08/12/2025
Population ageing is a phenomenon worldwide, and a whole-of-society approach needs to be in place to support healthy ageing.
Researchers from Singapore General Hospital, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Duke-NUS Medical School conducted a study to describe the development, implementation, and early outcomes of HealthStart – an intergenerational, layperson-led health coaching programme – and summarise operational lessons to guide similar models in Asian communities.
Their findings showed that HealthStart significantly improved primary care follow-up among older adults and highlighted key lessons for scaling similar programmes. These included the importance of rigorous volunteer selection and training, tailoring coaching intensity to participant readiness, tapping on community assets for sustainability, embedding social prescribing to address wider determinants of health, aligning closely with national population health policies such as Healthier SG, and cultivating meaningful intergenerational relationships that benefit both volunteers and participants.
Read more in JMIR Formative Research: https://bit.ly/46NPW5M
AMC researchers involved: Xiaoting Huang, Shu Ting, Audrey Kwan, Pei Zhen, Lynn Teo, Nerice, Hui Wen Ngiam, Si Qi Lim, Jaichandra Kharuna, Lian Leng Low, Kennedy Yao Yi Ng
Collaborators: Ka Shing Yow (National University Health System - NUHS), Jin Ye Yeo, Jie Xin Lim, Meng Han Lim, Aaron Tang (TriGen Singapore), Haikel Lim, Angeline Tey (National Healthcare Group (NHG))
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