From ‘drumming’ sessions to health post visits: How this 75-year-old is supported to age well in her Kallang neighbourhood

Madam Quek Lee Hai used to sit by her window every morning, waiting for time to pass. The 75-year-old retiree battled loneliness and boredom, and a complex medication regimen for her diabetes, hypertension and mobility issues.

Things began to look up when a friend connected her to the Adventist Active Centre in Kallang, with an NHG Health community health post (CHP) located within the centre.

The CHP’s community nurse, Cao Wenping, soon became a familiar face. During home visits, she would monitor Madam Quek’s chronic conditions and help sort through her confusing array of medications, organising them into a clearly labelled transparent pill box.

Ms Cao also gets in touch with the GPs at the Healthier SG GP clinic that Madam Quek visits to help the elderly woman keep her chronic conditions under control.

“I’m very grateful for the medical advice of my friendly doctor,” says Madam Quek. “Ms Cao also reminds me about healthier eating and connects me to community resources at the active ageing centre.”

Today, as an active resident, Madam Quek’s days look very different. She takes part in exercise ball drumming and painting classes, and looks forward to community dining sessions. She is also linked up with counsellors from social service agency O’Joy, who support her emotionally.

“These days, I am in better control of my health and feel lighter at heart,” Madam Quek shares with a smile.

Adding years of healthy life

Her story is a window into NHG Health’s wider impact on residents living in the 12 towns across central and northern Singapore – bringing care to their doorstep so they can live better, age well in place, and thrive in their communities. As a regional health manager, NHG Health has set an ambitious goal: to reclaim the last 10 years that individuals typically spend in poor health,

collectively adding 15 million years of healthy life for the 1.5 million residents it serves

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While hospitals such as Tan Tock Seng and Khoo Teck Puat remain anchors of quality healthcare, NHG Health works closely with family doctors and community partners so that every resident has one care plan personalised to his or her needs.

Through the 105 Communities of Care – networks of health and social care organisations in neighbourhoods – residents are supported by family doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals, who work closely with them to prevent illness and manage chronic conditions through their care plans.

CHPs, like the one Madam Quek frequents, provide touchpoints where residents of all ages can receive health checks, counselling and advice close to home.

Click here to locate a CHP near you.

Bringing preventive health closer to home and workplaces

NHG Health also helps working adults take charge of their health through preventive screening.

Ms Salinah Kader is thankful that NHG Health’s Mammobus screening programme caught her cancer early during a screening conducted near her former workplace in 2018.

Today, the 56-year-old is in remission. She is also part of a patient support group of 20 to 30 survivors who organise outings and art therapy sessions, and knit knockers for mastectomy patients.

“Early detection can really help save lives,” says Ms Salinah, the primary caregiver of her 86-year-old mother with dementia.

“Taking care of yourself through health screening allows you to better care for those around you.”

Besides organising health screenings, NHG Health also supports companies to enhance their employees’ health and well-being through programmes such as Healthy Communities @ Workplaces.

As part of the initiative, NHG Health acts as a health manager for participating companies. This involves assessing the workforce needs and curating interventions to address modifiable health risks. At DHL’s corporate office in Tai Seng, the intervention took the form of five one-hour lunchtime workshops for employees to pursue healthier eating habits together.

“I used to think that choosing “less sweet” drinks were good enough, but I learnt it’s best to go with zero sugar options,” says Ms Lindy Siew, 42, a senior human resources manager at DHL Express. “Now I avoid over-snacking too.”

Since the launch of the Healthy Communities @ Workplaces programme in early 2025, many  companies whose workforce totalled over 10,000 have come on board the programme.

Shaping healthier habits from young

NHG Health’s preventive health programmes also reach the young – starting in school canteens.

At Yishun Primary School, veteran school canteen vendor Sally Tan, 67, sources healthier ingredients through a centralised food ingredient ordering system and uses healthier recipes to prepare meals for students.

The centralised food ingredient ordering system and healthier recipes are part of the Healthy Meals in Schools Programme – Implementation Support Pack that was developed by NHG Health to help school canteen vendors comply with guidelines on nutrition, portion sizes and proportion of food groups for different age groups.

“The centralised ordering and new recipes give us confidence to cook healthier meals for the children. We feel like partners in the school’s effort to raise healthier children and it makes me happy to see students enjoy the new dishes and many are starting to eat more vegetables”, shares Madam Tan.

She adds: “It’s meaningful to know we’re not just running a stall but contributing to the health of future generations.”