Baptistcare Hosts Singapore Aged Care Study Tour

Last month, Baptistcare hosted a study group of seven aged care professionals from Singapore. Over three weeks, the visitors had the opportunity to learn about aged care in Australia and visit Baptistcare’s Gracewood, David Buttfield Centre, William Carey Court and Mirrambeena residential aged care homes in Perth, Margaret River and Busselton.

Ling Kwang Home for Senior Citizens and All Saints Home in Singapore approached Perth-based aged care consultant Virginia Moore, with the aim of understanding more about aged care practices in Australia. She recommended Baptistcare as a partner to organise a study tour with due to its work in dementia care.

The group’s expectation was to learn about Baptistcare’s focus on person-centred care. Over three weeks, clinical staff from Ling Kwang and All Saints Homes learned about clinical and operational best practice, attending seminars on a wide range of topics presented by Baptistcare staff including manual handling, dementia care and palliative care. At four of Baptistcare’s residential aged care homes in Perth, Margaret River and Busselton, the group were able to shadow nursing, allied health and care staff.

A visit to the WA Department of State Development (DSD) was included in the itinerary to introduce the Singapore group. The DSD promotes opportunities to engage and invest in Western Australia, and having identified aged care as a priority growth area and with an office in Singapore, they were really interested to see Baptistcare’s partnership with Ling Kwang and All Saints Homes.

The Singapore visitors engaged with many people across Baptistcare operations and learned many things during the study tour that they plan to incorporate into their own aged care practices in their home country.

Baptistcare Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Tomkinson said, “I was delighted to see our expertise and talents being reviewed by international guests and look forward to seeing how elements like our Music Connection Program and focus on person-centred care would travel back to Singapore.”

The visitors said the program had been very valuable and had given them a unique first-hand learning experience and insight into Baptistcare and aged care in Australia.

May Chee Chan, Nursing Officer at All Saints Home, said, “I like the staff commitment, everyone is committed and the residents are trying their best to do what they can for a meaningful and quality life. And that is marvellous. They want to remain as independent as they can and the staff help them.”

“The residents are being heard and have a voice. Their life from before they came to the facility is being respected. I also admire the family bonding, the staff of Baptistcare involve the family members and residents to be in control in their decision making,” said Cecelia Llego, Physiotherapist at Ling Kwang Home for Senior Citizens.

“Many of the residents I spoke to are very happy. You can see the happiness shown on their faces. I think it’s because their choices are respected and many residents look forward to the activities program,” said Doris Tchen, Assistant Director of Nursing at All Saints Home.

“I’d like to thank Baptistcare and all the team. All of us have definitely benefited a lot from the warm welcome and generosity of sharing knowledge. We have learned a lot. We’d like to implement these practices ourselves, particularly the Montessori approach and living environments.”

In addition to seminars and site visits, the group also had the chance to do some sightseeing around Perth and the south west of Western Australia where Baptistcare’s aged care homes are located.

Click here to find out more about Baptistcare's residential aged care homes.