CENTRES 12th International Clinical Ethics Conference 2023
About
CENTRES Clinical Ethics Conference 2023 is on the theme “Ethical Challenges in Home & Community Care Settings” and will be held on 6th & 7th February at the Kent Ridge Guild House.
Continuing to live in their community is fundamental for the old to thrive despite frailty and illness. Care at home – the most common care setting for most people throughout life – is crucial to care systems in ageing societies. Home care systems rely on health and social care services and informal caregiving in the home where goals and standards of care are hard to pin down. This conference will focus on national policies, highlighting ethical issues and exploring ethical frameworks to enable participants to analyse and reflect upon ethical dilemmas that arise in practice on the ground.
Continuing to live in their community is fundamental for the old to thrive despite frailty and illness. Care at home – the most common care setting for most people throughout life – is crucial to care systems in ageing societies. Home care systems rely on health and social care services and informal caregiving in the home where goals and standards of care are hard to pin down. This conference will focus on national policies, highlighting ethical issues and exploring ethical frameworks to enable participants to analyse and reflect upon ethical dilemmas that arise in practice on the ground.
Session 1: Understanding the ethical landscape of home care
As national policies around ageing-in-place are being implemented, health and social care practitioners are confronting issues at the intersection of home care and community care. At this intersection lies choices and conflicts about daily care, long-term care relationships, and places of care for older adults in better or poorer health. This session gives voice to the wishes, needs and concerns of older adults, caregivers and care providers.
Learning objectives
Participants will learn about:
- national policies on ageing-in-place and its implementation
- complex ethical issues that arise in home and community care settings and how to evaluate those complex ethical issues from different perspectives
Session 2: Values in care – contexts, transitions and intersections
The ageing person’s changing relationships and care arrangements signals a need for personal, familial and state planning. This session elaborates on an ethical framework for good care at home, with a focus on supporting personal agency and choices about care arrangements, supporting long-term care relationships in the family and community, and clarifying quality of care and responsibilities for care.
Learning objectives
Participants will learn about:
- ethical frameworks for good care at home
- quality of care and responsibilities for care in the home and community care setting, and
- personal agency and choices about care arrangements, while supporting long-term care relationships in the family and community.
Session 3: Ethical issues in decision-making
From planning for care arrangements in old age, we turn to the implications of frailty, dementia and cognitive impairment on the ethics of decision-making in home and community care. This session also considers new issues prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic on lockdown policies and the fate of older adults at home.
Learning objectives
Participants will learn about:
- the ethics of decision-making in home care and community care when someone is frail, has dementia or is cognitively impaired, and
- new issues arising from the recent Covid epidemic and its impact on older adults in home and community care settings.
Session 4: Moral distress, social and emotional issues
This session explores the social realities of loneliness in life transitions including old age, and considers the social supports needed for preserving old age independence and dignity in family and community living.
Learning objectives
Participants will learn about:
- loneliness is and the impact loneliness has on older adults, and
- can be done to alleviate loneliness to preserve old age independence and dignity in family and community living
Who should attend + CPE
Doctors, nurses, medical social workers, allied health professionals, academics, care workers, policy makers, older persons, individuals caring for someone at home or in a community care setting (befrienders, caregivers).
Continuing professional education points: Will be awarded for doctors, pharmacists and nurses.
Continuing professional education points: Will be awarded for doctors, pharmacists and nurses.
