KEEP (Kickstart Exercise and Empower Parkinson’s)
KEEP Brings Specialised Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Closer to the Community
A new five-year community rehabilitation initiative brings together healthcare and community partners to help people with Parkinson’s stay active, independent and connected.
Parkinson Society Singapore (PSS) is pleased to be a partner in KEEP – Kickstart Exercise and Empower Parkinson’s, a new community-based rehabilitation programme designed specifically for people living with early- to mid-stage Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Officially launched on 17 August 2026, KEEP is a five-year, S$4.48 million initiative by the Lien Foundation in partnership with PSS, NHG Health’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), other healthcare institutions and community care providers.
The programme aims to bring specialised Parkinson’s rehabilitation closer to where people live, making it easier for PD Warriors to receive sustained support beyond the hospital setting. Over the next five years, KEEP is expected to benefit some 2,000 people with Parkinson’s in Singapore.
More than exercise
Regular physical activity plays an important role in helping people with Parkinson’s maintain mobility, balance and independence. Yet challenges such as fear of falling, uncertainty over what exercises are safe, changes in motivation and other motor and non-motor symptoms can make it difficult for some PD Warriors to remain active.
KEEP seeks to address these barriers through a structured programme co-designed by a multidisciplinary team comprising physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical social workers and Parkinson’s movement disorder specialists.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, rehabilitation is tailored to the individual’s stage of Parkinson’s and encompasses three key components:
KEEP Fit – structured group exercise focusing on neuroprotection and neurorestoration, helping participants maintain movement and physical function.
KEEP Active – occupational therapy and physiotherapy aimed at maintaining independence in everyday activities, improving mobility and reducing the risk of falls.
KEEP Well – cognitive rehabilitation and mental health support, including the early identification of psychological and depressive symptoms, as well as support and training for caregivers.
The group-based approach also provides something equally important: the opportunity for PD Warriors to exercise, progress and connect with others going through similar experiences.
Building a stronger continuum of Parkinson’s care
KEEP began operating in January 2026 ahead of its official launch and is being progressively expanded across Singapore.
The programme is currently available at five Day Rehabilitation Centres, including centres operated by NTUC Health and PSS. By 2027, it is expected to be rolled out across a total of 13 Day Rehabilitation Centres islandwide, involving community care providers including PSS, NTUC Health, AWWA, Care Corner and St Luke’s.
For PSS, the collaboration reflects our continuing commitment to helping PD Warriors live well with Parkinson’s — not only by managing symptoms, but by supporting mobility, independence, mental wellbeing and meaningful participation in the community.
Through partnerships such as KEEP, specialised Parkinson’s support can increasingly move beyond the clinical setting and become part of an accessible, sustained network of care within the community.
Image credit: Lien Foundation