Geriatric means relating to the health and care of older adults, usually those aged 65 and above. In practice, the need for geriatric care is shaped less by age itself and more by how complex someone’s health has become, such as living with several conditions, taking multiple medicines or noticing a change in mobility.
Geriatric care is a specialised approach to the health and rehabilitation needs of older adults whose conditions are too complex or interconnected to manage well one at a time. It looks at several conditions and medicines together, with one clear aim: protecting function and independence for as long as possible.
Physiotherapy for geriatric patients sits at the heart of that aim, rebuilding strength, balance, mobility and the confidence to move freely. At PhysioVitae we add lifestyle medicine, looking at activity, sleep and nutrition for muscle health with our in house dietitian, so progress is supported well beyond each session.
Changes often build slowly, so families are usually the first to notice. Any of the following is a good reason to arrange an assessment.
| Physical signs | Cognitive and lifestyle changes |
|---|---|
| Frequent falls or near misses | Confusion, memory lapses or personality changess |
| Significant unplanned weight loss | Social withdrawal or loss of interest in usual activities |
| Increasing difficulty with daily activities | Multiple medications with unclear coordination |
| Persistent pain not responding to treatment | - |
| Reduced mobility or balance problems | - |
Our geriatric physiotherapy is planned around the person, not the diagnosis. These are the needs we see most often.
Rebuilding steadiness and confidence after a fall or near miss, with practical strategies to reduce falls risk. Bone health: Osteo-Vitae
Progressive strength work and nutrition support to rebuild muscle, energy and the reserve daily life needs. Start at home
Regaining strength and independence after an illness or admission, coordinated with the treating doctor where needed.
Restoring walking, stairs and everyday movement after a hip fracture, hip replacement or knee replacement. Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
Safe loading, posture and balance work to support bone health, delivered through our Osteo-Vitae programme. Osteoporosis Management
Practising walking, balance and daily tasks to support independence after a stroke or with Parkinson’s disease.
Paced, monitored activity for older adults living with heart failure, COPD or other heart and lung conditions. Cardiac RehabilitationPulmonary Rehabilitation
Gentle strengthening and movement strategies to ease joint load and help you stay active with arthritis.
Movement, routine and home safety support for people with memory changes, working closely with their family.
Our comprehensive geriatric assessment is physiotherapist led and focuses on what matters most for daily life: function, mobility and falls risk. It complements, rather than replaces, a medical assessment by a geriatrician, and we coordinate with your doctor where needed. We use validated measures such as the Timed Up and Go test and the Berg Balance Scale, so progress can be tracked objectively over time.
Share your postal code when you get in touch, and we will confirm whether we cover your area and the earliest visit we can offer.
How independently you manage everyday activities such as washing, dressing and moving around the home.
A brief screen of memory, orientation and thinking, shared with your doctor if anything needs further review.
Body composition, appetite and dietary adequacy, with dietitian input where muscle health or weight is a concern.
Mood, worry and motivation, which often shift after illness and can shape how recovery goes.
Home safety, caregiver support and social connection, the practical things that make independence possible.
A look at medicines that may affect balance and falls risk, shared with your doctor, who remains responsible for prescribing.
Geri-Vitae is for older adults who want to stay independent and active, and for families noticing changes such as falls, slower walking or less confidence on stairs. It suits people recovering after a hospital stay, those living with several long term conditions and anyone who simply wants to keep moving well. No doctor’s referral is needed.
Strength and balance decline quietly with age and illness, and both are closely linked to falls, frailty and other common geriatric syndromes. Physiotherapy for geriatric patients targets these directly through tailored exercise and practice of everyday tasks. Structured exercise is well supported for reducing falls risk in older adults, although results vary from person to person.
Our hospital trained principal physiotherapists are experienced with medically complex older adults. Keith Chua’s clinical specialities include geriatric rehabilitation and heart failure, from hospital wards to community settings. Our founding physiotherapists are Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioners (ASLM), our in house dietitian supports nutrition for muscle health, and we can also see you through our home physiotherapy service.
Your programme starts with a comprehensive assessment, followed by a written plan with clear goals agreed with you and your family. Sessions are typically 45 to 60 minutes, and your physiotherapist will recommend a session frequency and course length that suit your needs. Progress is reassessed regularly using the same objective measures.