Programme
DAY 1
Session 1: 6th February 2023: Understanding the ethical landscape of home care
Session Chairperson: Dr Jacqueline Chin
| Time | Mode | Speakers/Panelists | Title/Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.00 to 9.10 | Welcome | Adj. A/P Raymond Chua | Opening remarks |
| 9.10 to 9.50 | Talk | Dr Jacqueline Chin | Ageing-in-place and the ethics of home care |
| 9.50 to 10.30 | Talk | Dr Ng Wai Chong | The goals of home care – challenges and opportunities from the care provider perspective |
| 10.30 to 11.00 | Break | ||
| 11.00 to 12.30 | Panel | Mr Martin Chew Dr Chong Poh Heng Dr Julian Lim Dr Ng Wai Chong Mrs Elizabeth Seah |
Vulnerabilities, interests, motivations and ways of flourishing in old age |
| 12.30 to 1.30 | Lunch |
Session 2: 11th January 2024 (Thursday): Psychiatric / Mental Health Issues
Session Chairperson: A/P Michael Dunn
| Time | Mode | Speakers/Panelists | Title/Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.30 to 2.10 | Talk | A/Prof Michael Dunn | Distinctive duties in home and community care |
| 2.10 to 3.00 | Panel | Mr Stephen Chan Mr Dwayne Loo Ms Loo Wei Leng Ms Tabitha Ong |
Who is a vulnerable person at home? (Part 1) |
| 3.00 to 3.30 | Break | ||
| 3.30 to 4.20 | Panel | Mr Stephen Chan Mr Dwayne Loo Ms Loo Wei Leng Ms Tabitha Ong |
Who is a vulnerable person at home? (Part 2) |
| 4.20 to 4.40 | Summary |
DAY 2
Session 3: 7th February 2023: Ethical issues in decision-making
Session Chairperson: Dr Sumytra Menon
| Time | Mode | Speakers/Panelists | Title/Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.00 to 9.10 | Opening | Welcome back | |
| 9.10 to 9.50 | Talk | Ms Emily Ong | Living to the best you can with dementia |
| 9.50 to 10.30 | Talk | Prof Chin Jing Jih | Ethical issues in care planning for persons with dementia, cognitive impairment and frailty |
| 10.30 to 11.00 | Break | ||
| 11.00 to 12.40 | Panel | Prof Chin Jing Jih Mr Jason Foo Mr Dwayne Loo Ms Loo Wei Leng A/P Philip Yap |
Everyday decisions and planning for dementia – What can older adults and caregivers at home expect of good care planning for dementia |
| 12.40 to 1.40 | Lunch |
Session 4: 7th February 2023: Moral distress, social and emotional issues
Session Chairperson: Prof Julian Savulescu
| Time | Mode | Speakers/Panelists | Title/Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.40 to 2.20 | Talk | Dr Jacqueline Chin | What should be done about loneliness? |
| 2.20 to 3.00 | Talk | A/P Angelique Chan | Old-age loneliness in Singapore |
| 3.00 to 3.30 | Break | ||
| 3.30 to 5.10 | Panel | A/P Angelique Chan Dr Noreen Chan Prof Kalyani Mehta Dr Kenny Tan Ms Yong Leong Ying |
What is to be done about unwanted old age loneliness? |
| 5.10 to 5.30 | Summary | Closing of Conference |
Speakers
Dr Angelique Chan
A/Prof Angelique Chan holds joint tenure appointments as Associate Professor in the Signature Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, and in the Department of Sociology at the National University of Singapore. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Centre for Ageing Research and Education at Duke-NUS Medical School. She is also Director of the Tsao Foundation Ageing Research Initiative which is housed within the Department of Sociology.
Dr Jacqueline Chin
Dr Jacqueline Chin is a bioethicist and currently teaching in the graduate programme of the Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. Her research has addressed national and globally-relevant capacity-building in biomedical ethics including What Doctors Say About Care of the Dying, a study of doctors’ perspectives on end-of-life decisions (2010–2011); Making Difficult Decisions with Patients and Families (2014), vol. 1 of an online casebook (www.bioethicscasebook.sg) featured in a collection of papers on Bioethics Education 2015 by the US Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues; and vol. 2, Caring for Older People in An Ageing Society (2017), which engages with ethical challenges of eldercare in community care settings, which has been modelled in cities like Hong Kong and Aberdeen. Dr Chin is also an advisory board member of the University of Malaya-Johns Hopkins University Master of Health Research Ethics programme and Deputy Secretary of the Singapore chapter of the Rhodes Trust.
