Tzu Chi volunteers discovered that one of the Foundation’s beneficiaries; Grandma Liang Jin Yu has been starving for four days at home, being affected by some mental predicament. As she was very weak, the volunteers quickly sent her to the hospital for treatment. Grandma Liang was finally able to return home after a month’s stay in the hospital. The volunteers went to the hospital to fetch her home and together, they help the old grandma to tidy her house and even specially bought a cake to celebrate her discharged. The affectionate care and concern rendered to the Grandma has brought much warmth to the lonely elder.

Volunteers receiving grandma Liang for the discharged from the hospital.

At the sight of Grandma Liang, Tzu Chi volunteers who had waited at the void deck of her flat in Redhill, welcomed her home with their singing.

Grandma was anxious to unlock the door as she had not been home for a month.

Brother Ni briefing Mr Peter Soh on her medication and appointment details.

Volunteer Yu Chiu Min gave Grandma Liang a sleeping robe, so that she could sleep comfortably on the bed with the new bed sheet.

Under the long term care, Tzu Chi volunteers had maintained good mutual interaction with Grandma Liang, which gradually opened up her heart.

Volunteers presenting Grandma Liang the lyrical sign language of the song Thankful to the Sky and Earth as a blessing to her.

Relentless determination helped grandma receives medical treatment on time  

As usual, at around 10am on 7th August 2008, Tzu Chi volunteers from the central zone arrived at Grandma Liang’s flat for their monthly visit. Brother Ni Tsan Yen and others knocked on the door and waited outside her house for quite awhile. The volunteers assumed that Grandma Liang had gone out, so they decided to visit other Tzu Chi beneficiaries around the area before their return to Grandma Liang’s house again.

One hour later after their departure, no one heeded the door knocks. Thinking that Grandma Liang was taking a nap, the volunteers left for the second time. Still, after the volunteers’ relentless third visit, Grandma Liang’s house seemed to be quiet. At this moment, the volunteers could hear the flowing of tap water. Considering that Grandma Liang was bathing, volunteers thoughtfully waited outside her house for twenty minutes. Suspiciously, no one opened the door and the gushing of water could still be heard.

Volunteers realized that something must be amiss, hence Brother Ni quickly approach the service operator in the opposite "SARAH" Senior Activity Centre ran by Presbyterian Community Service. Mr. Peter Soh, the programme executive revealed that he had not seen Grandma Liang for a couple of days. Finding the matter crucial, the volunteers thus decided to notify the police about this.        

Soon, the police, ambulance and fire brigade arrived. Civil defence officers used a razor saw to cut the door grilles and hacked the metallic door lock open before they could enter the house.       

What caught their attention is the sight of Grandma Liang shivering on the bed. Her hair was messy. The bed sheet is covered by stains of faeces. “Grandma! Grandma!” everyone exclaimed. Brother Ni quickly stepped forward to comfort Grandma Liang while medical personnel from the civil defence force checked her health condition. 

Grandma Liang was feeling weak and her face was pale. She was in a confused state and kept saying that someone wanted to catch her and steal her PUB bills. That was why she dared not go downstairs and have not taken any food for four days. Everyone was relieved to hear Grandma talking, though her voice is soft and weak. 

The civil defence medical personnel suggested sending Grandma Liang to hospital for treatment after the checkup. However, Grandma Liang kept blurting loudly that she could not afford to stay in hospital. With the volunteers’ relentless persuasion and promise by volunteer Yu Chiu Min to accompany her in the ambulance, Grandma Liang finally agreed. On that day, with the company of Tzu Chi volunteers, Grandma Liang was admitted for treatment in the hospital smoothly.        

After eight days’ stay in the Singapore General Hospital, the doctor sensed that Grandma Liang had symptoms of manic-depression, and suggested further psychological treatment for her. Grandma Liang was later transferred to the Institute of Mental Health. During her stay in the hospital, Tzu Chi volunteers visited her regularly. Grandma Liang would feel elated on each Tzu Chi volunteers’ visit. She was very cooperative with the health care staff and her health improved significantly during the stay. After one month of supervision and care, Grandma Liang’s request to return home was approved.   

We are here to receive you home, Grandma!

On 26th September 2008, Grandma Liang was seen wearing neatly and sitting on the bench along the corridor. As soon as she saw the volunteers appearing, she smiled heartily and waved at them while she walked unsteadily towards the glass door where the volunteers were, as though she had met her family members.

“I am going home! I am going home!” Grandma Liang exclaimed like a happy child. Tzu Chi volunteers quickly replied, “Grandma! We are here to send you home”.

Brother Ni entered the ward to complete the procedure for her discharge. The nurse carefully briefed him of grandma’s medication, appointment for checkups as well as other issues of concern. Grandma Liang was pacing impatiently around the patient room, as she was anxious to return home after her one-month stay in hospital.

Sister Zhou Bi Yun said happily, “When Grandma was admitted into the hospital, she was weak and pale. Now look at her! She can walk and she looks good”.

The volunteers assisted the wheelchair bound Grandma Liang to the car in the car park. In the car, Grandma Liang could not wait to said, “Go to Redhill Block 106”, which drew laughter from her companions. Grandma Liang was referring to her home in Redhill. On their way there, Grandma Liang kept saying to the volunteers, “I am thankful to you all. You are all very kind”.

