SINGAPORE - Elderly residents living in Geylang East can now make friends or get referral services for help at a new hub in the vicinity.

Located at Block 125, the Charis Activity Centre for Elders (Charis Ace) is run by the Methodist Welfare Services in partnership with the Charis Methodist Church. MP Tin Pei Ling (Marine Parade GRC) and Reverend Wee Boon Hup, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, officially opened the hub on Saturday. So far, 150 seniors have signed up as members for nominal fees starting from $80 a year.

The centre will have programmes including one which trains the elderly to make home visits to other seniors who are alone at home, or have been recently discharged from hospitals. This aims to show seniors that they can also volunteer and serve others in the society, said Professor Lionel Lee, chairman of Charis Ace centre governance committee.

Prof Lee said: "We want to build a community club to bring together the senior citizens in this area and beyond and engage them in wholesome fellowship and activities...In this centre, we hope to provide many suitable and different programmes and courses to attract and gainfully occupy their time in meaningful activity, build friendships and interaction."