Labels: Ageing , purpose

Ageing with a purpose

SINGAPORE — About 25 senior citizens, with the youngest at 54 years old and the oldest at 72, are gathered in a small room, giving presentations on the process of ageing.

One stood up and declared: “Old is never useless. There’s plenty of work for us. Think of the destitute and unfortunate people out there.” He then called for action. “There is a legacy each of us can still leave.”

The other participants cheered him on, and made suggestions like forming informal groups to do social work at nursing homes.

The seniors are among the first to graduate from a Practical Social Gerontology Programme by the Council for Third Age (C3A), which caters to seniors rather than social work practitioners. Consisting of six workshops and one field trip to do volunteer work at a nursing home, it is aimed at helping participants understand themselves better as they age.

Thanks to the programme, Mr Voon Chin Seng, 54, a part-time nurse, said he has a better idea of what kind of opportunities are open to him.

“A lot of old people feel redundant. But what we learnt is that past 50, we have made achievements from our youth ... this is our third age, and I felt this course gave us a good start to learn how to continue our journey from here,” said Mr Voon, who is single.

The course also reminded him of the importance of staying socially connected.

“I will grow to be in my 60s and 70s eventually, and I’ve seen my parents get so lonely at that age because they only had their family,” he said.

Ms Soh Swee Ping, Chief Executive of the C3A, which organised the course together with Fei Yue Community Services, said that with the course, seniors “will see (ageing) as a normal process ... rather than compare this stage to their younger selves”.

She said the C3A is in talks with some statutory boards to replicate this programme for their mature workers, and hopes that voluntary welfare organisations and even community centres can follow suit. The council has no immediate plans to organise a second session on its own.

At the workshops, trainers talk about the physical, social and psychological aspects of ageing, such as managing changes in social roles and relationships, and enhancing their social connectedness. Participants then discussed each topic and shared their experiences, which Mr Voon felt was “a powerful experience”.

“We widen our horizons as we learn from each other ... even the quiet ones speak up,” said Mr Voon.

Another participant, Ms Serena Seah, 57, who works in sales, had a fear of being sick and alone at a nursing home. She felt the course helped her resolve to stay active to avoid “(falling) sick and helpless”.

The 50 participants graduate this week and have been asked to write down what they hope to do next. Two months later, the organisers will mail it to them, as a reminder of what they have committed to.

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