Back in Redhill housing estate, eight volunteers waited at the void deck of Block 106, welcoming Grandma Liang back home with their singing. Mr. Peter Soh from the "SARAH" Senior Activity Centre, who is responsible for taking care of some of the Block 106 elderly residents, brought a recycled television to Grandma Liang’s home.    

Grandma Liang opened the door anxiously as she had been away from home for a month. Tzu Chi volunteers entered the house and immediately started to clean up the house for Grandma Liang, so that she could stay in a comfortable place.

Brother Ni assisted Mr. Soh to fix the television and fine-tuned the channels.  He then briefed Mr Soh on Grandma Liang’s medication and documents for checkup. Sister Yu gave a pink-colored sleeping robe to Grandma Liang, so that she sleeps comfortably on her bed fitted with the new bed sheet. Grandma Liang was very happy this day surrounded by all the warmth and care brought by the volunteers.

With the teamwork of many, the whole house turned out sparkling clean in a short while. The volunteers placed the birthday cake on the stool in front of Grandma Liang and told her that everyone wanted to sing the “Prayer” song to wish her good health and peace. Everyone, including Grandma Liang, held their palms together and prayed quietly in front of the lighted candle. Grandma Liang’s face was brimming with happiness.

Tzu Chi volunteers presented a lyrical sign language, “Thankful to the sky and earth”, to bless Grandma Liang. Grandma Liang also uttered along when the volunteers speak of Master Cheng Yen’s Jing Si Aphorism – Speak kind words, do good deeds and walk a good path. The volunteers were touched by the sight of Grandma Liang holding her palms together and exclaimed “Thank you Master!”   

Thinking back, if it wasn’t for Tzu Chi volunteers who visited Grandma Liang’s house relentlessly, the situation would have worsened.

Open one’s heart with abundant care

Grandma Liang aged 70, had a total of ten brothers and sisters; three of them were adopted, and Grandma Liang was one of it. Relationships between the ten siblings were detached. Grandma Liang got married at an early age, and has been living alone by herself since her divorce. In 2003, she became one of Tzu Chi long-term care recipients.    

Grandma Liang tended to be overly suspicious and anti-social. She often felt that someone was after her life. This affected her relationship with her neighbors. Initially, the neighbors complained about Grandma Liang to the Tzu Chi volunteers. When the volunteers visited Grandma Liang, she would close the door quickly and urged them to talk softly, in case their conversation would be overheard by the neighbors.          

Not only Tzu Chi volunteers requested more empathy from her neighbors, they also educated Grandma Liang by sharing Jing Si Aphorism with her. Tzu Chi volunteers reminded her on the importance of maintaining good relationships with others. They also invited her to Tzu Chi Elderly Care Day activity. Whenever Tzu Chi volunteers visited Grandma Liang, they would tidy her house and cut her nails etc.

Tzu Chi volunteers fostered a good relationship with Grandma Liang with their selfless care towards her. Slowly, this broadens her heart and thus improved her communication with the neighbors.   

In the one-room apartment, Grandma Liang only had one bed, an electric fan, and some utensils. Being thrifty, Grandma Liang only spent $1 a day on fish balls and rice for her three meals everyday.  For this, she earned a nickname “Granny Fishball”.     

Grand Liang usually did not consume the canned food rations donated by the charitable organizations. Every time Tzu Chi volunteers sought her permission to donate the canned food, she was always unwilling to do so. The canned food rations were usually disposed eventually after its expiry.

Turned thrifty into generosity

During the visit on June 2008, Tzu chi volunteers discovered a set of new bed sheet and mattress, and a box of food rations in her house. Grandma Liang revealed that the Presbyterian Community Service had done all this for her. “They helped me change my bed and gave me these canned food, oat meals, and instant noodles. I don’t eat these. You can take them and donate to others!”

Everyone was surprised to hear this. Sister Bi Yun carefully asked her once again, “Grandma, are you sure we can give this to others?” Grandma Liang insisted with a firm nod. The volunteers were delightful as she was finally willing to give and share with others. 

The volunteers thanked Grandma Liang before they distributed the food rations to four other long-term care recipients living nearby. Come to think of the Jing Si Aphorism that they’ve always tried to instill in Grandma Liang, “Know your blessings, cherish them and sow more blessings”, they were happy that Grandma Liang had not only listened to it, she is even practicing it already.

Touched upon the sight, Brother Ni related, “Maybe it was because Grandma Liang’s good-heartiness has brought her good karma, and so happened that Tzu Chi volunteers reached her house in time”.  The volunteers had learned that doing home visit not only requires a loving heart, but patience, perseverance are high alertness are equally important too, especially on the lone elders.  One will see the fruits of their labour with sincere and selfless giving.

Quoted in Jing Si Aphorism –

Let those that we help be rest assured, gradually stand on their feet and in turn help those that are in a more dire state than them; this is the rationale behind helping people. Home visits are indeed the cultivation grounds where Tzu Chi volunteers practice their compassion and improved their wisdom. It helped them realized their blessings and become more contented.