Looking for a geriatric medicine clinic in Novena? Novena is one of Singapore’s main areas for geriatric medicine care, with clinics in and around the Novena / Health City medical cluster. Below are the geriatric medicine clinics we feature in Novena, each linking to its full profile.
Geriatric Medicine clinics in Novena
- Age-Link Specialist Clinic — MOH-licensed; geriatric medicine on SMC Specialist Register (MBBS (Singapore), MRCP (UK), FRCP (Edin), FRCPS (Glasgow))
- TTSH Centre for Geriatric Medicine (Public) — Public restructured hospital; staffed by geriatric medicine specialists on the SMC Specialist Register
- The Geriatric Practice — MOH-licensed; geriatric medicine on SMC Specialist Register (MBBS, MRCP (UK), FRCP (Edin), FAMS)
Choosing a geriatric medicine clinic in Novena
We prioritise MOH-licensed clinics with appropriately registered doctors or allied-health professionals, and where we can confirm it we show the clinic’s registered entity and UEN on its profile. For the full national shortlist and how to choose, see our guide to the best geriatric medicine clinics in Singapore.
Other clinics in Novena
What a geriatrician treats and when to see one
A geriatrician is a physician who specialises in the health of older adults, with particular attention to the way several conditions, medications and social factors interact. Rather than focusing on a single organ, geriatric medicine looks at the whole person: memory and thinking, mobility and falls, frailty, continence, nutrition, mood, and the medicines someone takes. People are often referred after a fall, a hospital stay, new confusion or memory concerns, unexplained weight loss, or when managing many conditions and medications has become complicated.
Not every older person needs a geriatrician, and a GP or polyclinic manages much routine care well. Specialist input is most useful where there are several conditions at once, suspected dementia or delirium, repeated falls, frailty, or difficulty coping at home. A comprehensive geriatric assessment can bring these threads together into a single, practical plan, often involving family and caregivers.
What to look for when choosing a geriatric clinic in Novena
Confirm that the doctor is registered with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) and listed on its Register of Specialists in Geriatric Medicine; the public register lets you verify this. The Novena and Health City cluster places geriatric clinics near major hospitals and diagnostic services, which is helpful for older patients who may need imaging or multidisciplinary input.
- A comprehensive approach that reviews medications, mobility, memory, mood and nutrition together.
- Access to allied health such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and dietetics, often central to an older person’s care.
- Experience with the issue at hand, whether dementia, falls, frailty or complex medication review.
- Clear communication with both the patient and family, and practical advice on care at home and caregiver support.
Public and private geriatric care in Singapore
Geriatric care spans public hospitals, community services and private clinics. Public geriatric departments and community programmes offer subsidised care for eligible patients and are well linked to rehabilitation, home care and community support. Private clinics, such as those in Novena, often provide quicker appointments and continuity with one specialist. Whichever setting you use, bring a full medication list, recent reports and a note of recent changes, as this is central to an accurate assessment.
Costs and financing
Several conditions common in older adults, including dementia, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease and stroke, are covered under the national Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), which lets eligible patients use MediSave towards approved outpatient treatment within prevailing limits. Hospital stays and procedures may draw on MediSave and MediShield Life, with payouts pegged to subsidised ward levels. Additional support schemes exist for caregiving and long-term care for eligible patients. Confirm what applies with the clinic and the relevant agencies.
Questions to ask at your first consultation
- Can we review all my medications and stop any that are no longer needed?
- What is causing the falls, memory changes or weight loss, and what can help?
- What support is available at home, and which services should we arrange?
- How will the different specialists involved coordinate care?
- Which costs are claimable under MediSave, the CDMP or available care schemes?
Common questions
How is a geriatrician different from a GP?
A GP manages everyday and ongoing care, while a geriatrician focuses on the complex interaction of multiple conditions, medications and function in older adults, often through a comprehensive assessment.
Do I need a referral?
A private clinic can usually see you directly, but a referral, medication list and recent reports help the specialist, and a referral is generally needed for subsidised public care.
Is care for conditions like dementia subsidised?
Several conditions affecting older adults, including dementia, are on the CDMP, so eligible patients can use MediSave towards approved outpatient treatment within limits. Other care schemes may also apply.