Chin Jing Jih
Prof. Chin Jing Jih graduated from the National of University of Singapore and completed his specialist training in Geriatric Medicine. Professor Chin is Chairman Medical Board and Senior Consultant Geriatrician at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and Adjunct Associate Professor with the NUS Centre for Biomedical Ethics.
Dr Michael Dunn
Dr. Michael Dunn is an Associate Professor and the Director of Undergraduate Education at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics in the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. He works across bioethics, health care ethics, medical law, socio-legal studies, and health/social care services research. He specialises in teaching ethics and law to medical students and to health and social care professionals.
Emily Ong
Emily is serving on the Alzheimer Disease International (ADI) Board of Directors since June 2022; SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network; ADI Accreditation Team; WHO Global Dementia Observatory Focus Group; Dementia Alliance International Environmental Design Special Interest Group as Project Lead; and has been a co-facilitator of Dementia Singapore Voices for Hope program since Aug 2019.
Dr Ng Wai Chong
Dr. Ng Wai Chong is a veteran community aged-care physician with more than 20 years experience. He is recognised as a thought-leader in healthy ageing – from clinical work, policy development and implementation to care system design. He is the chair and member of various government committees including the ElderShield Review Committee, Vulnerable Adults Review Board, and Board of Visitors (Office of Public Guardian).
Panelists
Dr Noreen Chan
Dr Noreen Chan obtained her medical training in Singapore, England and Australia, and was Medical Director and CEO of Dover Park Hospice before joining the National University Hospital in 2008, where she is now Senior Consultant and Head of the Division of Palliative Care. Her other appointments include Chair of the Palliative Medicine Subspecialty Training Committee; Co-chair of the Supportive and Palliative Care Sub-Committee of the National Advisory Committee on Cancer Care; member of the National ACP (Advance Care Planning) Steering Committee; Board member of the Chapter of Pain Medicine Physicians, Academy of Medicine Singapore.
Her interests include pain and symptom management; the interface between Palliative care and Oncology; clinical decision making and ethical issues at the end of life; Spirituality in healthcare; and Palliative care education at all levels.
Her interests include pain and symptom management; the interface between Palliative care and Oncology; clinical decision making and ethical issues at the end of life; Spirituality in healthcare; and Palliative care education at all levels.
Mr Stephen Chan
Mr Stephen Chan is the Director of Care Services, Dementia Singapore (DSG). He was previously the Centre Manager of New Horizon Centre (Tampines) and the Head of Caregiver Support Services. His work experience in the eldercare sector includes providing direct care as an Occupational Therapist, supervising and mentoring staff, and overseeing operations at the day-care centre. He managed home-based and community-based support programmes and had direct experience supporting caregivers and persons with dementia in the community.
Mr Martin Chew was appointed Director (Aged Care Services) from 15 Nov 2021. He oversees the
strategy, planning and development of aged care services, spanning across both home and
community-based services as well as palliative care.Prior to this, Martin was Deputy Director (Adoption and Engagement), from the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO). Martin also served at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Joint Operations Group and was a uniformed officer with the Singapore Prison Service.
strategy, planning and development of aged care services, spanning across both home and
community-based services as well as palliative care.Prior to this, Martin was Deputy Director (Adoption and Engagement), from the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO). Martin also served at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Joint Operations Group and was a uniformed officer with the Singapore Prison Service.
Dr Chong Poh Heng
Dr Chong Poh Heng is Medical Director of HCA Hospice Limited and Vice Chair of the Singapore Hospice Council. His passion lies in advocating for equitable access to palliative care for all, particularly in ensuring that people with serious illness can receive quality end-of-life care in their own homes. He was the adult category winner of the Leader of Good award at the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards ceremony in 2021.
