#Jagasingaporeans – The Care Issue https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue Your Guide to Holistic Care by Jaga-Me Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:02:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.6 https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cropped-logo.square.pink_-1-100x100.png #Jagasingaporeans – The Care Issue https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue 32 32 How to Start a Conversation with Someone Living with Dementia? https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/how-to-start-a-conversation-with-a-dementia-patient/ Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:02:32 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/thecareissue/?p=1995 Caring for a loved one with dementia? Read on to find out how to communicate with them more effectively. As a caregiver for a dementia individual, you may find yourself getting frustrated and angry at your loved ones at times. You might also feel at loss on how to engage them in a conversation. Here are some ways you can interact with them more effectively using everyday tools like food and music. 

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a cognitive disease that results in the decline of cognitive abilities – memory and thinking skills. Someone who is living with dementia brain cells are dying gradually and they have lost the ability to learn new things. The only way to reduce cognitive decline is to reinforce skills or memories that dementia patients are familiar with.

Conversation Starter: For People Living with Dementia

To interact with someone living with dementia, you should appeal to their 5 senses – sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell. You can use tools like old photographs, favourite food or songs to help stimulate their memories. This will help bring back memories for them. Engage your loved one by asking simple questions about the item and have a conversation with them.

Dementia Tools You Can Use!

The key to communicating and engaging with your loved one is to get them to reminisce and talk about the past.

Old Photographs 

Engage with your loved ones in a conversation about the past using old photographs. You can ask them if they remember this set of location, who did they go with and what did they do there.

Music 

Play some songs your loved one likes. Music is a great intervention for a person living with dementia as it helps to prevent the further deterioration of their cognitive abilities. You can engage them with questions like where did they hear the song from, and what does it remind them of.

Food

If your loved ones like to cook, you can give them ingredients of their favourite recipes. Start the conversation with your loved one by asking them the process of cooking using the ingredients that you have given them. Get them to teach you how to cook their favourite recipes.

SilverCare Toys

Silvercare toys are designed for older adults with dementia. They are great activities to engage with your loved ones. You can try toys like puzzles, pokers cards and bowling pins. You can find out more about silvercare toys at Kydz International website.

4 Tips for Caregivers: 

  1. Stay calm and cool when interacting with someone living with dementia.
  2. Try to step into their shoes and understand from their point of view. Be patient with them.  
  3. Speak in shorter sentences. Give concise information instead of rambling on. 
  4. Do not bombard your loved one with dementia with loads of information and questions.

About Jaga-Me

Jaga-Me is an award-winning home care service provider. If you need quality care for your loved ones, we have trained professionals that will help you take care of your loved one. With Jaga-Me, you can have a worry-free day or a good night’s rest. To find out more about respite care for your loved ones, you can visit our services page here. If you want to read more about how to interact effectively with your loved one, you can click here. 

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> Take Your Loved Ones On Home Leave For Reunion. https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/loved-ones-home-leave-reunion-dinner/ Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:03 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/?p=172 Chinese New Year is a time for families to reunite and spend quality time together. It is the one time of the year when families can put aside their busy schedules to catch up and appreciate one another. But often, many of our loved ones may be warded in various institutions, like community hospitals or nursing homes, making it difficult for the entire family to come together.

That being said, mobility or illnesses should not prevent you from being with your loved ones. By taking the necessary precautions and with the right care plan, you can safely bring/transit your loved ones from these institutions to the comfort of your own home. Here are 5 steps on how you can do it!

1. Obtain Care Instructions

Ensuring you have adequate care knowledge is pivotal in bringing your loved ones home. Here are some things to note about care instructions!

    • i. How to assist your loved one in mobility, toileting and grooming, etc.
    • ii. Signs of Health Deterioration
    • iii. Follow-up actions such as who to contact and where/when to seek help.

However, if you feel that your loved one’s condition is too tough for you to handle, engage a home service provider to ensure you do not miss out any care detail and have a point of contact if anything should happen.

home care commode
Commodes are used for people who has difficulty in walking for toileting.

2. Learn Relevant Nursing Skills

You need transferring techniques when your loved one need help with mobility. There are other specialised skills that you should know about if your loved one requires it. For example, if your loved one has a nasogastric tube, learn about nasogastric tube feeding; learn how to maintain the stoma bag if your loved one has one.
If you do not have time to learn them, you can always engage a private nurse to do it instead. You can learn these skills right at home with appropriate caregiver training!

