Last Aid® launches in Singapore
The Life Review launches Last Aid Training in Partnership with Caregivers Alliance Limited and The National Kidney Foundation
First-in-Asia Availability of Last Aid Course aims to increase End-of-Life Literacy in Singapore
“A dying person spends less than 5% of the time in front of a doctor or a nurse. 95% of the time, a dying person spends time alone, or with family or friends or their animal companion.” - Professor Allan Kellehear, founder of the Compassionate Communities movement
Singapore, 6 August, 2024 — The Life Review is pleased to announce the launch of Last Aid training in Singapore, marking its debut in Asia. This programme educates the community about the basics of caring for someone at the end of their life, with the aim of increasing literacy on critical topics such as palliative care, death, dying and bereavement.
"As Singapore transitions towards a super-aged society by 2026, there will be a significant increase in the number of people giving care to seniors," said Ms Tan Ming Li, Founder of The Life Review. "Coupled with a higher incidence of chronic diseases, the demand for palliative care services is expected to rise dramatically. Last Aid will be a crucial step in preparing our community to meet these challenges."
Why This is Needed Now
A 2014 Lien Foundation survey highlighted a stark contrast between the desires of individuals and the reality of end-of-life care. While 77% of respondents expressed a wish to die at home, only 27% achieve this. Additionally, only half (53%) were comfortable discussing their own death, with many expressing a desire for a platform to talk about death in the community.
Last Aid prepares attendees to be more comfortable and confident supporting family and community members with issues they face during end-of-life. Instructors provide practical tips on providing comfort to someone who is dying, and what they can do to plan for your own and their family's future.
Each in-person course is delivered over a four-hour period, with time allocated to both education and reflection. Topics include facing mortality, grief support, advance care planning and decision-making, symptom management and the all-important cultural aspects of death and bereavement.
The topics discussed are delivered in four sections:
1. Dying as a normal part of life
2. Planning Ahead
3. Relieving Suffering
4. Final Goodbyes
Last Aid was developed in 2008 by Dr. Georg Bollig, an esteemed emergency care physician and consultant in Palliative Medicine. Since its inception, over 60,000 individuals have participated in the course, with more than 4,500 trainers facilitating the programme across 21 countries, including Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Lithuania, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Slovenia, Scotland, and now Singapore. The Life Review holds the exclusive licence for Last Aid in Singapore, ensuring the programme’s quality and relevance for the local context.
"Last Aid is important as First Aid”, said Dr. Georg Bollig, founder of Last Aid. “The introduction of Last Aid in Singapore is a significant milestone in advancing end-of-life care education in Asia. Our goal is to equip as many people as possible with the knowledge and skills to support their loved ones through the final stages of life, fostering a culture of compassion and understanding."
The training is currently being offered to caregivers of NKF patients and attendees of CAL’s Caregivers-to-Caregivers Dementia programme, but will at a later date be open to members of the public.
Caring for the Caregivers
With our rapidly ageing population, the pressure on the ‘sandwich generation’—those caring for both their children and elderly parents—will significantly increase. Gaining a deeper understanding of end-of-life matters and learning how to navigate them effectively can greatly contribute to better mental health and reduce complications associated with grief. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to handle these challenging situations, we can foster a more resilient and compassionate society. NKF Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tim Oei said, "Providing caregivers with the necessary education and tools for end-of-life care is essential to ensuring that they are prepared for these responsibilities. Empowering caregivers not only helps them provide better care for their loved ones but also supports their own mental and emotional well-being. This aligns with NKF's mission of giving life and hope, as we strive to improve the quality of life for patients and their families during the most challenging times."
"Caring for individuals with dementia presents unique challenges, especially towards the end of life," said Mr Tim Lee, CEO at Caregivers Alliance Limited. "The Last Aid course will be an invaluable resource for our caregivers, equipping them with the necessary skills and understanding to provide compassionate and effective care during this critical phase."
The Life Review is a social impact organisation dedicated to normalising conversations about death, dying, and bereavement through education and community engagement. The organisation offers a variety of platforms for dialogue, empowering the community to navigate this inevitable aspect of life with confidence and understanding.
With the introduction of Last Aid in Singapore, the Life Review hopes to foster a shift towards a more compassionate and informed society.
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About The Life Review
The Life Review is a social impact organisation dedicated to normalising conversations about death, dying, and bereavement through education and community engagement. We offer diverse platforms for dialogues, engaging and empowering the community with the knowledge and skills to navigate this inevitable aspect of life.
The Life Review organises a variety of events, including Death Over Dinner and Unseen Grief, and holds the exclusive licence for the Last Aid programme in Singapore, bringing the course to Asia for the first time.
For more information and programme schedules, visit www.thelifereview.org
About Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL)
Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL) is the only non-profit organisation in Singapore dedicated to meeting the needs of caregivers of persons with mental health issues through training and support. As their journey can be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding, CAL’s mission is to engage, equip and empower them to achieve a high level of well-being and resilience.
The Caregivers-to-Caregivers Programme for Persons with Mental Health Issues (C2C-PMHI) is CAL’s signature training programme. It is a fully funded 12-week course for caregivers to gain in-depth understanding of mental health conditions, and enable them to care for their loved ones better through learning about self-care, communication, resilience building, advocacy and available community resources.
CAL also offers 8-week Dementia and Eating Disorder programmes, as well as a Young Caregiver Programme for those aged between 15 and 35.
For more information about CAL, visit www.cal.org.sg.
About The National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
NKF strives to be an advocate and integrator for kidney health and holistic care for the community, by the community. While supporting kidney failure patients with quality dialysis treatment and integrated care, its greater mission lies in preventing or delaying kidney failure.
Some 500,000 people in Singapore suffer from kidney disease and are at higher risk of progressing towards kidney failure. Every day, we witness the struggle of 6 individuals affected by kidney failure and require lifelong dialysis to sustain their lives. NKF aims to arrest this disturbing trend by focusing on upstream education and prevention – in collaboration with the community at large, schools and its partners in the healthcare ecosystem, to help people understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
NKF supports more than 5,700 patients and beneficiaries, about 60% of the total dialysis patient population in Singapore, by providing life-saving dialysis treatment and integrated care to meet patients’ physical, nutritional, and psychosocial needs. Through NKF’s mission of Giving Life & Hope, NKF empowers patients to take ownership of their medical condition to lead fulfilling lives, contribute to families and the society.
For more information about NKF, visit www.nkfs.org