Dr Raymond Chua
Adj A/Prof (Dr) Raymond Chua is a Registered Public Health Specialist and Fellow with the Academy of Medicine. He is currently the Deputy Director of Medical Services, Health Regulation Group overseeing the regulation of healthcare services, premises and health digitalization in Singapore, so as to safeguard public health, assure patient safety and ensure healthcare innovations. He is concurrently designated by Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore (CSA) as the Assistant Commissioner for Cybersecurity in Healthcare, to assist CSA in tracking and enhancing the cybersecurity policies relating to Critical Information Infrastructures and medical devices in Singapore. Raymond also chairs PSD’s Regulatory Advisory Group since October 2019 to provide guidance and broad direction in the use of regulatory tools and capability development of regulators in the public service. Besides these, he is also a Council Member of the Singapore Medical Council and Singapore Accreditation Council, as well as an Adjunct Associate Professor Appointment to Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
Mr Jason Foo
Mr Jason Foo is the Chief Executive Officer of Dementia Singapore Ltd (previously known as Alzheimer’s Disease Association), a social service agency set up in 1990 as a result of the growing concern for the dementia prevalence affecting Singapore. With a vision of building a dementia inclusive society in Singapore, Dementia Singapore provides a whole host of programmes and services to tackle the challenges of dementia and to support people with dementia and their families.
Jason had served on the Board of Alzheimer’s Disease Association as a volunteer for 22 years before taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2012. He is a Chartered Accountant by training with more than 25 years of experience in senior positions in the banking and financial industry before making the career switch to the social services sector.
Jason had served on the Board of Alzheimer’s Disease Association as a volunteer for 22 years before taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2012. He is a Chartered Accountant by training with more than 25 years of experience in senior positions in the banking and financial industry before making the career switch to the social services sector.
Dr Julian Lim
Dr Julian Lim is a family physician and has been in private practice for 28 years. He runs a solo practice in Teban Gardens, serving the residents in that community.
He is actively involved in the graduate diploma, master and fellowship programmes of the College of Family Physicians Singapore. He was the past programme director of the MMed(Family Medicine) college programme. He also teaches medical students during their family medicine attachments in his clinic.
Dr Lim is currently a council member with the College of Family Physicians Singapore. He also serves as a member of the Family Medicine Training Accreditation Committee as well the Family Physician Accreditation Board.
He is actively involved in the graduate diploma, master and fellowship programmes of the College of Family Physicians Singapore. He was the past programme director of the MMed(Family Medicine) college programme. He also teaches medical students during their family medicine attachments in his clinic.
Dr Lim is currently a council member with the College of Family Physicians Singapore. He also serves as a member of the Family Medicine Training Accreditation Committee as well the Family Physician Accreditation Board.
Dwayne Loo
Dwayne Loo participated in Dementia Singapore Voices for Hope program, Cohort 10, in 2022.
He is a former German Speaking Leading Steward with our National Airline for close to 30 years.
He is a former German Speaking Leading Steward with our National Airline for close to 30 years.
Loo Wei Leng
Loo Wei Leng participated in Dementia Singapore Voices for Hope program, Cohort 10, in 2022.
She worked with various MNCs in the area of end-to-end supply chain management within the retail and wholesale distribution of consumer products.
She worked with various MNCs in the area of end-to-end supply chain management within the retail and wholesale distribution of consumer products.
Dr Kalyani Mehta
Dr Kalyani Mehta is former head of the Master of Gerontology degree program at Singapore University of Social Sciences. She launched the first PhD in Gerontology in Singapore in 2017. Dr Mehta is an outstanding researcher on ageing issues and she has published 6 books and more than 50 articles in highly reputed social work and gerontology journals. She has been consultant to international and regional organisations and is well recognized internationally for her academic publications. She has served as Nominated member of Singapore Parliament from 2007-09. Her research interests range from ageing- related policies, retirement, mature workers, gerontechnology, family caregivers of seniors and intergenerational relationships. Currently, she is Associate Faculty at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and contributes as Justice of the Peace at the national level. In her volunteer capacity, she advocates for caregivers through her involvement in Silver Caregivers Co-operative Limited.