3. Know the Medications!

i. Medication supply
Make sure you have enough supply for the duration of the home leave!

ii. Medication Route
There are several ways to administer medications. You have to make sure you do not get confused. Learn to differentiate which ones are edible and which are the ones to give rectally (oops!). There are also different ways one can consume their medication, for example, know if you can crush it, chew it or to let it melt in the mouth.

iii. Medication Time
There are also trickier instructions to take note like before or after meals. Tip: Set up alarms on your smartphone and label the alarm with the medication name so that you won’t miss out any meds.

4. Get Resources

Does your loved one need a wheelchair or walking frame to move about at home? Or do they need adult diapers? Be sure to prepare them before they get back home.

Tip: Have your family pitch in to care for your loved one. Disperse the caregiving responsibilities! You should be enjoying the reunion.

5. Arrange for Transport

Now that you know the care needs for your loved ones, you just have to arrange for a transport home! If your loved one requires more space, help and equipment, consider getting a private ambulance. Here are some contacts:

Lentor Ambulance: 6100 1777
Angel Ambulance: 8338 2526

However, if your loved one can walk with little or no assistance, you can always take a cab, Uber or Grab back from the institution.

These are the 5 basic steps to bringing your loved ones home back for the annual Chinese New Year reunion dinner. Sounds a little too complicated? It may be tough, but it is going to be a meaningful endeavour. Let us assist you with this complicated coordination work while you concentrate on spending quality time with your loved one!

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> How to Bring your Loved Ones In and Out of Bed: Step-by-Step Mobility Guide https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/how-to-bring-your-loved-ones-in-and-out-of-bed-step-by-step-mobility-guide/ Mon, 21 Nov 2022 00:02:22 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/thecareissue/?p=2668 Caring for a loved one with limited issues can be daunting as his or her safety is dependent on you. Safety and comfort should be the top priorities for your loved ones. Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to transfer your loved one with limited mobility safely at home. If you are unsure of how to safely transfer your loved one at home, you should seek the guidance of a professional nurse or an occupational therapist.

Bed Mobility

  • Moving up the bed

Moving Bed Patients

Image source: The Brookside Associates

  1. Ensure you are standing at the side of the bed.
  2. Ensure the patient’s knees are bent. You can ask your loved one to bend their knees or you can help them to do so.
  3. Put one arm under the patient’s shoulder blade and the other arm under his thigh
  4. Count to three before lifting.
  5. Lift the patient. Ensure that you ask the patient to push himself up as much as possible during the lift.
  • Lying to sitting position

Lying To Sitting Position

Image Source: The Brookside Associates

  1. You should ask the patient to bend his knees or you can help him or her to do so before you start.
  2. Put one hand on the patient’s knees and the other hand on the shoulder that is further away from you. Roll the patient towards you. His current position should be lying on his side.
  3. You can swing his leg down the side of the bed.
  4. You should then put one hand under the patient’s shoulders [the shoulder that is lying on the mattress] and the other hand on his upper-hip.
  5. Count to three before lifting. Ask the patient to push himself up as much as possible during the lift. This is to encourage the patient to be more independent and you can save some strength and effort as well.

Bed to Chair/Wheelchair

Image Source Fairview

  1. Ensure you have plenty of room for transfer.
  2. Position the wheelchair at about 90 degrees from the bed surface.
  3. Ensure that the wheelchair’s brakes are engaged before commencing the transfer.
  4. Put your arms underneath the patient’s armpits and lock your arms. The patient may hold you around your waist to feel more secure.
  5. Ensure that the patient’s knees should be positioned 90 degrees and feet are placed firmly on the ground.
  6. Count to three before proceeding to lift.
  7. Lift the patient up and encourage the patient to lift himself up as much as possible during the lift. This is to reduce the amount of energy needed to lift him up.

About Jaga-Me 

If you are unsure of how to transfer your loved ones safely at home, you can engage with a professional nurse or occupational therapist to guide you on how to do proper transference techniques. At Jaga-Me, we believe in the empowerment of our caregivers. You can engage Jaga-Me’s professional home care services and our certified JagaPros will guide you on the proper techniques of how to move your loved ones around safely and easily at home.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> Caregiver Dilemma: Quality of Care and Quality of Life https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/caregiver-dilemma-quality-of-care-and-quality-of-life/ Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:01:12 +0000 http://www.jaga-me.com/?p=141 Most families spare no expense in providing quality care for their loved ones who are aged or sick. However, considering caregiver stress is linked to depression and many health problems, families often do not recognise that their own wellbeing as a caregiver is just as important as the quality of life of the care recipient.

