Ms Angie Ang, 60, used to work at the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC), where she handled the training of volunteers and helped them to manage their cases. Because of her background, she is keenly aware of senior citizens’ needs and concerns.  

"Many children of the elderly are busy with their jobs, so they sometimes cannot accompany their parents to medical appointments. These seniors, especially those who are not mobile, really need someone to take them for these appointments. Some seniors also feel lonely because their children do not communicate with them,” shared Ms Ang.

Ms Ang wanted to continue pursuing her passion for helping the elderly, so the grassroots leader at Teck Ghee decided to volunteer with the hotline ACES Care HelpLife. It was launched in June this year to help seniors find purpose in ageing, lend them a listening ear and help them with errands. 

Manned by senior trained volunteers like Ms Ang, the hotline is accessible every Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Volunteers will attend to emergency calls as well as help seniors with other tasks such as ordering food online and booking or rescheduling medical appointments.

Ms Ang said: “Sometimes, seniors will call us about home repairs issues like cracks on the water pipe or their circuit breaker tripping. We will refer these calls to the Town Council.”

While chatting with the seniors, she also takes the chance to educate them about scams such as love or job scams so that they won’t fall victim to them.

"We also refer seniors to AIC for queries such as meal deliveries for homebound seniors, requests for medical escorts or applying for subsidies for things such as buying a wheelchair,” Ms Ang said.

She volunteers about four times a week for three hours each time. “It gives me joy and fulfilment to help the seniors solve their problems,” she said.

She recounted the case of a 61-year-old lady who would call her several times a week to chit chat for about an hour each time. "She lives alone, does not work and doesn't get along with her family members. She also has a phobia of socialising with other people and has difficulty making simple decisions like what to eat," said Ms Ang.

She referred the elderly lady to a volunteer from the resident's committee, who took the lady out for breakfast. “It is a good start as he is now trying to persuade her to join some social activities at the resident’s committee,” Ms Ang noted.

Ms Ang shares some tips for seniors to stay mentally healthy:
1 Join community events to meet people and make friends.
 
2 Learn new skills such as digital skills to keep the mind active.
 
3 Cultivate new hobbies. For example, join an interest group such as gardening or arts and craft.
 
4 Exercise regularly to boost physical and mental wellness.
 
5 Volunteer and discover a meaningful life helping others.
 
 
About ACES Care Helplife
This is a helpline that provides real-time assistance to seniors in response to a growing need to help those who were isolated and distressed during the pandemic.

Call your fellow seniors at 6797 6797 whenever you need a listening ear or assistance such as dealing with emergencies, meal deliveries, arranging of medical appointments or counselling services, or help with using apps.

[Chinese]

德义区基层领袖洪秀芳（60岁）积极投身义工行列，通过ACES Care支援热线聆听和照顾年长者的需要，及把他们转介给相关机构。这个由乐龄义工帮忙经营的支援热线号码为6797 6797，服务时间是周一至周五上午9时至下午5时。洪秀芳每周值勤四次，每次约三小时。她与年长者聊天时，也会趁机教导他们防范各种骗局。洪秀芳在助人的过程中找到了人生意义，她说：“能够帮助年长者解决他们的问题，给我带来了喜悦和成就感。”

[Malay]

Cik Angie Ang, 60 tahun, pemimpin akar umbi di Teck Ghee, menjadi relawan dengan talian ACES Care HelpLife untuk membantu warga emas lain mencari tujuan dalam menjalani penuaan, sedia mendengar dan membantu mereka dengan tugasan harian. Beliau berkata: “Ia memberi satu kegembiraan dan kepuasan untuk membantu warga emas menyelesaikan masalah mereka.”

[Tamil]

டெக் கீயில் அடித்தளத் தலைவராகத் தொண்டாற்றும் 60 வயது திருவாட்டி ஏஞ்சி ஆங், ACES Care HelpLife நேரடித் தொலைபேசி சேவையில் தொண்டூழியம் புரிகிறார். மற்ற மூத்தோர்கள் முதுமையில் மகிழ்ச்சி காண அவர் உதவுகிறார். அவர்களின் பிரச்சனைகளைக் கேட்டறிந்து, தேவையான உதவிகளைச் செய்கிறார். “மூத்தோர்கள் தங்களது பிரச்சனைகளுக்குத் தீர்வு காண உதவி செய்வது எனக்கு மகிழ்ச்சியும் மனநிறைவும் அளிக்கிறது,” என்றார் அவர்.