Yishun Community Hospital

12/01/2026

What do occupational therapists actually carry around all day? 🤔

This Singapore Occupational Therapy Day, we celebrate our occupational therapists who support patients to participate in meaningful daily activities through thoughtful assessment, creative adaptations, and compassionate care.

Turns out… some tools just refuse to stay in their pockets 😅

09/01/2026

𝗜𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

When Senior Occupational Therapist Mona Mok cared for a terminally ill zi char chef, she could see how much cooking meant to him. Alongside medical care, she focused on how he could continue doing what mattered most – cooking his signature prawn paste chicken for the team.

Mona works at Yishun Community Hospital’s Inpatient Hospice Palliative Care Service, supporting patients to engage in meaningful activities while preserving their sense of personhood and dignity. Beyond direct patient care, she also mentors junior staff in her person-centred approach.

“A typical day starts with getting to know my patients beyond their diagnosis – who they are, what matters to them, and what gives their life meaning,” she shares.

To complement rehabilitation exercises, Mona introduced mahjong sessions to encourage movement, engagement, and connection. Patients walked faster to the table, gained better shoulder mobility, stayed out of bed longer, and became more animated and socially engaged – even jokingly asking her to “go home first” because the game took so long.

With a former serviceman living with dementia who was often agitated, she developed a simple ritual. She greeted him with a salute, and he would salute back. Colleagues initially found it odd, but they watched as this confused patient calmed down and became more engaged. One day, he shared: "I am happy every time I see you."

Returning to the chef’s story, Mona recognised that his identity was deeply tied to his craft and worked with him to find a way he could still cook despite his physical limitations. As he was unable to stand for long, Mona made simple modifications to his movements, ensuring that he prepared most of his dish while seated, standing only for the final frying. When he served his prawn paste chicken to the team, the pride in his eyes was unmistakable. “In that moment, he was not a patient; he was a chef, sharing joy and love through his cooking.”

These experiences drive Mona to keep growing. She's pursuing a master's degree in Holistic Palliative Care, driven not just by professional requirements but by a genuine desire to better serve her patients.

Away from the hospital, she finds peace in making tea. "Palliative care has taught me to become more comfortable with uncertainty — learning to slow down, sit in silence, and be fully present," Mona reflects.

For her, meaningful care begins with curiosity, presence, and truly seeing the person.

01/01/2026

Here’s to a healthy, hopeful, and happy 2026! 🌈 ❤️ 🥳

25/12/2025

From all of us at Yishun Community Hospital, may this festive season bring you cherished moments with loved ones, good health, and happiness that lasts well into the new year! 🎄✨❤️

16/12/2025

Healthcare workers show up every day with dedication, professionalism and care, even when faced with abuse and harassment.

In this CNA commentary, Prof Chua Hong Choon, CEO of KTPH and YCH, reflects on his own experience as a junior doctor and highlights a sobering reality: nearly one in three healthcare professionals in Singapore witnesses or experiences abuse weekly.

Yet, he also reminds us why many continue to serve. It is the meaning they find in caring for others, and the kindness shown by patients and caregivers, even in difficult moments.

At our hospitals, we have adopted the “3Rs” framework to protect our frontline teams: Recognise early signs of abuse, Respond to de-escalate situations, and Report all incidents so action can be taken.

As Prof Chua puts it, “There is, and never will be, an excuse to abuse those who dedicate themselves to healing others.”

Creating safer healthcare environments is a shared responsibility, one that involves healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers alike, grounded in mutual respect, empathy and kindness. 🤝

Healthcare professionals have stepped up in the face of overwhelming demands, but resilience should never be mistaken as tolerance for abuse, says hospital CEO Chua Hong Choon.

15/12/2025

San San Win Thant, a senior staff nurse at YCH, was featured on CNA938 discussing her recognition at the Healthcare Humanity Awards 2025! 🎉

San San was among 17 individuals from NHG Health who were recognised for their compassion-driven excellence in Singapore's public healthcare system. Known for her positive attitude and dedication to patient care, San San even learnt Mandarin from her patients and colleagues to better connect with them.

Catch her radio interview to hear more about her inspiring work:

NHG Health recently honoured 17 individuals and 6 teams at the Healthcare Humanity Awards 2025 — recognising compassion-driven excellence across Singapore’s public healthcare system. Hui Wong speaks with two of this year’s standout recipients, Woodlands Health’s Senior Art Therapist, Roxanne

12/12/2025

𝗜𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

“When patients start improving, you can see the signs — maybe they can walk again or smile more often — seeing that is priceless.” For Samillano Reynalyn Lising, these moments of breakthrough make those challenging days worthwhile.

