The tagline of St John’s Home for Elderly Persons is “Where Aging is Celebrated”.

Can we help our elders achieve it? Indeed, it is a tall order! However, this is what we strive to do at our Home daily.

First of all, all new residents are invited to Adjustment Counselling. Coming to the Home is like being adopted into a new family. For many, it is not a choice but a necessity due to reasons beyond their control. We engage professional counsellors to assist us to help our residents get orientated to their new environment through Adjustment Counselling. We started this programme about 4 years ago and we had seen how it helped new residents get settled with living in our Home. Since then, through my past 5 years of serving the Home, I have seen vast improvements in the mental and emotional health of these residents.

Following the Adjustment Counselling, I engage with the new residents to help them know that living in the Home is not a place where one ‘just wait to die’. I reiterate to them that life is meant to be cherished and revelled. Many residents are on a long-term medication and feel the side effects of the medication. So, it is understandable that such residents face a constant challenge to find enjoyment in their golden years. “Smile, smile, smile always smile, we are very happy..” is one of the songs we teach our resident to sing and express. We share with them that smiling costs nothing but reaps great reward. We believe that by maintaining and working towards a positive attitude, the residents will become more rejuvenated and realise there is much to look forward to, even being away from their loved ones. What more, they have a large family in the Home!

Last but not least, we have been blessed with a great team of staff members who work tirelessly making it their goal to achieve our Home’s mission. And our volunteers, they sacrifice their time and make effort to interact with our residents and help them know that they are cared for and can truly celebrate aging!