SINGAPORE – Mr Stanley Peh, 74, who is retired, has been volunteering for over 10 years, with some of his time spent at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) helping out at its community events.
“Volunteering gives meaning and purpose to my life, and it keeps me active, so I tried encouraging many friends (to do so). I have many retired friends who prefer staying at home or hanging out at the coffee shop. (I told them) if they have spare time, they could do charity work instead, but there are more failures than successes,” he said.
He belongs to a rare breed of senior male volunteers who give others their time and energy.
Several studies, including the National Volunteer And Philanthropy Centre Individual Giving Study 2021, have found that although participating in volunteering has been proven to benefit older adults’ health and well-being, men volunteer less than women.
Ms Celine Ong, director of TTSH’s Centre for Health Activation, said this could be due to the culture of senior men typically being the breadwinners of the family.
“Their identity is pretty much linked to their careers. Hence, (they often leave) the social tasks to the women in the family,” she said.
To get seniors to contribute to society and support other seniors in living well in the community, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) on Wednesday launched a senior volunteers network at Singapore Patient Conference 2023 held at the Ng Teng Fong Centre for Healthcare Innovation. Conference co-chair Tjan Soon Yin said: “Engaging in meaningful activities within the community keeps our seniors physically active, and improves their social and psychological well-being. It allows the community to tap and benefit from their vast experience and knowledge.”
Dr Tjan, a senior consultant at the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at TTSH, which is part of NHG, added: “The benefit of volunteerism also impacts those who are living with conditions or recovering from illnesses. I have met patients through my work in the rehabilitation medicine clinic and wards who suffered from stroke or were recovering from a bad accident, (and yet were) volunteering to support others. This is also a form of rehab for this special group of volunteers.”
The NHG Network for Senior Volunteers will pool programmes and resources, and match seniors in volunteering opportunities to care for themselves and others in central and northern Singapore.
It involves 17 health and social care organisations in the precinct, including Ren Ci Hospital, Care Corner Singapore, St Luke’s Eldercare, Dover Park Hospice, Institute of Mental Health and Methodist Welfare Services.
Ms Ong said: “We can tailor programmes to suit volunteers’ preferences, needs and interests, and perhaps take the activities out of the formal settings such as the community. We can also empower elderly men to initiate and organise programmes that they are interested in, such as music and handyman (skills), or even to take up leadership positions such as peer leaders in the community.”
Mr Peh went for training at CHArge UP, a virtual learning programme initiated by the Centre for Health Activation to equip carers with health skills, knowledge and confidence to care for themselves and for others around them.
“Some of these skills can be applied in various situations. For example, if I need to push a wheelchair while volunteering, I know how to handle it safely, ensuring the safety of both myself and the beneficiary,” he said.
He also succeeded in getting a friend from church to volunteer.
“I shared my volunteering stories with him and eventually convinced him to join me. He retired earlier than I did, so he was getting bored with staying at home. With encouragement from his wife, he started volunteering with me,” Mr Peh said.
Opening the conference on Wednesday, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Law Rahayu Mahzam said senior volunteerism not only benefits the community, but can also “provide seniors with a meaningful platform to stay engaged and establish strong social networks, where they can feel a sense of purpose and belonging”.
“As part of our efforts to promote active ageing, we should build a sustainable senior volunteerism movement as a strong call to action for seniors to come forward and continue being active participants in shaping the future of our nation,” she added.
Madam Rahayu also presented the Singapore Patient Action Awards to 24 individuals and groups who have made significant and notable contributions in enhancing the healing journey of patients.
One recipient was Madam Ivy Yong, 69, who quit her job 27 years ago to care full-time for her daughter Vivien Goh, who has a neuromuscular condition that leaves her bedridden. Although the girl was not expected to live past the age of 12, Ms Goh is now 43.
Another recipient was volunteer group 24asia, founded by cyber-security architect Nazmul Khan, 42. The group champions the empowerment, community collaboration, career upgrading and mental health of migrant workers in Singapore, and has rallied them to participate in blood donation drives. It also holds educational programmes to improve their skills and knowledge.
