Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital uses AI to enhance training for elderly care staff, improving communication and screening efficiency
SINGAPORE – In an effort to enhance the training of care staff working with Singapore’s elderly population, Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (KWSH) has partnered with tech start-up Nudgyt to develop an AI-driven platform that simulates real-life health screening scenarios. This innovative platform, created through the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) Open Innovation Platform (OIP), enables care workers to role-play conversations with virtual elderly personas, allowing them to practice engaging with seniors who may have different health conditions, from memory issues to living alone.
The AI solution helps overcome the challenge of communication between care staff and the elderly, many of whom speak in dialects or their mother tongue. By practicing with the AI, trainees can better understand how to ask detailed health questions and elicit comprehensive responses during screenings. The platform not only provides training for new care staff but also allows for ongoing learning and improvement by offering real-time feedback and tips from experienced trainers.
The collaboration between KWSH and Nudgyt has been particularly successful, winning recognition at the AI Trailblazers programme, where the duo received the Transformation Award in 2024. The AI platform’s potential to revolutionize training in elderly care has already led to a reduction in trainer workload by 30%, while improving engagement and learning outcomes for staff.
The use of AI in training care staff is part of a broader push to innovate within the healthcare sector, as Singapore’s ageing population continues to grow. As KWSH continues to refine the system, the project is poised to set a new standard in how technology can support and improve care for the elderly in Singapore.