Tabitha Ong
Tabitha has more than 20 years of experience in social services and statutory protective service. She is currently leading Adult Protective Service (APS), a part of Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore. APS is a key contributor to Singapore’s national policies and practices in managing vulnerable adult abuse and family violence cases. APS also provides statutory intervention for families where vulnerable adults (aged 18 and above) have suffered harm or are at high risk of harm due to intra-familial abuse, neglect and self-neglect.
Dr Kenny Tan
Dr Kenny Tan was appointed Chief Executive Officer of St Luke’s ElderCare in August 2016. Established in both clinical and healthcare management, his previous role as Chief Operating Officer for St Luke’s Hospital and St Luke’s ElderCare had brought the community hospital and eldercare centres through capacity growth in infrastructure and services. For his work, he was awarded the prestigious Healthcare Humanity Awards in 2016 and, most recently, the Public Service Medal for his contribution to Singapore’s fight against COVID-19.
Dr Philip Yap
Dr Philip Yap is a senior consultant geriatrician & palliative care physician in the dept of geriatric medicine, KTPH. He is also an adjunct associate professor with YLL SoM NUS & LKC SoM NTU. His interests are in dementia, long term / end-of-life care & support of caregivers.
Yong Leong Ying
Leong Ying has been with the Tsao Foundation since 2012 working in the Counselling and Coaching Department and was seconded to lead Community Care Management Service in 2018. In 2020, she is also the lead for the Dementia Care System Services. She provides clinical supervision to the Care Managers. She also provides psychosocial input to the teams during care planning sessions. She was previous working as a Principal MSW in a Restructure Hospital before joining the Foundation.
Directions to the venue
Conference Venue Address:
Kent Ridge Guild House
9 Kent Ridge Drive
Singapore 119241 (Map)
Public Transport Information:
Nearest MRT Station: Kent Ridge (CC24)
Bus Services at Kent Ridge Terminal: 10, 33, 95, 151, 151E, 189, 200
Bus Services at Heng Mui Keng Terrace: 10, 30, 30E, 51, 143, 183, 188, 200
Parking Information: Guests arriving by car can park directly opposite Kent Ridge Guild House at Car Park 15.
Note: Click here for the map and more public transport information.
Kent Ridge Guild House
9 Kent Ridge Drive
Singapore 119241 (Map)
Public Transport Information:
Nearest MRT Station: Kent Ridge (CC24)
Bus Services at Kent Ridge Terminal: 10, 33, 95, 151, 151E, 189, 200
Bus Services at Heng Mui Keng Terrace: 10, 30, 30E, 51, 143, 183, 188, 200
Parking Information: Guests arriving by car can park directly opposite Kent Ridge Guild House at Car Park 15.
Note: Click here for the map and more public transport information.
Videos
Ageing-In-Place and the Ethics of Home Care – A talk by Dr Jacqueline Chin
The Goals of Home Care — Challenges and Opportunities from the Care Provider Perspective – A talk by Dr Ng Wai Chong
Distinctive Duties in Home and Community Care – A talk by A/P Michael Dunn
Living to the best you can with Dementia – A talk by Ms Emily Ong
Ethical Issues in Care Planning for Persons with Dementia, Cognitive Impairment and Frailty – A talk by Prof Chin Jing Jih
Old-Age Loneliness in Singapore – A talk by A/P Angelique Chan
Vulnerabilities, Interests, Motivations and ways of Flourishing in Old Age – A Panel Discussion
Who is a Vulnerable Person at Home? (Part 1) – A Panel Discussion
Who is a Vulnerable Person at Home? (Part 2) – A Panel Discussion
What can Older Adults and Caregivers at Home Expect of Good Care Planning for Dementia – A Panel Discussion
What is to be done about Unwanted Old Age Loneliness? – A Panel Discussion
Photos
Day 1
Day 2
