“Now I know how to take care of him when he comes home”

SGH prepares families for life after discharge from hospital with caregiver training when they visit patients in the wards.

Every day, between 10 and 11 in the morning, Mdm L leaves her flat and makes her way to Singapore General Hospital (SGH). By lunchtime she is at her husband’s bedside, helping him sit up and encouraging him to eat.

What began as “just visiting” has, through SGH’s caregiver engagement efforts, become a shared partnership with the ward team to care for her husband.

From bystander to care partner

When her husband was first admitted, Mdm L behaved like any concerned spouse – staying by his side and helping with small tasks. As nurses began inviting caregivers to be more involved, she gradually took on a more active role: helping him wash up, bringing him to the bathroom when he was steady enough, and encouraging him to walk along the corridor.

 “I am his wife. It’s only right that we care for our own loved ones,” said Mdm L. “And it’s good that now I know how to care for him when he comes home.”

To the team, she is now more than a visitor; she is the person who best understands her husband’s habits and comfort level, and can alert staff when something is not right.

Learning from the nurses

Being present in the ward day after day, Mdm L made good use of her time for  “on-the-job training” by the nurses to prepare herself for life after discharge. By watching nurses and therapists, Mdm L has learnt how to position herself when helping her husband stand, where to hold for support, and when to stop if he tires or sways.

At times, nurses also used the bedside tablet computer as a teaching aid for Mdm L - reinforcing key points with short videos and reminders to support what they taught her when she was at the ward. This helped Madam L remember what to look out for and gradually build her confidence in supporting her husband safely.

As her husband is partially blind, Mdm L has applied these lessons to make their home safer for him - clearing clutter from the floor, moving slippers out of the way and keeping a clear path from the living room to the bathroom.

Balancing safety and independence

Like many older patients, her husband values independence, especially with walking and toileting. At home, he can often manage with her nearby. In the hospital, where the toilet is farther away and the environment is unfamiliar, both Mdm L and the nurses take more precautions.

Together, they make joint decisions such as sometimes opting for a wheelchair or diaper rather than risk a serious fall, while still encouraging short, supported walks so he does not become too weak.

”Caring for our own”

Asked what she would say to other caregivers, Mdm L is modest.

 “If it is your loved one, you will know how to do. Some patients are more dependent, need more care – eating, showering, walking, everything. Slowly, the caregiver will learn what that person needs.”

For her husband, seeing his wife by his side turns the ward into a more reassuring place. For Mdm L, the experience has strengthened their bond and given her confidence to continue caring for her husband at home.

“My being here is important to my husband,” she says. “He feels better when he sees me. I just do what I can. What I cannot, I leave to the nurses.”

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