Caring for our Elderly

The West Region is honoured to be able to volunteer at the Bukit Batok Home for the Aged (BBHA) as part of our outreach to the poor and needy in Singapore.

BBHA, located at 11, Bukit Batok West Ave 2, is a residential home for those aged 45 and above, who need little or no medical attention. It is one of the ten homes gazzetted as welfare homes for the care, reception and rehabilitation of destitute persons under the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports’ (MCYS) Destitute Persons Service (DPS).

Residents with families are encouraged to return to their families ultimately. But while at the home, they are trained and rehabilitated so that their functional levels can be increased and they can learn to be self-reliant.

Besides having a shelter and their basic needs met, these seniors need emotional attention, social interaction and the love that they may not have been able to receive from their families.

As a region in the church, we have committed to visit the home once a month to volunteer our services and to encourage them.

We engage in a range of activities with them, including: newspaper reading, gardening, general cleaning, foot or back massage, playing games, language lessons, singing and chatting.

Angie Quek, who is wheelchair-bound and in her 50’s, shared in tears about her recent visit: “It’s a very good experience. Talking to them makes me realise I’m more fortunate than them. I want to visit them every month.”

Even our young are involved and help to cheer the elderly. Evan Lang, 6, who joined in the cleaning and interaction with the seniors, said: “I think they’re very happy because we help them with cleaning and we sing songs to them.”

Those who are interested to join us in our next visit to the BBHA, please contact: Harry Tiotantra (9147 0863)