Helping the Aged age gracefully
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:54 pm
//Editor's note: Topic selected and edited for Portal publication.
Hi,
I'm not selling anything here, just a feedback on the change in my MIL. And any of you might wanna consider this programme for your parents.
The change is apparent with my MIL who was (back in June) still suffering from very strained relationships with her hubby and son.
How we got to know of this programme:
DH and I were sending DS1 to wushu and we met up my JC friend for lunch, while DS1 was at wushu. Through the conversation, we got to know that she was newly employed by Yah 快乐学堂 http://www.yah.org.sg as a Receptionist. She started telling us that this 快乐学堂 is funded by the government to set up courses, targetting at the aged at a much subsidised fee. No age limit for the courses.
The courses which were due to start in June this year was 'Learning of Magic Tricks' or 'Chinese Medicine'. We went to her office and read through the contents for the course. It was pretty interesting for it was a full day programme (Thursday or Saturday), with speakers of the targetted programme giving formal lessons and there'll be coursework and 'exam/projects'. DH decided that he would want to explore 'Chinese Medicine' with his mum and got her to attend this course. He paid for $300-400 for a 10 week course.
MIL had attended the orientation complete with ice-breaker games, conversation sessions and they were further divided into small groups for group activities. The orientation lasted half a day and her feedback was: the games were very fun.
Week after that, she came back from lesson 1 with loads of information to share, there was homework to do and presentation to prepare for. 3 weeks later, she was getting a little stressed up and wanted the easier way out - give up halfway through the course. But her coursemates (now friends) told her to endure through the 10 weeks. Soon, at every weekend where we met them for dinner, she started sharing research studies, food receipes with DH and me. She even taught me how to cook herbal dishes. This took her attention and negative energy away from the prolonged family problems.
She started giving attention to her physical appearance and dress sense. Even her conversation topics no longer hovered around her son, financial woes and her husband. It was alot deeper and there is quality in her sharings. DH even encouraged her to mix around alot more.
On the last week of the course, she was 'forced' to share her life story, how she came to know about 快乐学堂 and the difference it made to her life. Though she resisted at first, she gathered enough courage to share on stage. 2 weeks after that, she was still telling everyone how nervous she felt on stage and how happy she was to be able to tell people about her 'sad' story, and not to mention, the applause she got from her audience. The 10 weeks were spent so meaningfully that it created a marked change in her. DH was surprised and very touched with what he saw with just $400.
The course had a graduation ceremony to signify the completion of the course. Aunties and Uncles of the golden age dress up like graduates and they had to go to the stage to receive their certificate. It will be a proud moment to her. She is even practising hard now at the karaoke with her coursemates so that she will be prepared to perform on stage with her song! We will be there to witness her graduation ceremony.
This is a very good course that MCYS is funding and is targeting at the retirees and aged in helping them to find a healthier lifestyle while aging. It's meaningful and I hope to share this with parents here. Do encourage your own parents to sign up and witness the change and happiness in their lives.
快乐学堂 has now relocated to the west - Jurong Point Mall and is targetting the westies.
Hi,
I'm not selling anything here, just a feedback on the change in my MIL. And any of you might wanna consider this programme for your parents.
The change is apparent with my MIL who was (back in June) still suffering from very strained relationships with her hubby and son.
How we got to know of this programme:
DH and I were sending DS1 to wushu and we met up my JC friend for lunch, while DS1 was at wushu. Through the conversation, we got to know that she was newly employed by Yah 快乐学堂 http://www.yah.org.sg as a Receptionist. She started telling us that this 快乐学堂 is funded by the government to set up courses, targetting at the aged at a much subsidised fee. No age limit for the courses.
The courses which were due to start in June this year was 'Learning of Magic Tricks' or 'Chinese Medicine'. We went to her office and read through the contents for the course. It was pretty interesting for it was a full day programme (Thursday or Saturday), with speakers of the targetted programme giving formal lessons and there'll be coursework and 'exam/projects'. DH decided that he would want to explore 'Chinese Medicine' with his mum and got her to attend this course. He paid for $300-400 for a 10 week course.
MIL had attended the orientation complete with ice-breaker games, conversation sessions and they were further divided into small groups for group activities. The orientation lasted half a day and her feedback was: the games were very fun.
Week after that, she came back from lesson 1 with loads of information to share, there was homework to do and presentation to prepare for. 3 weeks later, she was getting a little stressed up and wanted the easier way out - give up halfway through the course. But her coursemates (now friends) told her to endure through the 10 weeks. Soon, at every weekend where we met them for dinner, she started sharing research studies, food receipes with DH and me. She even taught me how to cook herbal dishes. This took her attention and negative energy away from the prolonged family problems.
She started giving attention to her physical appearance and dress sense. Even her conversation topics no longer hovered around her son, financial woes and her husband. It was alot deeper and there is quality in her sharings. DH even encouraged her to mix around alot more.
On the last week of the course, she was 'forced' to share her life story, how she came to know about 快乐学堂 and the difference it made to her life. Though she resisted at first, she gathered enough courage to share on stage. 2 weeks after that, she was still telling everyone how nervous she felt on stage and how happy she was to be able to tell people about her 'sad' story, and not to mention, the applause she got from her audience. The 10 weeks were spent so meaningfully that it created a marked change in her. DH was surprised and very touched with what he saw with just $400.
The course had a graduation ceremony to signify the completion of the course. Aunties and Uncles of the golden age dress up like graduates and they had to go to the stage to receive their certificate. It will be a proud moment to her. She is even practising hard now at the karaoke with her coursemates so that she will be prepared to perform on stage with her song! We will be there to witness her graduation ceremony.
This is a very good course that MCYS is funding and is targeting at the retirees and aged in helping them to find a healthier lifestyle while aging. It's meaningful and I hope to share this with parents here. Do encourage your own parents to sign up and witness the change and happiness in their lives.
快乐学堂 has now relocated to the west - Jurong Point Mall and is targetting the westies.
, imagine the damage done if we hadn't told MIL that she is doing very well. The next day, MIL even asked us if she was doing alright during the wedding dinner. DH told his mum to ignore his sis's comments. I was clenching my fist throughout the dinner while I endured SIL's nonsense. 
I don't pity your SIL and her own "act". Ignore her, Winth...not worth trying to convince these typically negative people. One would have thought she'd be more encouraging since this is HER mother! Can't she see the efforts your MIL is putting in?