Frequently Asked Questions

Geriatric Medicine is a specialty of medicine concerned with the physical, mental, functional, and social conditions in older patients. Key points:

• It focuses on patients with a high degree of frailty and active multiple pathology
• Diseases may present differently in old age and are often very difficult to diagnose
• It takes a holistic, multidisciplinary team approach
• The main aim is to optimise the functional status of the older person and improve quality of life
• Most patients will be over 65, but the specialty is most relevant for the 80+ age group

You should consider seeing a geriatrician in Singapore when:

• Your elderly parent has multiple chronic conditions requiring coordinated management
• There are noticeable changes in memory, behaviour, or cognitive function
• Frequent falls or difficulty with mobility and balance
• Managing five or more medications with potential interactions
• Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or decline in daily functioning
• You need help with end-of-life planning or advanced care directives
• Your parent is recovering from a hospital stay and needs comprehensive follow-up

Our geriatricians at Alami Clinic can help with all these concerns.

At Alami Clinic, geriatrician consultation fees are:

• In-clinic consultation: From $80-$120
• Comprehensive geriatric assessment: From $159
• Home visit (9AM-5PM): $420
• After-hours home visit (5PM-9PM): $599
• Emergency home visit: $799

CHAS, Pioneer Generation, and Merdeka Generation subsidies are accepted. See our full fee schedule.

The key differences between a geriatrician and a GP are:

• Training: A GP has a general medical degree; a geriatrician has 6+ years of additional specialist training in elderly care
• Focus: GPs treat all ages; geriatricians specialise in older adults (65+)
• Approach: GPs treat individual conditions; geriatricians take a holistic view of physical, mental, and social needs
• Complex cases: Geriatricians are better equipped for dementia, polypharmacy, frailty, and multi-organ disease

At Alami Clinic, we have both GPs and geriatricians, so you get the right level of care.

No, you do not need a referral to see a geriatrician at Alami Clinic. You can book an appointment directly via our online booking system, call us, or WhatsApp us. However, bringing a referral letter from your GP or hospital doctor is helpful as it provides our geriatrician with your medical history.

Yes, CHAS (Community Health Assist Scheme) subsidies are available at Alami Clinic for eligible patients. The subsidy amount depends on your card tier:

• CHAS Blue: Higher subsidies for lower-income households
• CHAS Orange: Moderate subsidies
• CHAS Green: Basic subsidies for all Singaporeans
• Pioneer/Merdeka Generation: Additional subsidies on top of CHAS

Please bring your CHAS card and NRIC when visiting.

Yes, our geriatricians at Alami Clinic provide home visit consultations across Singapore. Home visits are ideal for:

• Elderly patients who are homebound or have mobility issues
• Patients in nursing homes or residential facilities
• Those who prefer care in a familiar environment
• Post-hospital follow-up visits

We offer island-wide coverage with same-day or next-day visits available for urgent cases.

Yes, Dr Farhan has 19+ years of experience managing medical issues in adults and is able to see patients aged 16 years and older.

We are a 5-minute walk from Kembangan MRT. Our address: 398 Changi Road, The Lenox, #01-02, Singapore 419845. See our Getting Here page for directions.

While some mild forgetfulness can be part of normal ageing, significant changes in memory deserve a medical consultation with a geriatrician. Warning signs include:

• Repeating the same questions
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Difficulty managing finances or medications
• Personality or mood changes
• Withdrawing from social activities

Our memory screening packages can help detect early signs of dementia.

Please bring along:

• All current medications (in their original packaging if possible)
• Previous laboratory investigations and reports
• Radiological investigations (including CT or MRI Brain)
• A complete medication list
• Spectacles, hearing aids, and walking aids

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Our geriatrician and pharmacist will review your medications to simplify your regime where possible.

Yes, if the nursing home permits a visiting doctor, Dr Farhan is able to offer a geriatrician consultation in the nursing home. Contact us to book an appointment.