HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Children and young people needing long-term medical care find a surrogate family at Singapore's only paediatric ward in a nursing home.

- Mark Cheong

At the Singapore Christian Home (SCH) in Sembawang, there is a space adorned with colourful, animal-themed wallpaper and bustling with staff in bright pink uniforms.

Chatter and music fill the air on some days, while colourful toys and learning materials lay around the room.

Once in a while, special guests make an appearance, such as fictional characters Elsa, Captain America, Iron Man and Wonder woman.

This is a ward for children and young people who require long-term medical care, the only such ward in a nursing home in Singapore.

Located on the seventh floor of SCH, it is home to 23 residents of different races and religions, from five to 30 years old - each with four to six chronic medical conditions that require round-the-clock care.

All but two of the residents have intellectual disabilities.

One of the residents, an 11-yearold boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy which causes progressive muscle degeneration, also has kidney problems, metabolic deficiency and developmental delay.

On top of that, he has dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, so he requires constant attention and extensive care support.

The ward is unlike disability homes for children, which are equipped to deal with disabilities and behavioural issues, but not medical conditions.