A new dementia engagement programme using heritage objects seeks to help seniors with mild to moderate dementia stimulate their memories and improve their emotional well-being. The initiative, developed by NTUC Health with clinical guidance from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and research support from the Geriatric Education and Research Institute (GERI), incorporates items from Singapore’s past decades alongside digital tools to encourage recollection and social interaction.
Launched in September 2024, the programme leverages physical artefacts sourced from the National Heritage Board, including vinyl records, old movie tickets, and picture kits reflecting the period from the 1950s to the 1980s. Complementing these are a digital application featuring thematic images and audio clips designed to spark conversations among participants. The eight-week structured sessions are conducted once weekly, each lasting about 45 minutes, and are facilitated by trained staff who guide seniors in recalling personal and shared memories.
A pilot study carried out by GERI between October 2024 and March 2025 across four NTUC Health daycare centres found promising results. Participants showed marked improvements in mood and expressiveness, with 72% sustaining positive emotional states after completing the programme. The study involved qualitative interviews with care staff and observations of 25 seniors attending the sessions, which were led by two facilitators.
Yu Chou Chuen, who directed the pilot study before taking a role as deputy head of gerontology programmes at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, highlighted the power of simple stimuli in triggering memories. “Through just looking at a simple picture, they can start to sing songs and talk about movies that they liked back then,” he said. The programme aims to reactivate memories related to family life, cultural contrasts between past and present, and sensory experiences such as sounds and smells.
At a session held on October 19 at the NTUC Health Senior Day Care in Jurong West, facilitators engaged participants using a mix of Mandarin, Hokkien, and Malay to encourage discussion. Senior community care associate Beh Swee Suan and dementia practitioner Kuo Yen-Chun used personalized approaches to include both vocal and quieter individuals, with participants sharing reminiscences such as attending movies at the historic Cathay cinema. Beh noted that some previously reserved seniors gradually became more communicative during the programme.
NTUC Health currently has 10 trained facilitators for the initiative and plans to expand it to 27 daycare centres by 2027. Cindy Koe, manager of dementia care at NTUC Health, said that as just over half of the organisation’s 2,400 seniors at these centres live with dementia, broader incorporation of heritage-based materials into their activities could enhance engagement and quality of life. This reflects a growing emphasis on heritage resources as a valuable tool in dementia care programming.