When should I seek help at home?

As a loved one advances in years or in illness, there will come a point where care becomes too taxing for the family. Many day-to-day tasks we have taken for granted, needs to be meted out with care. Many family caregivers, especially those with young children, are unable to cope with the routines of medications, medical appointments, and assistance. While there is no prescribed time to seek respite care, one clear indicator is when care becomes a full-time job and begins to react negatively to caregiving. Nursing respite care allows the family to focus on spending quality time together instead of chasing time to get tasks done. 

Filling the Gaps in Healthcare

Home care can fill the important gaps in eldercare and step-down care. The transition from hospital to home is usually the hardest and most confusing part for a patient’s family, and poor care management can lead to hospital readmissions. For most people, when met with a load of overwhelming care, the first course of action is to rely on a domestic helper. However, without proper knowledge and practice, poor care at home can affect the patient’s road to recovery, leading to more costs and poorer quality of life for patients and their families.

“Poor care management can lead to hospital readmissions”

This is where community nursing comes in. Having a seasoned nurse visit your home to provide care, not only means a pair of helping hands, but also the sharing of skills and knowledge to reinforce the family and the domestic helper. As part of Jaga-Me’s Nursing Respite Service and medical procedures, our experienced local nurses go above and beyond the enclosed hospitals – to assess and review the patient’s health status through clinical observations, and propose the most relevant care recommendations to the family members. 

Focusing on Quality

Quality of life requires quality care, provided by well-prepared family members and community nurses. Our loved ones deserve to age and recuperate in comfort and in familiar surroundings with their family. Family caregivers are dedicated to their loved ones, but they should not feel shame for requiring assistance. They should prioritise connecting with their loved ones, and not be preoccupied with care. Care is readily within reach, whenever you need it.

Read about one of our client’s stories to know more about our quality service here. If you are struggling with caregiving, do give us a call at 8498 4598 and let us see if we are able to help you.

Jaga-Me: Your Trusted Medical Home Care Professional

At Jaga-Me, we believe that healthcare should be a social good – it is a basic human need, and should be available to as many people as possible. We aim to deliver the highest quality care through innovation and a commitment to building meaningful relationships.

Save travelling and long wait times at the hospitals. Get specialised medical treatments:
– Urinary Catheterisation
– Complex Wound Care
– Nasogastric (NG) Feeding Tube
– IV Infusion Therapy

]]> Essential Medisave facts every Singaporean should know https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/essential-medisave-facts-every-singaporean-should-know/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 00:27:36 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/?p=1237 What is Medisave?

Medisave is one of the 3 accounts of our Central Provident Fund (CPF), other than the Ordinary Account (OA), and the Special Account (SA).

According to the Ministry of Health, Medisave is a national healthcare savings initiative which helps Singaporeans save a part of their income into their Medisave Accounts to prepare them for future personal or immediate family’s hospitalisation, day surgery and certain outpatient expenses.

We can never preempt when we might require medical attention that may incur costly medical bills. Hence, the Singapore government made it mandatory in 1984 with the introduction of the Medisave scheme for Singaporeans to save a portion of their income to tackle their heavy medical expenses should the need arise.

How much of my monthly income goes into Medisave?

Medisave contribution rates are only applicable for Singaporeans earning >=$1,500 per month. The table below shows the percentage contribution of an individual’s monthly wage into Medisave account.

Basic Healthcare sum is the estimated amount of savings required for a person’s basic subsidised healthcare needs in old age. It is set at $52,000 in 2017 for all CPF holders. This sum will be adjusted in time for each cohort with increased Life expectancy of Singaporeans as well as healthcare costs.

Each cohort’s BHS will be fixed from age 65 onwards, and this amount will remain fixed for the rest of their lives.

When can we use Medisave?

A Medisave account holder may use his/her account to pay for the hospitalisation and certain outpatient expenses incurred at any hospital in Singapore. He/she may use it for personal or immediate family members’ use.

  • Health preventive measures 

With the Medisave400 scheme, Ministry of Health encourages Singaporeans to take up preventive measures for their health such as early detection and vaccination. Hence, people can use Medisave to subsidise health screening exams such as screening Mammograms and Colonoscopies, Children’s vaccination such as Pneumococcal and Hepatitis B vaccination, and certain newborn health check ups. For more information on Medisave’s use for health screening and specific hospitals available for screening, you can find out more here.

