use of the tools. However, the team has been learning together and supporting one another in using the system. Communicating to the seniors under our care about the handing them over to another befriending team is likely to be the most difficult task in the transition. We have not relayed the news to the seniors yet as we are still familiarising ourselves with the system.

How do you think you can better serve the needs of your clients through AAC?

Blossom Seeds: The centre will be able to encourage the seniors to age actively and happily, regardless of race, religion or housing types. We also believe that by getting seniors to support one another, they will be able to age more meaningfully and gracefully.

For full report, refers to
https://aic-mosaic.sg/2021/06/03/active-ageing-centre-care-hub-aac-aach-singapore-seniors/