Newsroom Details

• Launched as a pilot in April 2025, AH cafe clinic (Parkinson’s Cafe@AH) has a unique model of an integrated clinical review in a social group setting, which allows for caregiver support and timely medical intervention - leading to better symptom management, reduced routine appointments and potential avoidance of unnecessary hospital stays.
• The group sessions have the added benefit of allowing the care team to observe a spectrum of disease severity, functional abilities and psychosocial needs within a shared setting. This enables the multidisciplinary team to address common concerns, correct misconceptions and provide practical guidance collectively, while still tailoring advice to individual participants. The format also supports real-time collaboration among healthcare professionals, helping to align treatment plans, reinforce consistent message and reduce siloed care.

Singapore, 18 March 2026 – At first glance, it looks like any other neighbourhood cafe – people sipping home brewed coffee, sharing bakes, chatting in small groups, but look closer, you will see a physiotherapist leading exercises, a doctor in scrubs directing medical care, pharmacists in white coats and nurses reviewing patients’ medical records and explaining medication schedules and symptoms. This is the new Parkinson’s Cafe at Alexandra Hospital (AH), a unique clinic-cafe initiative supporting patients living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Launched in April 2025, the well-received pilot has since expanded to run more sessions.

In Singapore, PD affects three in every 1,000 Singaporeans aged 50 and above, making it one of the top four neurological conditions locally. Over just two years, Alexandra Hospital has observed a significant rise in PD cases, with patient numbers increasing from 84 in 2022 to 159 in 2024. This mirrors a global trend that has seen the number of patients with the condition double over the past 25 years. With one in four Singaporeans projected to be aged 65 and above by 2030, the number of affected people is expected to increase significantly.

One of the fastest-growing neurological conditions worldwide, its symptoms – including tremors, rigidity, impaired balance, sleep disturbances and cognitive changes – evolve over time. Beyond these symptoms, Parkinson’s often bring about mood changes, caregiver strain and social isolation – factors that affect quality of life but may not always surface during clinic visits. While there is no cure, timely therapy adjustments, medication management and sustained psychosocial support can significantly improve quality of life.

The current approach to Parkinson's care is often limited to periodic medical appointments, which can lack continuity of support. While support groups excel at providing emotional and social support, they typically lack the presence of healthcare providers who can address patients' medical concerns immediately. The Parkinson’s Cafe@AH, with its unique model of an integrated clinical review in a social group setting, allows for caregiver support and timely medical intervention which leads to better symptom management, reduced routine appointments and potential avoidance of unnecessary hospital stays.

AH piloted a series of five sessions from April 2025 to March 2026. Each session is limited to a small, curated group of eight to ten participants to allow for closer interaction and personalised support from the care team. The sessions include medication and symptom discussions, caregiver sharing, physiotherapy tips, educational talks, as well as wellness and movement activities. There will be no charge for the first six sessions. From the seventh session onwards, the programme will continue as a regular support and review session, with participation fees of $30 (full price) and $21 (subsidised), complementing patients’ ongoing clinical care.

Key Benefits of the Parkinson’s Cafe@AH

• Multidisciplinary care in one session, in a comfortable setting: Because PD cuts across neurological, psychiatric, geriatric, rehabilitative and medical domains, effective care requires coordinated input from multiple disciplines, including neurologists, geriatricians, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, and care managers, rather than a single specialist working in isolation. Each patient at the cafe receives a personalised assessment by a multidisciplinary team comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and care managers. Small groups of eight to ten participants allow personalised attention while enabling shared discussion.
• Timely symptom monitoring: Parkinson’s symptoms can fluctuate daily. The cafe provides an interim touchpoint between clinic visits, allowing early identification of medication needs, therapy adjustments, or referral to specialist services if required. This proactive approach can help prevent symptom escalation and reduce the likelihood of complications.
• Peer and caregiver support through shared learning: For patients and caregivers, seeing others with similar symptoms normalises their own experience, reduces isolation, and surfaces practical coping strategies such as managing ‘off’ periods, sleep disruptions or swallowing difficulty in daily life. Patients may recognise symptoms in others that they have overlooked or struggled to describe, prompting more meaningful discussions and earlier intervention.
• Shared learning for the care team: For the care team, group settings allow simultaneous observation of a spectrum of disease severity, functional abilities and psychosocial needs, enabling a more holistic assessment within a limited time. Doctors can also correct misconceptions and identify common problems collectively, while still tailoring advice to individuals. In addition, multidisciplinary team members can coordinate in real time, align treatment plans and reinforce consistent messages, reducing siloed care.
• Holistic wellness activities: Sessions offer different activities each time including physiotherapy tips, guided exercises, wellness activities, educational talks on symptom management, nutrition, medication, and lifestyle adaptations. This holistic approach ensures that both physical and emotional aspects of care are addressed.
• Building a sustainable workforce: By reviewing multiple patients in a group setting while maintaining personalised attention, the cafe helps improve efficiency of Parkinson’s services, freeing clinic resources for patients with complex needs. Nurses and pharmacists are also empowered to take a proactive role in patient management, enhancing their leadership and expanding their scope of practice. This team-based model strengthens service sustainability while continuing with high-quality, patient-centred care amid rising demand.

Patient and Caregiver Experience
Since its pilot launch in April 2025, the Parkinson’s Cafe@AH has received consistently strong uptake with highly positive feedback. Patients cited benefits such as:

• Reassurance and confidence in navigating care between clinic appointments
• Feeling heard and understood by both peers and clinician
• Access to practical strategies for managing daily symptoms
• Opportunities for friendship and mutual encouragement

“Attending the cafe sessions allow me to discuss my symptoms and concerns openly without feeling rushed,” shared Madam Fong Chen Phin, a Parkinson’s patient at AH. “Listening to the challenges of others helped me learn new, practical ways to cope and feel more control of my daily life. The exercises and health tips were useful and helped me become more mindful and proactive about my health.”

Another patient Mr Koh See Soon, Richard, added, “Before the cafe, I wasn’t sure whether the changes I experienced were normal or something I should be worried about. The sessions helped me better understand my symptoms and medication, and I now know when to monitor, adjust or seek help. Instead of waiting for my next appointment, I feel more equipped to manage my condition independently and confidently.

“This initiative does not replace one-to-one consultations, it complements it,” said Dr Venugopalan Menon Preetha, who leads the initiative. “With the cafe, we can provide support in a structured yet comfortable environment where clinical oversight, peer connection, and proactive symptom sharing come together as a prescription for better care. Many patients tell us that connecting with others who share similar experiences brings comfort and assurance that traditional clinic visits may not always offer. The cafe creates a community where our patients feel seen, heard and supported and our healthcare teams empowered to make a difference.”

Principal Care Manager from AH R.I.C.E. Community Care Audrey Seow added, “By intentionally keeping the group to a conducive size, it allows for more meaningful engagement while creating a space where patients can learn from one another. In one session, a patient shared that he experienced increasing stiffness and ‘off’ periods but did not bring it up as he thought it was simply part of ageing. Hearing others describe similar experiences encouraged him to speak up, allowing the team to review his symptoms and provide guidance. The cafe setting helps surface concerns that may not always come up during routine clinic visits, while giving patients and caregivers a more supportive and holistic care experience.”

Building on encouraging early feedback during the pilot period, AH plans to expand the initiative in phases and establish it as a sustainable, long-term component of Parkinson’s care, serving as a reference for future evolving care innovations.

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