with pupus in plot sCiletise = Shermaine Ang matter, becau! = grew up in Sing ee SC The pilot vol Seniors at a dementia daycare cen- is part ofa $3.5 tre in Ang Mo Kio are volunteering Awwa, which weekly at a pre-school, primary operating hour schooland temple as part ofefforts vices anda revi to keep them active and slow down Operating ho: the progress of their illness. mentia daycare The pilot programme, initiated Block 123 Ang by social service agency Awwaand have been: e? philanthropic organisation. Lien hours. Foundation, gets the seniors to Since July, it . read to pre-schoolers andtendto'a from 7am to 10) vegetable farm with primary Aweekend re school pupils. regivers of sen: The seniors volunteer at Elias’ is also available Park Primary School in Pasir service for tk Ris, Jamiyah Childcare Centre in ‘| Ang Mo Kio and the Sri Darma Mu- neeswaran Temple in Serangoon North. Dementia daycare centres usual- ly engage seniors in rehabilitative activities that can be administered safely and efficiently, such as col- ouring or doing jigsaw puzzles.. But Mr Sairam Azad, director of health and senior care at Awwa, said: “Many seniors don’t find tra- ditional daycare centres attractive, so the advantages of that model - such as cost, efficiency and safety -=.+ maan much ultimately. Powered by § CamScannerneeswaran Temple in Serangoon North. Dementia daycare centres usual- ly engage seniors in rehabilitative activities that can be administered safely and efficiently, such as col- ouring or doing jigsaw puzzles. But Mr Sairam Azad, director of health and senior care at Awwa, said: “Many seniors don’t find tra- ditional daycare centres attractive, so the advantages of that model :- such as cost, efficiency and safety — may not mean much ultimately. “To boost the self-esteem of the seniors, the -activities conducted should be meaningful, functional and aligned to their personal pref- erences. and provide opportunities to use their residual skills.” Ms Chua Shi Jia, a senior occupa- tional therapist at Awwa, said: “Therapeutic activities don’t have to be done only within the demen- tia daycare centre. In fact, they shouldn't. t “You will be surprised how many seemingly ordinary activities have a therapeutic benefit for seniors,” She said the simple activity of ar- ranging temple offerings on a plate requires the seniors to memorise the sequence of steps, and practise “motor skills to position. items like betel leaves»and bananas at the _a+ract angles. Powered by § CamScannera ee A motor skills to Position items ike betel leaves and bananas at the correct angles. It also serves as reminiscence therapy for some seniors who re- call chewing betel leaves as chil- dren. “Most importantly, it gives the seniors purpose. They know they are doing something greater than themselves,” said Ms Chua. “When they are motivated, it’s easier to keep them healthy.” The seniors are accompanied by Awwa staff when they are volun- teering. The social service agency also trains staff and students at host or- ganisations to interact with people with dementia. . The pilot programme follows the healthcare model of social pre- scription, where in ‘addition to be- ing prescribed medicine, seniors are told to participate in communi- ’ ty activities to improve their men- tal and physical well-being. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung had encouraged social prescrip- Powered by § CamScannerHealth Minister Ong Ye Nung | had encouraged social prescrip- tion, including better diet and reg- ular exercise, to complement drug prescriptions by family doctors. He was speaking in October at the Singapore Health and Biomed- ical Congress at the Singapore Ex- ‘po on reinventing healthcare. In his speech, Mr Ong cited the Healthier SG initiative, which fo- cuses on preventive care to reduce the toll of the ageing population on the healthcare system. Awwa hopes to partner 30 host _ organisations by March 2024, up from the current three. _MrAzad said: “The key lies in the matchmaking - finding activities. that are non-mission critical which can be completed with the residual abilities and time of our seniors.” Ms Chua said Awwa is consider- ing getting the seniors to participa- te in artistic and musical activities. About 10 seniors with mild to moderate dementia have been vol- unteering weekly since July. The agency hopes to engage 30 | seninrs with all ctanas ~£ A- | Powered by § CamScannerSees YS! See ee cuses on preventive care to reduce . the toll of the ageing population on the healthcare system. Awwa hopes to partner 30 host organisations by March 2024, up from the current three. Mr Azad said: “The key lies in the matchmaking - finding activities that are non-mission critical which can be completed with the residual abilities and time of our seniors.” Ms Chua said Awwa is consider- ing getting the seniors to participa- te in artistic and musical activities. About 10 seniors with mild to moderate dementia have been vol- unteering weekly since July. The agency hopes to engage 30 seniors with all stages of dementia in, the programme in 2023, she said. : An 8l-year-old retired accounts clerk who works part-time at a cof- fee shop and attends the dementia daycare centre, and who wants to be known only as Mr Koh, said: “I enjoy working at the Hindu temple. “I am not Hindu but it doesn’t Powered by § CamScanner- BE BE hw wT 46. a ids, tend te toa » Vegetable farm pilot scheme to stay active aycare cen- slunteering 1, primary t of efforts slow down Less. », initiated Awwa and tion. Lien seniors to d tend toa primary rat Elias in Pasir (Centre in arma Mu- matter, because this was how we grew up in Singapore last time.” The pilot volunteer programme is part of a $3.56 million project by Awwa, which includes extended operating hours, new respite ser- vices and a revamp of facilities. “ Operating hours of the Awwa de- mentia daycare centre, located at Block 123 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, have’ been extended by three hours. Since July, it has been operating from 7am to 10pm on weekdays. A weekend respite service for ca- regivers of seniors with dementia is also available, and a night respite service for these caregivers is i pendin tory au Curre service niors. Resp suitab] pende: care ni As | menti: signec tive as the ar sherm Madar demer Kio, re Jamiy. AWWA, ‘erangoon | Powered by § CamScannera pending approval from the regula- m tory authorities. Currently, the weekend respite service is supporting about 26 se- le niors. ow we Respite care is a stay-in service me.” suitable for seniors who are de- ramme . pendent on caregivers for daily ject by care needs. tended As part of the project, the de- te ser- mentia daycare centre will be rede- ies. signed and renovated, and an ac- ‘wade- tive ageing centre will be set up in ated at the area next year. mue 6, three. shermaineang@sph.com.sg erating / days. Madam Lily, 70, who attends Awwa’s :forca- dementia-daycare centre in Ang Mo mentia Kio, reading to the children at respite Jamiyah Childcare Centre. PHOTO: vers is: AWWA,LIEN FOUNDATION Powered by § CamScanner