February 2009 Visits

Visit on 28 February 2009 - Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled (BHID)

Hi Fellow Volunteers,

When our therapy dogs walk into the auditorium, residents smile. They appreciate the dog's attention and affection, they enjoy the dog owner's efforts to come and visit. My most sincere thanks to the following human - canine volunteers:

1. John Chua and sister Yan Tai with Micky / Maltese

2. Hilda Lim & hubby Gregory with Pepper / Mini Schnauzer

3. Cathy Chia with Suki / Japanese Spitz & Kuri / Silky Terrier

4. Emily Lui with mum Soo Fen and dad Tuck Yew with Polar / Samoyed

5. Evangeline Koh with Pepper / Shetland Sheepdog

6. Louiza Chan with Grace & Beatrice / Spoodle

7. Rebecca Kwan with Cocoa / Maltese

8. Nora Agoes and 2 friends Song Ting & Ee Jin Jin with Elvis / Golden Retriever

9. Mabel Ho with Silky / Golden Retriever

10. Charlie Ho with Stallion / GSD

A warm welcome to Dr Janice Ho and her friend who came to observe our activities. Janice will join our PAT team shortly after her dog has gone through the temperament assessment. I shall look forward to seeing them in action soon.

Senior writer of Mediacorp, i-weekly publication, Wang Lee Yen and her photographer were at BHID. She was there to get a better understanding to learn more about how TDS and therapy dog work, She will be writing an article on therapy dog for the Chinese "i-weekly" Mediacorp publication.

My appreciation to our seasoned volunteer, Lui Tuck Yew, encouraged a group of residents to play memory card game - a simple play but a very good mental development exercise. Encouraging the resident to speak a simple word of command to our dog is one way for the resident to strengthen speech and communication skills. When our dog does a simple trick, the residents laugh! Laughter is also good for us!

Onca again, many thanks, friends, your dogs bring much laughter to their lives. The most rewarding part of our visit is seeing BHID residents enjoy our companionship, they are relaxed and happy, they wait for us to come by, they do not say a single word but pet our dogs with a smile on their faces.

Warmest regards
Charlie Ho

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Visit on 27 February 2009 - MINDSville

Dear PAT Volunteers,

My apology for not been able to lead the PAT team to MindSville on 27th February as my car was at the service centre for repair. My partners, Silky & Stallion missed all their friends at MindSville.

This is just a short note to record my heartfelt thanks to the following volunteers who came and brought joy and happiness to the residents of MindSville.

• Melinda Ann Michael with Chewbacca / Catalan Sheepdog & Cleo / Daschund

• Corrinne Choo with Flapper / Labrador

• Lyn Woodruff with Elvis / Beagle

My thanks to Melinda who helped me to handle the visit. I was informed that the residents had a good time interacted with the dogs. I received feedbacks that our dogs increased the interaction between the dog's owner and the residents and our therapy dogs provided outstanding companionship and wonderful walking exercise.

A warm welcome to Lyn Woodruff and Elvis who visited MindSville for the first time like a seasoned PAT volunteer. I certainly look forward to meeting them in the next visit.

Warmest regards
Charlie Ho

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Visit on 20 February 2009 - Sunshine Welfare Action Mission Home (SWAMI)

Hi Fellow Volunteers,

The month of February weekday visits is expected to have a smaller team of volunteers as our regular volunteers are absence with apologies. However, the visit was a cosy affair where 4 experienced volunteers with 4 equally seasoned therapy dogs spent quality time with the dementia residents. My heartfelt thanks to the following A* Star volunteers for their gracious support:

• Francis Yip with Cash / Corgi
• Corrinne Choo with Flapper / Labrador
• Heather O'Brien - Helping Hand
• Charlie Ho with Silky / Golden Retriever & Stallion / GSD

Many of you may know Heather O'brien and her dog, Java / Portuguese Water Dog. They were with our PAT team for a short time since June 2006 as they have to return back to USA.. Heather is in town at the moment until early March. She helped me to handle Silky ... a seasoned PAT volunteer.

Our PAT session objectives focus very much on communication and motor skills at this home Getting and encouraging the dementia residents to talk about dogs or themselves can work on cognitive and knowledge skills. Dog - walking exercise including touching and petting our dogs can increase gross motor skills. We shall continue these exercises on our next visit and beyond.

I shall look forward to seeing our weekday volunteers back in action next month.

Warmest regards
Charlie Ho

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Visit on 15 February 2009 - Ward 66A Institute of Mental Health (IMH) 

Hi everyone
We celebrated (NO, not Total Defence Day) Valentine's Day just 1 day late on Sunday 15 Feb with the patients of Ward 66A. It was a pleasant little surprise, with yummy cakes (decorated with little red heart-shaped flags) and drinks, generously sponsored and decorated by Rebecca Kwan and Ann Wee, whose hearts were with our friends even though they couldn't be physically present.

We missed our regular volunteers (Freo was down with rashes, Lishan and Dad had gone back to Perth for her graduation (congrats!!) and Balaji was out of town), but also warmly welcomed new volunteers like Cathy and Jeremy, Janelle and old-timer Louiza who can now only volunteer at weekends instead of Fridays cos of work commitments.

