Singapore's caregiver extraordinaire

83-year-old retired busker wins caregiver award for taking in and caring for the needy elderly

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Over the past decade, Mr Lee Cho Poon has opened his home to three men. He is not related to any of them, but each time he took in a person, he would feed and care for him voluntarily.
Mr Lee Cho Poon with Mr Neo Cheng Liang, who uses a wheelchair. For years, Mr Lee has opened his heart and home to a few of his fellow seniors, caring for them like they are his family members. His current housemate, Mr Neo, who has dementia and is h
Mr Lee Cho Poon with Mr Neo Cheng Liang, who uses a wheelchair. For years, Mr Lee has opened his heart and home to a few of his fellow seniors, caring for them like they are his family members. His current housemate, Mr Neo, who has dementia and is hard of hearing, chose to live with Mr Lee in 2017 instead of being put in an old folks' home. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
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When 80-year-old Liu Xiao Zhong died in his sleep on a cheap mattress on the floor of Mr Lee Cho Poon's one-room rental flat in Ang Mo Kio in 2011, Mr Lee arranged his funeral, mourned and paid his respects to him.

Four years later, in 2015, another elderly man, Mr Lee Wen Qiang, who was in his 70s, died in the same flat. Once again, Mr Lee Cho Poon helped arrange the funeral, mourned for him and ensured his ashes were placed in a temple.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 29, 2019, with the headline Singapore's caregiver extraordinaire. Subscribe