takeaway from 30Aug Orientation 2 visit

Hi Everyone!

My 1st time writing here too. :)

Today we visited Mdm Tan Ah Kim (haha, I knew her name from peeping at the lunch box they delivered), Mr Ong and another senior (by the cantonese group).

Was pretty apprehensive about what I could contribute at first or how I was going to interact/communicate with the elderly, but the experience turned out to be fantastic. :) 

Fairly surprised by how receptive and hospitable they were, considering that we arrived in such a big group and was taking up so much space in their houses. 

The other thing that touched me was how even though some of the seniors (i mean CSC seniors here! ) have graduated, they still came to visit the elderly (... and surprise surprise, there's even an NTU guy in the group haha). You guys were amazing the way you could joke and connect with them so effortlessly and being so thoughtful (checking Mr Ong's fridge for food turned bad, cleaning up of his house and offering to buy necessities). 

That would be the spirit we newbies would hope to cultivate as we interact with the elderly more. :)

It was pretty heart-aching though, to hear Mdm Tan lamenting how the worsening of her eyesight has affected her and Mr Ong mentioning how he had fell down once along the corridors/stair and luckily, was carried back up to his apartment by someone.  

It opened me up to the possibilities that we could just be facing the realities that these elderly face (a worsening eyesight/mobility problems or being left alone) when we grow old ourselves one day.  I guess having a positive attitude when faced with these challenges would be crucial to our mental & emotional health. :)

It didn't feel like we were doing much (asking repeated questions) but the faces on the elderly showed how much our presence meant to them. Mdm Tan's 'huh?! ' face when we told her we had to leave definitely left a huge impression on me. What these elderly really yearn for is accompaniment. 

Anw, I do have some questions and suggestions...

The estate that they are living at looks pretty new (or maybe its the paint), where did they stay prior to living here? Some of the elderly have surviving family that doesn't seem so distant (at least from what i gathered), y are they living by themselves then? Do their families visit them?

On the bus back to Kallang MRT I began thinking about what games we could play with the elderly despite their physical limitations and 2 ideas came to mind (u guys probably have thought bout them already though). 

With Mdm Wang, we could perhaps play Pass The (hokkien) Message and the ppl who got the message wrong would have to sing a verse in hokkien. 

With Mr Ong, haha, maybe something related to Spore. eg. word games ( sg food item names) or true/false questions.. 

just some suggestions that probably can be refined and acted out so we wouldn't be faced with sitting around and not knowing what to do sometimes.

Paiseh, this post sounds more lyk a personal reflection than a post about the happenings. my train of thoughts tend to work this way. :\

haha, so in conclusion, it was an eye-opening and definitely fruitful session n  i look forward to joining u all on future visitations!

C u guys around! :)   - Amelia - 

First Visit To Touch Seniors

Hello all

A Year one freshie here who has completely no idea what to blog (first time visiting and writing on blogspot or anything of this kind ever and the seniors dont know....) Sorry if I am long winded.

I'm supposed to write about what happened during the freshies' first visit to T.H.E Seniors (wish it were easier to type)

Well first and foremost it was basically a group of strangers all gathering at one point to meet up (Kallang MRT Station) at about 10.00am i think...cant really remember. I was half asleep when i went there but seems like i was the only one.....at least someone was late when she was supposed to be the first one there so it didnt matter.

We all then took a bus down to Touch. Its situated right in the middle of a HDB estate with a market and 2-storey shophouses, which felt like what Singapore meant when you say heartland to me.

Upon reaching the area (its actually at the void deck below the block where the people we help live), we were divided into 3 groups, Hokkien, Cantonese and English/Mandarin(anyone who cant speak any form of dialet is placed here = =). I was put into the English Mandarin group (thankfully I have not forgotten ALL of the Chinese i learnt, just a bit of it).

So the group of us (the half baked/raw potatoes) went up to the houses.

Initially we visited an uncle that had difficulty walking. He was having lunch and had not showered so we got redirected to the 2nd house.

We went to the next uncle's house. He seemed a jolly fellow who was actually quite healthy considering his age (72). I actually find it odd that people will open their houses up to a bunch of strangers who look like teenages and talk to them openly about their lives, but thats what happened in general. The uncle was telling us about his activities that he was doing now, answering questions that we had about his life. He told us somethings about how life was long ago like the cost of living is going up and that he cannot afford to pay for some things (like senior ezlink concession pass is now $60 instead of $40 and that he cannot make a new passport because its too expensive, although he has been sent letters to remind him to do so) I was half listening and half lost at the same time, no thanks to trying to listen, translate and then tell the others the translation at the same time. Guess I need more practise with Mandarin or translating because I dont think my translations were actually accurate.

After about an hour, we left the uncle's house and went back to visit the first uncle. This time, he had finished bathing and was partly waiting for us to return. It took some time and a lot of effort just to open the door for us, such that we were worried that he might trip and fall. We all went in and did not want to rush the uncle while he went back to his chair, using his walking stick as an aid to slowly walk back to the chair. We all sat down on the floor around him. Ofcourse the natural question was whether he was okay. He told us that he was just getting old and his legs were feeling weaker as the days go by. Previously he could walk along the corridors or visit the surrounding areas, but now a days he cant do that and has to stay at home. His legs were also a little swollen, but when asked about it he said that the swelling had actually gone down already. He said that he had expected to live to an age of 50-60, but in the flash of an eye had lived to 82 instead. He told us about how Singapore was like when he was young. He was brought over by his father who had a provision shop along Singapore River back then, with a brother already in Singapore at that time. At that time, the streets were different. He said that the streets were messy and dangerous with crime and gangs, but now they are safe and quiet. He told us about his past experiences in life, like that he had a lot of suitors but never cared for all except one who got chased away by his brother. He regrets not chasing after her and says that he is living a lonely life as a result. And then he laughed, saying that he has to be optimistic about life and what he has. With that, as our time was up, we thanked the uncle for his hospitality and left.

We actually went to check 2 other houses but they were both not at home.

After it all, we went back downstairs to the void deck again and gathered with the other language groups again. Following a short debrief we were all dismissed (after filling in some admininstrative forms ofcourse because we were the new people after all). Some went of to the nearby market to eat lunch thou.

Now, thinking about the visit, I wonder sometimes who is helping who. We might be fit and young, but our minds are equally young. We can help the elderly physically and be a listening ear, but in the end they can teach us important values and lessons that we may never experience. It was a meanful experience in its own way.

Gim Hong

New Chairpersons

Dear Fellow T.H.E.seniors volunteers...


It's time for the current Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to step down.

For this one year, and I had a great time volunteering with all of you and organizing events for our volunteers and elderly. I would like to use this opportunity to thank all of you for the support and help all of you have given to Janicia, my committee and myself. Thank you.

I'm really glad that I got this chance to know and become friends with all of you through T.H.E.seniors RVP. Hope to be able to keep in touch with everyone!! =)

With that, I would like to formerly introduce to you the new Chairpersons taking over Janicia and I.

*Introducing*
New Chairperson: Tan Wen Ting Jolene 98232557 jolin_tan88friends@hotmail.com
New Vice-Chairperson: Ong Pinchuan 91284900 pinchuan@singnet.com.sg

I hope all of you would continue to show the new Chairpersons support like you did for Janicia and I.

Thank You.


Regards,
Wong Phui Yi Jasmine
Chairperson (AY 2007-08)
T.H.E.seniors Regular Volunteering Programme
NUS Students' Community Service Club