As usual, the patients were very pleased to meet old friends among us, both humans and canines. They enjoyed the cakes, with some coming back for second and third helpings.
After the wonderful tea, we had a record number of patients for our regular Sunday stroll -- 12 patients with some sharing dogs for the walk. It was an excellent opportunity to get to know the patients one-on-one, and they were very happy to walk and chat along the way.

Many thanks to those who made time:

1. Charlie and Mabel Ho, with Stallion/GSD and Silky/Golden Retriever
2. Bian Yu Wei and friend Ivan with Rafa/Mini Schnauzer
3. Cathy Chia and Hubby Jeremy with Suki/ Japanese Spitz and Kuri / Silky Terrier
4. Louiza Chan with Grace and Beatrice/Spoodle
5. Beautrice Wong with Skippy/Silky Terrier
6. Evangeline Koh and nephews Sebastian and Harrison with Pepper, Pongol and Perdi/Shetland Sheepdogs
7. Arlene Ng with Chopstix/Maltese
8. Janelle Teng, human volunteer
10. Elaine and Emily Lui, dad Tuck Yew and mum Soo Fen with Polar/Samoyed

Among others, we achieved:
1. Cognitive / Communication / Socialisation therapy, in getting the patients to talk about themselves and interact with human and canine volunteers
2. Motor / Physical therapy, through the 20 minute walking exercise, stretching to pat the dogs and carry the smaller ones

THANK YOU once again for the companionship and joy you brought. I discovered that in giving, we always receive so much more in return. I learned from the patients what it means to take one day at a time, and enjoy the moment without worrying too much. Hope you learned something too!


cheers
Soo Fen

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Visit on  14 February 2009- Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (BMNH)

Dear All TDS friends,

On February 14th 2009, right on Valentines Day where usually lovers share a day of romance, gifts and candlelight dinners, friends gather and meet up or loved ones might have spared their time with family or relatives just to get to catch up and know each other better, we too had a special afternoon. Our TDS volunteers came by to spend their afternoon with residents at BMNH and join in a mini Valentines celebration for the residents.

It was great to have had two reasonably sized batches of residents come down and join us in the hour we were there. We started off with our usual fun and catch-up session with the residents after which with the help of our many volunteers that day we distributed out Polar swiss roll cakes (with specially prepared “Happy Valentines Day” hearts) and drinks for the residents. Just a little something which Ann and I had arranged to bring a cheer to our friends at Bethany and to send our love to them.

We had with us our ever passionate TDS volunteers and their lovable pooches;

1. Charlie and Mabel Ho and Stallion (German Shepherd) and Silky (Golden Retriever)
2. Soo Fen and daughter Emily Lui with Polar (Samoyed)
3. Helga with Hilde ( Labrador Cross)
4. Rebecca Kwan with Cocoa (Maltese)
5.. Ann Wee

Introducing our new TDS volunteer who joined us in the first PAT visit and who feedback that they had a wonderful time getting along with the residents;
6. Jacqueline and daughter Cateline as well as Cateline’s friends Gillian, Kavya and Charmaine with Tilly (Shitzu).

Amongst those, friends from Convenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC);
7. Brenda and daughter Alicia with Pearly (Maltese)
8. Lou Ann and Scott Dulaney who graciously helped with capturing the special celebration and moments during the visit.

Some of our regular student volunteers from Pioneer Junior College and not forgetting the ever so helpful Bethany staff Jeslyn and nurses.

Unfortunately Pearly Cheong & Joshua and their foursome furries; Samuel, Caleb, Grace and Gabriel were not able to join us, so little Cocoa went around the wards to continue her 2nd shift at the end of the TDS session. We hope they can come back soon as some of the residents are definitely missing the ‘BIG’ family J

The session was fruitful one and I certainly had a fun and fulfilling afternoon.

Before I end off this email, I heard that Sigi will be returning to Germany after her 3.5 years dedication at BMNH. On behalf of TDS I'd like to extend our gratitude to Sigi who had dedicated much of her time at the home, the works she did for the residents and her helpfulness during our sessions each month. Sigi, All the best back home and in whatever you take on next!

To the rest of our TDS volunteers, I look forward to seeing you and your doggies at our next BMNH visit on Saturday 14th March 2009, 3pm - 4pm.

Best Regards.

With Love,
Rebecca and 'lil Cocoa
 

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Visit on 17 February 2009- Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens (TTHSC)

Hi Fellow Volunteers,

I thought Francis & Evelyn Yip and myself were the only volunteers spent that Friday afternoon with the cheerful residents, as our main hard core weekday volunteers, Alicia and Melinda, were absence with apologies because of work commitment. However, TDS was blessed with new volunteers, Corrinne, Janelle and Paul who came to this home for the first time and brought comfort and laughter to warm the hearts of the residents. Truly appreciate your helping hands

My heartfelt thanks to the following dedicated PAT volunteers:

• Francis & Evelyn Yip with Cash / Corgi
• Corrinne Choo with Flapper / Labrador
• Paul Ho with Coco / Labradoodle
• Janelle Teng - Helping hand (helped to handle Silky)
• Charlie Ho with Silky / Golden Retriever & Stallion / GSD

As usual we always try to encourage and get the residents to communicate ... working on cognitive and knowledge skills including walking exercise, reaching to touch and/or bending to pet the dogs. We have had a good time interacting with them on these exercises during PAT session, hopefully, we made our achievements.

I hope to see more of you on our next visit. Please chech out our website for the details.

Warmest regards
Charlie Ho

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