Vibrant Ageing with a Purpose

Ever since Mdm Alice Mathilda Peter had her first child, she quit her job as a supermarket assistant to become a stay-home mum and full-time homemaker.

 

Today, however, her four children have all grown up, leaving Alice, 55 with much more time to pursue her interests. She has been leading a healthy lifestyle, cooking home-cooked meals for the family and doing household chores.

 

The story about how she came to be a volunteer started when her sister told her about a Zumba programme that was being conducted at the REACH Youth Powerhouse near her place at Bukit Batok. Thinking that it would be a good way to strengthen her own physical fitness, Alice decided to join the programme.

 

While doing Zumba, Alice got to know more about REACH Community Café run there for the seniors, which serves as a platform for the seniors who are living alone or at risk of being isolated to meet new friends, have a meal together and learn from each other. 

 

Recognising how meaningful the programme was, Alice decided to sign up to be one of the volunteers, cooking and serving breakfast to about 50 seniors each Friday. As a volunteer for almost two years now, Alice enjoys these once-a-week sessions where she finds satisfaction in exchanging food with seniors and engaging in conversation. Sometimes, she even shares her own home-cooked food with other seniors.  

 

She says, “The café offers a pleasant and homely environment. It just naturally makes you want to have fun with friends without thinking much about anything else.”

 

Breakfast is just a start

 

While many of the seniors come to enjoy a variety of healthy, well-prepared breakfasts each week, they often stay on to engage in other activities. Activities that are held at the café include painting, crafts, or even talks on pertinent topics such as scams.

 

Alice, herself, helps out in these other seniors’ programmes at the Youth Powerhouse, by leading activities for seniors suffering from Alzheimer's disease and bringing seniors on excursions to local attractions and parks.

 

One of the big driving factors for her to volunteer is due to her belief that seniors need to adopt a vibrant lifestyle and not be confined to the home when they are old.

 

She says that loneliness increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and that one of the ways in overcoming this loneliness is by getting involved with activities with the community, and making new friends through existing programmes.

 

As an added bonus, Alice says that she has made many close and genuine friendships through volunteering, and she will occasionally meet the seniors and volunteers for meals at nearby food stalls.

 

In her words: “The desire to develop friendships will naturally come when you do things right.”

 

Are you ready to volunteer?

 

To find out more about volunteer opportunities for the elderly, visit www.c3a.org.sg/volunteerism/ or contact the C3A hotline at 64785029 (from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, except Public Holidays).