  • Chronic diseases

In Singapore, the leading cause of death is due to chronic diseases. However, a lot of chronic illnesses can be mitigated with early detection and treatment. Hence, Singapore’s government launched Medisave’s use for Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) in October of 2006 to help pay for outpatient out of pocket costs. A total of 19 chronic conditions are eligible under the CDMP.

As long as you of your loved one suffers from one of the chronic disease as mentioned above, Medisave will be available to cover 85% of your total medical bill. Hence, only 15% of the total bill needs to be co-paid out of pocket by the patient.

Therefore, if your medical bill is $1,000, you only need to pay $150. The rest will be covered by Medisave!

Annual Withdrawal limit:

However, do take note that Annual outpatient withdrawal limit is limited to $400 per Medisave Account. Patients are able to use the Medisave of their immediate family members, with a maximum of 10 accounts.

  • Marriage and Parenthood

Families can use the Medisave Maternity Package (MMP) for delivery expenses and pre-delivery medical expenses. Examples of pre-delivery expenses would be Gynecologist consultation fees and ultrasounds.

For Medisave claimable under (MMP): up to $450 for each day hospitalised, $900 for pre-delivery medical expenses and surgical withdrawal amount incurred depending on the type of delivery procedure eg. Vaginal delivery/ Caesarean delivery.

Example of Medisave claimable under MMP: 

(adapted from: Ministry of Health, 2016)

Medisave can be used in both public and private hospitals. Parents just need to collate costs incurred pre delivery, and delivery at hospital of delivery and file it under Medisave Maternity Package claims.

Medisave grants for newborns

Singapore’s government has put in place a Medisave grant for newborns to help young parents pay for medical expenses such as child vaccinations and other outpatient treatments. Eligible newborns will receive $4,000 automatically after registration of birth. This grant is applicable for infants born from 1 January 2015 onwards, or $3,000 for infants born from 26th August 2012 but before 1 January 2015.

Read more about Medisave got marriage and parenthood here.

Medical Claims Authorisation Forms

You can download the online form to claim your Medisave funds!

For Medical Claims Authorisation Form (Single Institution) (MCAF (S)): here.

For Medical Claims Authorisation Form (Multiple Institution) (MCAF (M)): here.

For more information about MCAF, read more here.

Singapore’s healthcare scene is working towards making healthcare more accessible for every Singaporean. Government initiatives like this is able to help families be prepared for a rainy day and cope with heavy medical expenses. Even the advent of home care services like Jaga-Me are connecting families at home with healthcare, making it easier and more accessible for families to get the care they need and to recover at home. If you are a family that requires home care services and nursing care, do check us out on our webpage here. For more caregiver resources, read our Jaga-Me Blog!

Related article: Everything you need to know about Medishield Life

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> The True Cost of Breast Cancer in Singapore https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/the-true-cost-of-breast-cancer-in-singapore/ Thu, 17 Feb 2022 00:11:56 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/thecareissue/?p=2417 Breast Cancer is caused when cells in the breast mutate, growing out of control. These mutated cells grow into mass of cells – either forming a lump that can be felt  or as a tumour that can be seen on an x-ray. According to the most recent report from the Singapore Cancer Registry, between 2008 and 2012, breast cancer was the No.1 type of cancer for women in Singapore:

    • Breast (29%)
    • Colorectal (13%)
    • Lung (8%)

This cancer was also the cause of 18 per cent of all female deaths by cancer.

No. 1 Typer of Cancer For Women In Singapore
No. 1 Typer of Cancer For Women In Singapore

Breast Cancer Costs

Breast cancer care is financially destabilising. An average woman earns $4,027 a month but cancer treatments on average, costs $8,000 to $17,000 a month.

The costs of breast cancer is extremely heavy on patients and their caregivers from the onset.

Cost of Breast Cancer Screening in Singapore
Cost of Breast Cancer Screening in Singapore

After diagnosis, Breast Cancer patients can go through surgical or non-surgical procedures to treat their cancers.

Cost of Non-Surgical Procedures: Radiography & Chemotherapy
Cost of Non-Surgical Procedures: Radiography & Chemotherapy

Non-surgical procedures include radiotherapy which makes use of high-energy x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams or protons to kill or damage cancer cells. Alternatively, patients may need to undergo chemotherapy. This treatment uses chemical substances – most commonly as an infusion into the vein or in pill or capsule forms. Depending on whether the patient is at the early or late stages of her breast cancer, she will require several repeating cycles of chemotherapy increasing Breast Cancer costs. 

