For Elizabeth Lim, Telok Blangah is more than a home, it’s a community she serves. The Silver Generation Ambassador tells CNA Women how she started caring for the vulnerable folks in her HDB estate and how getting older isn’t stopping her from being there for them.
Elizabeth Lim says her age is an advantage as it allows her to relate better to the neighbours she reaches out to in her HDB estate.Every other morning, Elizabeth Lim walks around her neighbourhood in Telok Blangah where she has lived for 18 years. Along the way, the 74-year-old bumps into neighbours on their morning walks, and staff and volunteers from the nearby residents’ committee.
“Some people may think elderly folk like me all just want to rest but many of us love to serve and help others too,” Lim said. “Age isn’t always a limitation, sometimes it’s the reason why we get to do what we do.”Thanks to her approachable nature, Lim easily makes friends with her neighbours and earns their trust, even with personal issues.
Lim ended up befriending the CC’s regular volunteers and event attendees and, within a matter of months, became a volunteer herself. She organised New Year gatherings, trekking activities, and She also showed another neighbour how to get a cheaper post-paid phone plan, making it easier for him to stay in touch with his children and grandchildren.
“It was like the perfect opportunity for me,” Lim said. “I felt like I could be the caring eyes and ears of my neighbourhood – it was something I was already doing anyway.” Some of these can vary from minor issues like phone troubles and difficulty understanding online announcements to more serious situations like missed hospital appointments or an elderly neighbour getting lost due to dementia.“People have shut the door on me, shouted at me, and accused me of selling products or scamming them,” she said. “But I don’t take it personally, I just don’t give up and try again.
They first met in 2020 during the circuit breaker. Chan, who is single, faced difficulties going out to buy food due to her health issues.
Volunteering Elderly Active Ageing Agency For Integrated Care
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