Introduction Message

Geriatric Medicine is a unique specialty that specializes in caring for older adults with complex medical issues. Our patient-centered clinical care aims to maintain the function of the older adults, acknowledge the social component contributing to care while managing the medical issues at the same time Our programme seeks to train our residents to deliver quality healthcare to Singapore's rapidly growing ageing population and ultimately transit to become a specialist in this exciting field of medicine.

The NHG Geriatric Medicine Residency Programme is a 3-year training programme. In the first 2 years, the senior resident will complete compulsory core postings that grant them the skills and knowledge to function as a Geriatric Consultant in different settings of care. The final year of training further develops the resident's competency in geriatric care and allows them to explore specific fields of interest such as models of geriatric care, community geriatrics, research, and geriatric syndromes such as falls, incontinence, and dementia. Upon completion of the 3-year programme, the resident will achieve an accreditation by the Singapore Specialist Accreditation Board and become certified as a specialist in Geriatric Medicine.

The pilot Department of Geriatric Medicine was first established by Emeritus Dr FJ Jayaratnam in 1988 at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Geriatricians are heavily involved in clinical, translational, and health services research, which equip them with exceptional knowledge and skills to care for the elderly. Apart from establishing programmes and services for the acute care of the elderly, geriatricians also play an important role in the management of older adults across home-based, centre-based, and institutional care settings in the country. Increasingly, geriatricians are also involved in preventative care and population health approaches to look after the older adults in the community.