Surgical Procedure: Lumpectomy & Masectomy
Surgical Procedure: Lumpectomy & Masectomy

The most common procedures include surgery. Lumpectomy (also known as breast-conserving surgery) is a surgical procedure to remove cancerous cell or abnormal tissues from the breast. The other common surgery is a Masectomy. This procedure includes the removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely.

Additionally, the cost of treatment depends on a few factors like the type of cancer, the stage of cancer and the physical condition of the patient. Post surgery wound care can also add on to the cost of treatment.

Other Costs of Breast Cancer

"Additional

Not only are these procedures expensive, there are also additional costs incurred by the patient post-surgery.

Breast Reconstruction

  • Breast Reconstruction Surgery is an option that many women may consider post- lumpectomy or masectomy.

Home Care

  • Home Care services, like Jaga-Me’s, provide medical support to the patient’s family from the comfort of their own home. House call doctors can be engaged or simpler issues can be resolved via teleconsultation doctors.

Transportation Costs

  • Cancer Diagnosis may require several trips to hospitals. For example, Radiotherapy usually lasts for 6 weeks, 5 days a weeks and will comprise of at least 30 sessions. Due to side effects like fatigue or nausea, patients may refuse the discomfort of public transport for the convenience of the more expensive commuting choices like taxis.

Read more on Breast Cancer: Post-Surgery Recovery

Financing Costs of Breast Cancer in Singapore

Breast cancer is expensive in Singapore, but there are ways to finance these costs.

Government Schemes

There are available schemes – Medisave, Medishield Life, Medifund and ComCare – that aims to financially assist breast cancer patients that are in need.

Private Insurance

However, the government initiatives may not be able to cover all costs of Breast Cancer. As such, opting for Private Insurance schemes on top of what the governments offers may be financially beneficial. That are three types of Private Medical Insurance to consider:

    • Integrated Shield Plans
    • Critical Illness Policies
    • Cancer Insurance Plans

Other Financial Aid

Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) offers cancer rehabilitation programmes. Alternatively, SCS has several financial and welfare schemes to help those in need. Successful candidates may receive temporary financial assistance, medical supplies and subsidies for approved drugs or treatments. 

How can Jaga-Me Help?

We provide professional cancer care for your loved one. If your loved one needs frequent care, you can engage our services. If you need personalised caregiver training, you can simply ask our nurses! We will assess the condition of the patient and provide you a personalized care plan on how to care for him or her.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> A Caregiver’s Guide to: Urinary Catheter https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/caregivers-guide-urinary-catheter/ Thu, 06 Jan 2022 00:13:17 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/?p=880 Are you a caregiver caring for a patient who is currently using a urinary catheter? Read on to find out more about how to care for your loved one who is using a urinary catheter. A Urinary Catheter is generally used when the patient is unable to urinate by himself/ herself so as to prevent a build up in urine and cause pressure in the kidneys. For example, if the patient faces urine obstruction due to prostate enlargement or nerve damage. A Urinary Catheter is also used for patients who are unable to control their urine.

What is a Urinary Catheter?

A Urinary Catheter is a hollow, flexible tube that collects urine from the bladder. A catheter tube leads to a drainage bag that is meant to collect the urine. A Urinary Catheter is placed in the bladder by inserting the tube through the urethra, and a small balloon is inflated in the bladder to keep the catheter in place.

Catheter care is important for patients who are reliant on it even for short amounts of time. Caregiving for patients using Urinary Catheter would involve cleaning the catheter, emptying and changing the drainage bags.

Managing Urinary Catheterization

Changing the urine collection bag

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling the catheter
  2. Ensure that the end of the urine collection bag is locked securely.
  3. Pinch the Urinary Catheter using your fingers and avoid contact with the ends of the connecting tube.
  4. Remove the urine collection bag from the catheter
  5. Wipe the end of the catheter tube with alcohol wipes
  6. Immediately insert the protective cap of the new urinary bag into the catheter and release your finger punch
  7. Discard of the urine collection bag.
  8. Check that there are no kinks in the tubes and urinary bag
  9. Changing of the urine collection bag should be done weekly or when it is dirty or damaged.