At 39, Reynalyn has spent the past four years as a Senior Care Support Associate at Yishun Community Hospital, but her journey into healthcare began with a childhood dream. "I always dreamt of becoming a nurse when I was young,” she recalls. “But due to personal circumstances, I had to give up that dream.” However, her passion for caring for others never wavered, eventually leading her to a career where she could still make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

“I've always enjoyed helping others, especially the elderly. I used to take care of my own family members, and that inspired me to join healthcare,” she shares. Though her path took a different turn than originally planned, her calling to care for others remained strong.

Her typical day starts with receiving patient handovers from the previous shift, then diving into the hands-on work of helping patients with daily activities like feeding, bathing, and mobility support. But Reynalyn's role goes far beyond basic caregiving. “We help patients with daily activities, but more importantly, we encourage them to do as much as they can on their own. It might be something small like walking a few more steps each day or eating by themselves. Supporting them through these small wins really helps them regain confidence and independence.”

Drawing from her previous personal and professional caregiving experiences, Reynalyn brings valuable skills in working with diverse populations and staying calm under pressure. These qualities have made her a natural mentor to newer team members. “What I find particularly fulfilling is watching new team members gain confidence when they know they have support — seeing them flourish in their roles is truly rewarding.”

One patient story particularly stands out for Reynalyn: “There was one patient who was very withdrawn after a stroke. He had left-sided weakness and difficulty moving around. We encouraged and motivated him every day during therapy, and over time, he started talking and moving more. Seeing him smile and thank us on the day of his discharge — that moment really stayed with me.”

The work isn’t without its challenges. Communication barriers with anxious or uncooperative patients require creativity and compassion. “I overcome this by staying calm and empathetic, and finding alternative ways to communicate, such as using gestures, visual aids, or seeking translation help when needed. Building trust with patients is key.”

Reynalyn is passionate about changing perceptions of her profession. “Some people think our job is just basic caregiving, but there's so much more to it. We’re a key part of the care team. We observe patients closely, support therapists and nurses, and help create a positive environment for recovery. It’s both physically and emotionally demanding, but also very meaningful.”

To maintain balance, she prioritises family time, cooking, and movies on her days off. “It helps me unwind and come back to work feeling refreshed.”

Her advice for those considering a similar path? “If you have the heart for it and enjoy helping other people, this is a very meaningful job. It can be tough at times, but the rewards are worth it. Be open to learning, stay patient, and remember that even small acts of care can make a big difference to someone's life.”

05/12/2025

Happy International Volunteer Day!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible volunteers who generously give their tme, energy and care to brighten our patients' days. Your kindness makes a real difference, and we appreciate you more than words can say. 💛

Interested in volunteering with us?
Find out how at https://www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg/join-us/volunteers

27/11/2025

Your curiosity, your questions, your commitment to better health - that's what made our KTPH15 Virtual Health Talks a success! Thank you for journeying with us 🎉😊

𝑨𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 2026, 𝒘𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 - 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓'𝒔 𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔? 𝑫𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘! 👇

27/11/2025

At YCH and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, we encourage caregivers to be involved in the wards because their presence often brings comfort, reduces patient anxiety and strengthens recovery. This approach was highlighted in The Straits Times, including the experience of Mrs Rosemary Ng, whose journey our team had the privilege to support. ❤️

Her story reflects what we strive for every day: creating a calm, reassuring environment where patients feel safe, and caregivers feel empowered to be part of the healing process.

Thank you to Mrs Ng and her family for sharing their story, and to our staff for continuing to champion patient- and family-centred care.

The presence of a caregiver reassures patients and helps them recover. Caregivers also learn simple nursing tasks to help with caring for the patient at home. As Singapore ages and more people become long-term caregivers, hospitals and other groups are offering financial and other support to prevent...

25/11/2025

🌱 At 30, she decided to take on a new path with meaning and purpose.

From volunteering in a nursing home to leading three wards today at Yishun Community Hospital, Faith continues to do what she does best – connecting with the elderly and meeting their needs. 💙🙌

17/11/2025

In celebration of World Diabetes Day, we celebrate those who live with diabetes and continue to pursue the things they love. You're the ones quietly managing your condition while still showing up for work, family, hobbies, and all the moments that make life meaningful.

You're proof that challenges don't have to become barriers, and that strength comes in many forms. 💙