Hello! I am Yu Xuan, and I am an NUS undergraduate pursuing a degree in Business Administration (Accountancy). I enrolled in the course GEN2062Y Community Activities for Seniors with SG Cares when I was in my 3rd year of my studies. GEN2062Y is a year-long course that focuses on supporting local communities through volunteer centres, operating as vital activity hubs that foster senior engagement and social connection within neighbourhoods. The course emphasises practical community service through planning and conducting senior-focused activities at selected Volunteer Centres, providing intergenerational engagement and support for our senior residents.
My friends and I were drawn to GEN2062Y as we found the idea of spending curriculum time mingling with seniors both enjoyable and meaningful. This was familiar to me as I previously spent time visiting seniors at Volunteer Centres in secondary school, and also spend time with my grandparents whom I live with. I believed my prior experience engaging seniors and communicating with them would allow me to contribute to this project positively, as well as inspire me in coming up with new activities I could do with my grandparents at home. The course requirements entailed we plan activities with the seniors in mind and give them something to look forward to every week. These activities are vetted by our tutor, Ms. Yvette Seow, and our centre manager, Mr. Ng Kaihong to ensure that the activities are appropriate for the centre’s seniors– in terms of coming up with activities that are manageable and interesting enough to capture their attention.
Centres differ from one another in terms of the age of the seniors, and their activity levels and preferences. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all activity that can be slotted into every centre. I believe that in order to ensure that the seniors enjoy the activities and find them enriching, students will first have to get to know them on a personal level, to understand what their needs and preferences when it comes to activities. For example, some seniors enjoy dance as a way to express themselves and keep fit at the same time. Others prefer the opportunity to pick up new skills or hone existing ones through activities such as sewing and cooking. However, due to the difference in capability of the seniors, such as difference in manual dexterity or eyesight, the activities were planned to have different difficulty levels such that all participants feel included and can participate actively.
Beyond physical limitations, seniors also face a multitude of problems as they grow older, such as financial constraints due to rising medical expenses. While there is not much student volunteers can do to really make a difference in this aspect, I believe that having a further understanding of their home situation is something we can do to make their silver years happier. A common issue faced by seniors is geriatric loneliness that comes with living alone or feeling alone. This is where support from volunteers can make a significant impact on their lives.
Prior to engaging with the seniors in our centre, my knowledge of seniors was based off my own grandparents. Previously naive, I used to believe all seniors had a strong social support system in their communities, receiving care and concern from family members or neighbourhood friends. However, after enrolling in this course, I realised this could not be further from the truth. The harsh reality is that many seniors in Singapore are lonely. This could be due to them not having a partner or losing their partner or even having kids that are too busy to visit. The proactive seniors make a conscious effort to spend their days at the centres in hopes of making new friends or connecting with youth volunteers whom they can talk to and share their stories with.
I have deep admiration for the seniors at our centre for being able to acknowledge their loneliness, recognise the gaps in their care, and take initiative to enrol themselves in the senior centre. Unlike the seniors at the centre, my grandparents have strong objections towards participating in such community engagements as they do not want to look “weak” by seeking help or comfort from strangers. This could be due to the stigmatisation of senior centres amongst their peers, that going to these centres means that you are mentally ill or “sick”. Perpetuating these perceptions are harmful as this discourages seniors from seeking help when necessary. I respect the seniors at the centre for taking active steps to preserve their mental and emotional function by engaging in stimulating activity as they age, truly encompassing the idea of healthy ageing.
Activities we organised for the seniors; L: Mama Mia Dance Fitness, R: Flower Arrangement
As for me, enrolling in this course has shed a new light on the geriatric loneliness all seniors are inevitably bound to face. In my grandparents’ case, though they would never admit it, they may feel lonely when the entire family is at work or in school and they are home alone. To reduce their feelings of loneliness, I have made a conscious effort to bring them out for meals more often and show them parts of Singapore they have never seen before, such as the new Bird Paradise. I also make time to sit down and chat with them so that they know that I am always ready to listen to them.
Overall, my experience with GEN2062Y, while short, will have a lasting impact on me for a long time to come. I also hope that this has been an enjoyable experience for our seniors and that I was able to make a difference in their lives.
An appreciation meal organised by the seniors for us on the last service work session
21 Lower Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119077
+65 6516 6666