Emptying the urine collection bag

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling the urine collection bag.
  2. Hold the drainage tap over an empty container. Hold the stem of the drainage tap with one hand and pull downwards to open the valve and to drain the urine collection bag.
  3. Pull upwards and lock the urine collection bag
  4. Don’t touch the tip of the valve or let it touch other surfaces.

Cleaning the urine collection bag

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Disconnect the bag from the catheter tube and immediately connect the tube to another clean urine collection bag
  3. Drain the urine from the bag
  4. Pour soap and water into the dirty urine collection bag and shake it around to clean it.
  5. Open the drainage valve and let the soapy water out.
  6. Rinse the bag with clean and cool water before hanging up to dry
  7. If the bag has an odour, you can fill the bag with a mixture of 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water, and shake it around the bag before draining and rinsing.

Cleaning the catheter

  1. Using mild soap and water, clean your genital area where the Urinary Catheter enters your body
  2. Men should clean under the foreskin as well as possible and through the entire length of the penis
  3. Women should separate the labia, and clean the genital area through its entire length
  4. Clean the Urinary Catheter from the tip when it enters the urethra, and then downwards, away from it.

Preventing infection

  1. Keep the catheter tube and the urine collection bag from kinking. Ensure this by making sure not to sleep or put the pressure on the bag and tube
  2. Do not rest the urine bag on the floor or allow the tip of the drainage bag or catheter tube to touch the floor or other surfaces
  3. Make sure your hands are clean and washed before handling the catheter tube or urine bag

Things to take note

  1. Call your nurse or doctor in the case if your catheter comes out. Do not attempt to replace it yourself. Changing of Urinary Catheter tubing requires certified training and experience. Hence, it would be wise to engage your trusted nurse from a hospital, or a in-home nursing care in to help you do a procedure change in the comforts of your own home. 
  2. In the case where you experience some pain, and there is no urine in your bag, or if you are making less urine than usual, seek your doctor or nurse’s help.
  3. Seek a doctor also if you notice any abnormalities like running a fever, or if your urine has blood clots or has is not clear with clots. It may be an infection.
  4. Drink more fluids while you are using a Urinary Catheter.
  5. If you need any urinary catheterization products, you can order them from us. We deliver these products right to your doorstep.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> Diabetes 101 https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/diabetes-101/ Thu, 02 Sep 2021 00:23:44 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/thecareissue/?p=2204 Do you know that 440,000 people had diabetes in 2014? Numbers are expected to rise in 2050. It is time to fight the war against diabetes. Read on to find out more if you are at risk of developing diabetes, what are the symptoms of diabetes, prevention methods and treatment options available for diabetic patients.

diabetes

diabetes risk factors

diabetes implications

diabetes prevention tips

diabetes treatment

Want to know more? We recommend reading High Cholesterol 101 and Comparing the causes and symptoms of Type I and type II Diabetes.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> Everything you need to know about Medishield Life https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/medishield-life/ Thu, 26 Aug 2021 00:37:10 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/?p=1270 Medishield Life is a low-cost medical insurance initiative administered by Central Provident Fund (CPF) to provide lifelong protection for all Singaporean citizens and Permanent Residents against large hospitalisation bills. It is designed to help Singaporeans pay for larger B2/C class wards hospitalisation bills.

Patients who choose to stay in other class wards (ie. A/B1), or in private hospitals can still use Medishield Life, just that the payout benefits are pegged based on the costs calculated by B2/C class wards.

What is the difference between Medishield Life and Medishield?

Medishield Life pays more, patient pays less

Medishield Life replaced Medishield in end 2015 to provide lifelong medical insurance coverage for all Singapore Citizens and PRs including those who already have a pre-existing condition.

Medishield-Life has enhanced benefits as compared to Medishield with 1) increased maximum claim limit, as well as 2) reduced co-insurance. MediShield Life’s co-insurance rates are reduced to 3-10% as compared to 10-20% of Medishield.

With higher claim limit and reduced co-insurance, Medishield can now pay for a larger portion of the hospital bills, and patients can use less Medisave/ cash to pay for their hospital bills.

To understand more about the differences between Medishield-Life and Medisave, read more about it here.

Medishield Life Premiums & Subsidies 

An insurance premium is the amount of money that an individual must pay for an insurance policy. According to the Ministry of Health, MediShield Life premiums are risk-pooled to support the payouts and benefits under MediShield-Life. Patients with serious pre-existing conditions like cancer will have to pay additional premiums for 10 years to reflect their higher risks.

However, the government provides extensive support to help keep premiums affordable.

