SMOU Visit to Newly-Renovated Active Aging Centre - SeaVoices - Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) Publication

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16 Jan 2023

3 mins

SMOU Visit to Newly-Renovated Active Aging Centre

After rounding off the final act of its 7 Acts of Caring & Sharing initiative – where the union supported NTUC Health’s Henderson Home and the renovation of their Active Aging Centre (AAC) (Bukit Merah View), SMOU President Mr Rahim Jaffar, SMOU Assistant Treasurer Mr Tan Geh Ting, SMOU Assistant Secretary Ms Joyce Lee, and Young SMOU Chairman Mr Dominic Yong, as well as union staff made a trip down to the Centre for the first time on 29 November, to visit the beneficiaries after its renovation works.

Upon arrival, Union officials and staff were greeted with a bright and welcoming AAC. New facilities such as a health check-up room, a refurbished pantry, and projector screens can be seen in the newly air-conditioned Centre. In her welcome remarks, Ms Jeannie Ho, NTUC Health Head of Senior Cluster Network, shared that the design of the Centre revolved around a maritime theme to show their appreciation to the union as well as to let the seniors using the space know of SMOU’s contributions.

The visit started with welcome remarks by Ms Jeannie Ho, and Mr Wong Teck Tian, NTUC Health Senior Centre Manager & Cluster Support for Bukit Merah, and closed off with an address by Mr Rahim to the sheltered home seniors present at the AAC. In his address, Mr Rahim mentioned that the union was happy to be of support to residents from SMOU’s adopted Henderson Home for many decades and that SMOU hopes that the new space and facilities would be able to help the seniors to age gracefully, and be a place where seniors can meet, form friendships, and support one another.

NTUC Health also presented an appreciation plaque to SMOU, and thanked the union for their support and donation.

Thereafter, the seniors were presented with a mushroom-growing kit. A simple step-by-step guide by NTUC Happy Eco club was conducted for the seniors to grow their own mushrooms. After the workshop, the seniors also enjoyed a musical performance by the Ukulele group from Bukit Merah View AAC.

Rounding off the visit, goodie bags of daily necessities and essential items, snacks and lunch bento sets were distributed to the 70 seniors from Henderson Sheltered Home and Senior Day Care at Bukit Merah View.

“I like coming here every day. The Centre looks much better than before. It’s brightly lit and with aircon. I can now do line dancing and exercise with my friends comfortably,” said Mdm Leong, a senior of Henderson Home.

“The newly renovated Centre is very clean and beautiful. I personally liked the maritime decorations and the overhead projector. My friends and I tried it out by having a karaoke session here and we really had a lot of fun with these new facilities. Thank you SMOU for your support and donation!” said Mr Raymond Chong, a senior of Henderson Home.