Tzu Chi medical volunteers and medical personnel from TIMA made use of their Lunar New Year holidays to organise festive home visits to the elderly folks in Chinatown on 22 Feb 07, bringing warmth and joy to their solitary life.

Volunteers get ready bags of festive gifts for distribution to the elderly folks.

40 volunteers march towards the neighbouring housing block with loads of festive gifts and joyous blessings for the elderly folks.

High-spirited volunteers and TIMA members take the stairs in search of their Grandpa and Grandma to pay them a visit.

Dr Lim felt that the availability of the information on the elderly folks such as their name, will bridge the gap between them during home visits.

As 92-year-old Grandma Pan Zhi saw the volunteers, she promptly moved out of her house despite leg injury, to invite them for small chats that she has always enjoy.

Grandma Ye Ah Chang was beaming with joy as Tzu Chi volunteers greeted her, leaving no traces of loneliness on her wrinkled face.

A member from TIMA, Sister Huang Xiuzhi (second from right), witnessed for herself the living conditions of the elderly folks,  thereby better understand their solitude and difficulties.

In Singapore, the Chinese New Year has always been celebrated traditionally among the Chinese community, with the younger generations paying visits to the elder ones with Mandarin oranges and festive gifts.  This tradition not only signifies respect and well-wishes for the elders, it is also a time when relatives and friends get-together in one big reunion. However, to the elderly folks living in solitude, they sunk into deep sadness during such festive season, as they missed their loved ones in distant China.  

In consideration to the feelings of the elderly folks, Tzu Chi medical volunteers and medical personnel from TIMA made use of their Lunar New Year holidays to organise festive home visits to the elderly folks in Chinatown on 22 Feb 07, bringing warmth and joy to their solitary life.

In the morning of the day at 10am , 40 volunteers laden with festive gifts and blessings split into four groups under the direction of chief event coordinator, Sister Huang En Ting before marching joyfully towards the neighbouring housing blocks.

Elderly folks perk up at the sight of unexpected Tzu Chi volunteers

“Is Grandpa Hong at home?” Dr Edwin Lim earnestly knocking on the door while calling out for one of the elderly folks they were visiting. Moments later, Grandpa Hong, who was hard of hearing, peeked out of the door in astonishment, “How did you know my name, hah?”

This was how most of the elderly folks reacted every time the volunteers knocked on the door, stunned with uncertainty.

However, upon knowing the strangers were from Tzu Chi Clinic, Grandpa Hong heartily welcomed the volunteers into his house. Being able to speak Cantonese, Sister Zhang Jieyi readily went forward to greet Grandpa with auspicious words and offerings of festive gifts.  “Happy Chinese New Year! May Good Health and Prosperity be with You!” The cordial gesture amused Grandpa Hong as he laughed merrily. 

“Nobody knows me here and I was shocked initially. For so many years, I never had any guest during the Chinese New Year.  But today, you come and I am glad to see you all!”  Grandpa Hong who lives alone, expressed his gratitude to the volunteers.

Dr Lim, the leader for Team 1, felt that the availability of the information on the elderly folks such as their name, would bridge the gap between them during home visits.

Sister Huang Chunying, a nurse, commented that the elderly folks were adorable.  “It was truly euphoric to see them at the door, from an initial state of surprise, to elated joy.”

With Kindness, No Solitude

Seeing the familiar Tzu Chi volunteers, Grandma Pan Zhi promptly invited them into her house. However, the volunteers reasoned that it was inconvenient as they were required to make their rounds to the homes of other elderly folks.  Despite some disappointment, Grandma thanked repeatedly, “Take care. It’s so nice of you!”

Being a regular participant in the Tzu Chi Elderly Care Day, Grandma Pan Zhi has been a closed friend with many Tzu Chi volunteers.  At the beginning of year 2006, Grandma had a bad fall and needs a walking stick to assist her walking. Due to her difficulty in moving around, she stays at home most of the time, often by herself.  It was a rare occasion that she had guests in the house, who she can talk to and share with.  Grandma was elated when she saw the Tzu Chi volunteers and was unwilling to see them go off so soon.

Pointing at the photograph on the dressing table, 92-year-old Grandma Pan Zi spoke in a calm tone, “When my time comes, that will be the photograph to be used for my funeral.”  Grandma’s optimism touched the volunteers, as the volunteers leave reluctantly.

After knocking on her door for quite some time, Grandma Ye Ah Chang finally opened the door.  Due to her deteriorating hearing, Grandma did not hear the knocking and thus could not respond in time.  Suffering also from poor eyesight, Grandma was surprised and overjoyed when she recognized that it was the Tzu Chi volunteers.  Although there was little interaction, Grandma was all smiles as she offered drinks and Mandarin oranges to the volunteers.

Sister Huang En Ting stated that the festive home visit today targets the approximately 140 beneficiaries who had sought medical treatment in Tzu Chi Free Clinic. But some had gone festive shopping while some were recuperating in old folks’ home due to sickness.  Interestingly, there were some elderly folks who immediately returned home to wait for the volunteers’ visit after meeting them at the lobby and knowing their intention to spread the festive mood. 

Indeed, in this festive occasion, the elderly folks’ wrinkled face brightened up, as they were showered with bags of festive gifts and words of auspiciousness, so sunny that it filled their dimly-lit home and the solitude within them. 

Sigificant Festive Gift Sharing

“I believe that today’s festive home visit has indeed brought much happiness to the elderly folks.”  Dr Lim expressed his delight albeit taking time off from his busy work schedule to participate in this festive event.

Dr Lim is currently a doctor at an old folk’s home and interaction with elderly folks has become his daily duties.  However, he felt that it was of greater significance to show care and concern during such festive events, which would definitely bring joy and warmth to the elderly folks.

Accompanying Dr Lim was his wife and a member of TIMA, Sister Huang Chunying, who also expressed with the same sentiment that to be able to care for the elderly folks during the festive season was indeed a wonderful thing to do and something worth learning. 

“I hope to be part of this meaningful event every year,” said Dr Lim heartily.

A Special Chinese New Year with Love

Sister Huang Xiuzhi, who’s also a member of TIMA, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the event. Sister Huang works as a dental assistant and often volunteers at Tzu Chi Free Clinic.  Yet this was the first festive home visit she had done. Having witnessed the living conditions of the elderly folks, she said she could now understand their solitude and difficulties.

Sister Huang spoke heartily that many elderly folks recognized her as a volunteer in Tzu Chi Free Clinic. When she met them at the housing block, everyone was so happy and warm, like closed friends in a grand reunion.  The elderly folks were so true and sincere which touched her heart.  “It was a fruitful trip today, we see them happy, we are also happy too!”

The festive home visit came to a closing at noon, with everyone feeling joyous.  The volunteers gathered at the Tzu Chi Free Clinic for a final counting and debrief, during which, they discovered that some of the elderly folks had yet to receive their festive gifts as they were not at home.  The volunteers decided to do another round of festive home visit in the afternoon, with hope to distribute all the gifts and blessings to the remaining elderly folks.