  • For patients with serious pre-existing conditions, they only need to pay 30% of their additional premiums for 10 years, after which they will be paying the standard premium costs.
  • Premium Subsidies for the lower- to middle-income;
  • Pioneer Generation Subsidies for Pioneers;
  • Transitional Subsidies to ease the shift to MediShield-Life for Singapore Citizens; and
  • Additional Premium Support for those who are unable to afford their premiums even after premium subsidies.

Medishield-Life premiums are payable by Medisave.

Read related article: Essential Medisave facts every Singaporean should know.

Read related article: What is the difference between Medisave and Medishield Life?

About Jaga-Me

Jaga-Me is a home care service platform that brings nursing care and caregiving services to your doorstep, allowing your loved ones to recover at home. If you have a family member that is just discharged from the hospital and in need of a professionally trained caregiver/ nurse, or you require respite care, please do not hesitate to call us at 8498 4598, find us at our website here, or at our Facebook page here.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> What is COPD? https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/what-is-copd/ Thu, 27 May 2021 00:20:53 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/thecareissue/?p=2737

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. This lung and airways disease restricts the airways making it difficult to breathe. However, not many Singaporeans are aware of this disease. In fact, 60% of Singaporeans have not heard of it. It is also often misdiagnosed as a case of asthma.

There are two main forms of COPD:

1. Chronic Bronchitis

Involves a long-term cough with mucous

2. Emphysema

Involves a long-term damage to the lungs

Most people who experience COPD may often times experience both forms of the disease at the same time.

Causes

Smoking is the main cause of COPD. Smokers are affected by this condition in which their lungs are damaged by the prolonged effects of tobacco.

Other risk factors include:

    • Exposure to certain gases or fumes in the workplace
    • Exposure to heavy amounts of secondhand smoke and pollution
  • Frequent use of a cooking fire without proper ventilation

Symptoms

Symptoms may include the following but because the symptoms develop slowly, some people may not know that they have COPD.

Diagnosis

COPD is often misdiagnosed as asthma.

This may be the result of both conditions sharing  a variety of common symptoms, which can make it difficult to determine which condition patients maybe suffering from.

To diagnose a patient’s condition, the doctor will review his/her signs and symptoms, discuss family and medical history, and discuss any exposure to lung irritants — especially cigarette smoke. The doctor may then order several tests to confirm this diagnosis.

Spirometry

Spirometry measures the rate of air flow and estimates lung size. For the test, the patient will breathe multiple times, with regular and deep breaths, through a tube that is connected to a computer.

Other Tests

Your doctor may recommend other tests, such as A chest x ray or chest CT scan. These tests shows the structures within your chest, such as your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. The pictures can show signs of COPD. They also may show whether another condition, such as heart failure, is causing your symptoms.

At Jaga-Me we believe in making healthcare accessible and available to everyone. We provide personalised and curated care for your loved ones. If you need a trained medical escort to accompany your loved ones for their medical appointments or a trained nurse to do nursing procedures in the comfort of your home, let Jaga-Me share your caregiving responsibility.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> Comparing the causes and symptoms for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/comparing-the-causes-and-symptoms-for-type-1-and-type-2-diabetes/ Thu, 08 Apr 2021 00:12:56 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/?p=1337 Comparing the causes and symptoms for type 1 and type 2 diabetes

In Singapore, 1 in 9 people aged 18 to 69 suffer from Diabetes, making up a total of 11.3% of our entire nation.

Today, it is the leading cause for blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke among adults.

According to an article published on Straits Times, Diabetes cost Singapore more than $1 billion in 2010, and is expected to soar beyond $2.5 billion by 2050.

(read more about facts on diabetes which you may not know here)

So what exactly is Diabetes?

Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic medical condition, where essentially, the sugar levels in your blood is too high. When we consume food, our body would break down food into simpler sugars- glucose. This is when our pancreas would secrete a hormone called insulin that allows glucose to enter our cells to be expended as energy.

However, a patient with diabetes does not make or use insulin well. Hence, this leaves glucose in the bloodstream, causing a higher than normal blood sugar level.

The onset of diabetes can lead to many complications like blindness, heart problems and damaged kidneys. Patients with diabetes have to take insulin and are also much more susceptible to heart attacks, strokes, amputations, and other chronic illnesses.

There are 2 types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2:

Type 1 diabetes

Only 5% of diabetic patients have Type 1 diabetes. In this case, their body is incapable of producing insulin.

