Last Thursday, I was parent volunteer, accompanying Felicia & her classmates to St Joseph's Home as part of their CIP.
Her 2 form & co-form teachers were supposed to go at first together with their chinese language higher mother tongue teacher, but upon seeing that there were 4 adults to a class of 40+ girls, her co-form teacher decided not to go, as she was bogged down with admin work and meetings. All her teachers are also HODs so they are extremely busy.
Felicia actually signed me up for this visit some time back and then told me to mark it in my calendar. She is so eager to get me involved. I believe I last went with them last year or 2 years back to Singapore Discovery Centre.
Anyway, this is the first time I'm visiting an old folks home so I didn't know what to expect.
We started off from school at 10am and reached the Home around 11am. We were warmly welcomed and given a presentation lasting about 1.5h inclusive of a very thought provoking (at least in my opinion) role-play where some of the girls tried being blind or a wheel-chaired bound stroke victim for 10 minutes.
As the elderly are not so mobile, they are given opportunities where-ever possible to be empowered. One of the ways was the Drum Circle where they are given the power to conduct the band of drummers, and also be a drummer themselves. I've learned that it's important to give the elderly choices as much as possible, like what food to eat, what clothes to wear and even what choice of shampoo or bath lotion to use for the day. I've never thought about that. As a young and able-bodied person, I take my freedom to decide for granted. When our faculties are gone, it's so hard to be dependant on others, as they do not really know what we want. Being able to make little choices and decisions would help boost one's self-esteem. It's a lovely philosophy of the Home.
Although the briefing could not fully prepare us for what we encounter. The various rooms were like the hospital B2 wards with hospital-like beds. Fortunately, most were empty as the residents are eagerly waiting for us to perform with them the Drum Circle. Some came on hospital beds but most were on wheel-chairs, and some were accompanied by their visiting relatives and loved ones.
All in, it was a pleasant visit. It's good to know that the residents here are quite well taken care of, but personally, it's nothing like your own home, being surrounded by your loved ones.
Enjoy the pixs!
Love Theresa
Role-playing as stroke victims on right side of body (below):
Laughing & getting a better view of their friends (below):
Using their other 4 senses when one is blind. Here, they are smelling a cut orange which almost everyone got it right (below):
Dominic showing us how to play a simple rhythm for the Drum Circle (below):
Helping to bring down the various drums from the store (below):
Beautiful corridors lined with paintings of St Magdalene of Canossa (below):
The beautifully landscaped and huge grounds of the home run by the Canossian Sisters (below):
Life-size and smaller sized statues dot the place (below):
One of the wings (below):
Felicia with her best friends getting ready for the Drum Circle (below):
An inspiring sayings on the wall (below):
Dominic getting the residents & the girls ready (below):
As many people as possible are given a chance to lead. An elderly resident leads by hitting the bell with a rhythm, then the Drum Circle follows the rhythm (below):
Our Lady statue at the back of the hall (below):
Felicia's Form Teacher's turn to lead the drum roll (below):
Felicia was randomly selected next to lead the drum roll (below):
Dominic giving the final instructions. Phew, I managed to escape being chosen to lead, heh heh (below):
Happily helping to put back all the drums and percussion instruments (below):
Felicia & HMT teacher and classmates helping to keep the chairs after the performance (below):
Another beautiful saying I found at the Home (below):
A sea-water aquarium donated & maintained by a benefactor (below):
