"I didn't know how to respond without upsetting her", a sentiment shared by Ms Lim, who like many caregivers are struggling to communicate with loved ones living with dementia. But an innovative solution is changing the narrative.
In Singapore, where 1 in 11 people aged 60 and above live with dementia, the numbers tell only part of the story. Behind each statistic is a family learning to navigate a new reality as their loved one's cognitive abilities decline. By 2040, over 152,000 families will face this journey.
Recognising that dementia impacts the whole family, the Institute of Mental Health’s (IMH) innovations extend beyond patient care to support caregivers in their journey.
"Traditional classroom training isn't enough anymore. Caregivers need a hands-on way to practice communication strategies in real-world situations."
-Ms Ong Xin Ling, Senior Occupational Therapist, IMH
This led to the creation of Play2Care, an innovative app co-developed by the IMH and Taggle Pte Ltd. Play2Care transforms clinical expertise into interactive learning through gamification. At its heart is T.A.N.G.O, an evidence-based communication strategy developed by IMH clinicians. “We recreated interactive realistic scenarios that Singapore caregivers face often”, says Mr Lee Seng Beo, Chief Executive Officer of Taggle. “These scenarios help caregivers develop natural responses they can use in real situation.”
The app immerses caregivers in five realistic scenarios set in familiar Singapore settings – from HDB flats to local cuisines. Through these scenarios, caregivers learn to master the T.A.N.G.O approach:
- Tender approach: Offer comfort and reassurance by being patient and supportive through expression and body language
- Acknowledge: Validate their emotions and unmet needs
- No challenging: Instead of challenging their views, do listen and orientate them to reality by providing cues and prompts about the current date, time and location.
- Get into simple conversation: Accommodate their abilities by using familiar phrases and expressions, short and simple sentences, and give clear choices.
- Optimise environment: Make environment adaptions to promote meaningful engagement, comfort and independence. For example, having large contrasting-coloured visual reminders in familiar places in the house such as clocks and calendar helps them stay connected with the present and be oriented to reality.
Beyond communication strategies, the app features engaging mini games like “Find the Hidden Purse” and “Spot the Difference”. These games create opportunities for caregivers to bond with their loved ones while stimulating cognitive skills.
Initial testing with caregivers showed promising results. In a small-scale pilot with 5 caregivers showed all participants’ overall Dementia Attitude Scale scores improved after using the app. 80% felt more comfortable interacting with persons with dementia, and 60% showed improved knowledge of the condition.
“Our Play2Care app allows us to reach out to more caregivers on the T.A.N.G.O communication strategy in a fun and engaging manner, and at their own pace and convenience. We aim to help caregivers better interact with their loved ones and avoid burnout in their daily dementia caregiving.”
-Dr Yao Feng Yuan, Senior Consultant and Chief, Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, IMH
Play2Care is now available free on Apple App Store and Google Play. For families navigating the dementia journey, it offers more than just techniques – it provides practical tools to maintain meaningful connections with their loved ones.