Type 1 diabetes causes

Their immune system destroys the body’s insulin producing cells. This is called an autoimmune response. Although diabetes can happen to anyone at any age, type 1 diabetes appear more commonly in children and young adults, and in patients with a family history of type 1 diabetes.

If you have a relative with Type 1 diabetes, remember to go for regular health screenings and blood tests.  This is important as a person with a family history of Type 1 diabetes has a higher risk of getting it.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes

  • Constantly thirsty/ dehydrated
  • Extreme lethargy, fatigue and tiredness
  • The need to urinate frequently
  • Blurry vision
  • Wounds that do not heal fast
  • Hunger
  • loss of weight without any reason

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the more common type of diabetes, where the body does not make enough insulin or use insulin well.

Causes of type 2 diabetes 

Type 2 diabetes can be caused by both genetic or environmental factors.

Genetic causes: Most patients with type 2 diabetes have a family history of type 2 diabetes and other medical problems such as obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes is also higher in certain race and ethnic groups such as Asian Americans, African descendants and Hispanics.

Environmental causes: A person’s diet and level of activity affects the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The more sugary foods you intake, and the less amount of exercise you engage in, will lead to increased risk of diabetes.

Pregnancy: A handful of women also develop diabetes during pregnancy called ‘gestational diabetes’. When a woman is pregnant, body becomes naturally resistant to insulin so that there is more available glucose to nourish the growing fetus. This isn’t a problem for many pregnant mums. Your body will react to its positive feedback mechanism, where if there is excess glucose, the pancreas will secrete more insulin to combat the increase.

However, when the pancreas cannot keep up with the increased demand for insulin during pregnancy, blood sugar levels will rise above normal levels. This leads to gestational diabetes.

Unlike the other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes will go away after the baby is born. However, it does increase the chances of developing diabetes in the future.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are not often obvious, which is why type 2 diabetes can go undiagnosed for years. However, the symptoms would usually be:

  • the need to urinate very frequently
  • thirst/ dehydration
  • blurred vision

Summarised differences between type 1 and 2 diabetes

Caring for a diabetes patient can be tough. As there is no current cure for diabetes, diabetes patients are largely restricted to certain life activities. Diabetes patients will also be reliant on medication and insulin for their entire lifetime. Here is where home care will bring value to families who need help with diabetes. Jaga-Me provides nursing care and respite care with much experience for patients who wish to recover at home.

Singapore’s healthcare scene is working towards making healthcare more accessible for every Singaporean. Government initiatives like this is able to help families be prepared for a rainy day and cope with heavy medical expenses. Even the advent of home care services like Jaga-Me are connecting families at home with healthcare, making it easier and more accessible for families to get the care they need and to recover at home. If you are a family that requires home care services and nursing care, do check us out on our webpage here.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

]]> 8 Diabetes Facts That You Should Know! https://jaga-me.com/thecareissue/diabetes-facts-you-should-know/ Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:01:28 +0000 https://www.jaga-me.com/?p=1295 In the recent National day rally 2017, one of the key issues raised by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was on Singapore’s war against diabetes. 

“It is precisely because you are not worried that I am worried. It is precisely because many people do not take diabetes seriously that it has become a serious problem,” PM Lee said in his speech at the rally.”

Diabetes is something that should not be overlooked anymore! Here are 8 facts about diabetes that you might not have known:

  1. 1 in 9 Singaporeans aged 18-69 have Diabetes
  2. 1 in 3 of these people do not even know they have Diabetes
  3. Out of all the patients suffering from Diabetes, only 5% suffer from type I Diabetes
  4. Type II Diabetes can be prevented by weight loss, eating healthy, and frequent 30 minutes exercise daily like brisk walking.
  5. Based on figures from the National Registry of Diseases, in 2014, about 1 in 2 heart attack cases had diabetes; 2 in 3 new kidney failure cases were due to diabetes, and 2 in 5 stroke cases had diabetes.
  6. Type 2 diabetes can remain undiagnosed for many years and the high blood glucose levels would have caused diabetes complications. People with Type 2 diabetes are often diagnosed as a result of having complications rather than because they suspect they have diabetes.
  7. Diabetes is the number 10th leading cause of death in Singapore accounting for 1.7 per cent of total deaths in 2011.
  8. There is no cure for diabetes, only disease management

Want to know more? We recommend reading Diabetes 101 and Comparing the causes and symptoms of Type I and type II Diabetes.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

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