Your Geri-Vitae programme may draw on a combination of the following, tailored to the person and their goals:
Targeted balance and reaction training to lower falls risk, with results that vary from person to person.
Gradual, supervised strength work to rebuild muscle lost to frailty, illness or long periods of inactivity.
Improving walking pattern, speed and endurance, with advice on choosing and using the right walking aid.
Rehearsing the movements daily life depends on, such as rising from a chair, climbing stairs and getting in and out of bed.
Guidance from our in house dietitian on protein, appetite and eating well to support strength and recovery.
Showing families and helpers how to support exercise and safe movement, so progress continues at home.
Looking for geriatric care services in Singapore for a parent or grandparent? You do not need a doctor’s referral to book, and family members are always welcome at sessions. If getting to the clinic is difficult, care can begin with physiotherapy at home and move to our Orchard Road clinic as confidence grows. Tell us a little about your loved one and we will suggest the best place to start.
There is no strict age threshold. Geriatric care becomes helpful when ageing related complexity, such as frailty, several long term conditions, memory changes or growing difficulty with daily tasks, calls for a more coordinated approach. For some people this happens in their late 60s, and for others not until their 80s.
No. In Singapore you can see a physiotherapist directly without a GP referral, so simply contact our team to book an initial consultation. If your family member has complex medical conditions or has recently left hospital, we will coordinate with their doctor so the rehabilitation programme is appropriate and safe.
Yes. Our home physiotherapy service is designed for older adults who find travelling to the clinic difficult because of limited mobility, recent surgery or medical complexity. Your parent receives the same comprehensive assessment and personalised treatment at home, and family members or helpers can join in and learn the exercises.
A comprehensive geriatric assessment looks at physical health, function, thinking, nutrition, mood, home life and medicines together. Ours is physiotherapist led, focuses on mobility and falls risk, and is coordinated with your doctor. The time needed depends on the person and is confirmed when you book. Read our guide to the comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Geriatric physiotherapy looks beyond a single injury to the whole person, including balance, strength reserve, several health conditions, medicines and the home environment. Sessions are paced to the individual, progress is measured with validated tests, and families are often involved, so the plan supports lasting independence rather than one symptom.
Yes, and we encourage it. Family members and helpers are welcome to join sessions, ask questions and learn how to support exercise and safe movement at home. Being involved also makes it easier to notice changes early and to keep progress going between appointments.
At PhysioVitae, we adopt a lifestyle medicine-based approach to physiotherapy, integrating evidence-based strategies for primary prevention (promoting wellness to avert health issues), secondary prevention (early identification and intervention), and tertiary prevention (managing conditions to minimise complications and foster sustained health).
Our structured process is designed to address your needs holistically, combining clinical expertise with personalised lifestyle modifications.
We begin with a detailed discussion to understand your health history, symptoms, and goals. This involves collaboration with specialist physiotherapists and, where indicated, other healthcare professionals in their fields of expertise.
Physiotherapy experts conduct thorough evaluations, supported by data and advanced technology, to identify root causes and develop a personalised plan aligned with lifestyle medicine principles.
We implement a targeted therapy plan that may include manual techniques, a tailored exercise programme, and diet modifications, all reinforced by behaviour change strategies to manage the acute issues and support prevention.
Progress is tracked using health technology and with regular in-clinic follow-ups to ensure ongoing effectiveness and adaptation.
We will equip you with personalised exercises, our specially curated evidence-based programmes for chronic disease management, comprehensive lifestyle recommendations, and innovative digital tools. These resources are designed to empower you in maintaining long-term health and preventing future issues across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Meet the principal physiotherapists behind Singapore’s first integrated physiotherapy and lifestyle medicine clinic.
MSc Advanced Physiotherapy – Cardiopulmonary (Distinction) from University College London
BSc Physiotherapy (Hons) from Singapore Institute of Technology – Trinity College Dublin
Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner (ASLM)
[With over 10 years of clinical physiotherapist experience]
MSc Advanced Physiotherapy – Cardiopulmonary (Distinction) from University College London
BSc Physiotherapy (Hons) from Singapore Institute of Technology – Trinity College Dublin
Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner (ASLM)
[With over 10 years of clinical physiotherapist experience]
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Shenandoah University, USA
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Graduate Certificate in Performing Arts Medicine, Shenandoah University, USA
Singapore Allied Health Professions Council – Fully Registered Physiotherapist
Chairperson, Dance in Asia – International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS)
