|
June 2008 Visits
Visit on 28 June 2008 -
Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled (BHID)
Hi Fellow
Volunteers,
Once again PAT session was held at the canteen which was quite hot and humid for
our therapy dogs as well as for the volunteers. We hope the administrator of
BHID will see our point and allow us to provide PAT session at the auditorium.
This would allow us to implement our planned therapy activities to meet the
special needs of the residents. Basically, we would like to cover, to name a
few: - walking exercise, flash card play, memory card play and most likely to
include musical chair which was very well accepted and enjoyed by ID
(intellectually disabled) residents of other home. We hope the management will
get the opportunity to read this report.
The hot afternoon did not deter the volunteerism spirit in cheering up the ID
residents We had a wonderful one hour session of interaction. My heartfelt
thanks to the following helping hands and healing paws:
- Hilda Lim &
Gregory with Pepper / Mini Schnauzer
- Lok Tin
Chan & Hubby with Bobby / Shih Tzu
- Evangeline
Koh and nephew Sebestian & Harrison with Pepper & Perdi /
Shetland Sheepdog
- Francis &
Evelyn Yip with Cash / Corgi
- Elaine Lui
& mum Soo Fen with Polar / Samoyed
- Rebecca
Kwan with Cocoa / Maltese
- Eunice Wang
with Baileys / Shetland Sheepdog
- Charlie Ho
with Silky / Golden Retriever & Stallion / GSD
As usual,
Soo Fen continued playing the memory card play with a group of enthusiastic
ID residents. It really stimulated the memory skills of the ID residents.
As mentioned in my previous reports, I focused on the young lady, her name
is Tham Shu Min, a reserved person - never smile and always kept silence.
However, she enjoyed being with Silky and smiled when Silky retrieved the
dumbbell. Furthermore, it took us sometime with the help from BHID staff,
Shu Min took Silky for a walking exercise. It's really a great achievement
to all of us.
A warm welcome to Jelyn Kho who came as an observer. Jelyn is a seasoned PAT
volunteer as she was a PAT volunteer with SKC. We shall look forward to
seeing Jelyn and Fluffy/Shih Tzu in action soon.
Our achievements for the day are
Cognitive / Communication / Socialisation Therapy
- encourage residents to call and remember the names of the dogs.
- memory card play to develop mental abilities
- stimulate conversation
Motor / Physical / Sensory Therapy
- walking exercise with therapy dogs
- encourage residents to stroke and touch the dogs
Please be reminded that the next visit is to AWWA on 4th July. Please visit
our website for the details;
Warmest regards
Charlie Back to Previous Page
Visit on 27
June 2008 - MINDSville
Hello to all TDS volunteers!
We're halfway through the year (scary thought!) which means another 4th Friday
has gone by and we were at MINDSville once again. This week, as a TDS first, we
tried that to implement a more structured animal assisted therapy (AAT) program
at MINDSville. Jessie, Paola and I have been working on this for a couple of
months, and finally today, it came into fruition - will kind of, with some
hiccups that hopefully will be ironed out once we are more experienced.
In summary, to all those that weren't there to 'witness' our pilot program - we
divided the session into 2 halves - the first being a more skills-based session
where different patient groups work on their specific tasks as advised by the
therapists - one group concentrated on arm and hand movement exercises, along
with eye focusing by playing 'fetch' with our dogs, another group concentrated
on gross motor movement skills with the dog walks, and the third worked on fine
motor skills with patting and brushing. The second half of the program was based
on social skills - we tried out musical chairs this week - and I think it has
been a long time since most of us volunteers played musical chairs! It was a bit
chaotic at first as Jessie and I didn't know how it will all turn out, but
thanks to my supportive 'guinea pig' team, I think by the end of it, the
patients and all of us had a bit of a laugh! Jessie and I will work on an
improved version for the future - will keep you all posted!.
My Friday Troopers - you will be pleased to know that despite all appearing a
bit confused and chaotic, I did receive POSITIVE feedback from Jessie and her
team. YAY! Jessie mentioned that by doing a more structured program and we all
sticking to our given tasks, all the patients got a chance to participate and
benefit from the program, rather than the more enthusiastic patients 'hogging'
the dogs all the time, and they less social ones being isolated on the
periphery. Jessie and I will work on a way to make it less confusing if we do
swap groups halfway. But please do let us know if you have any suggestions! Much
appreciated!
And for all those that weren't there, here's my ever-supportive Friday Trooper
list for this week
- Alicia Chue with Diva / Labrador Retriever
- Judy Blyth with Cara / Miniature Schaunauzer
- Constance Ong with Xian / Labradoodle
- Charlie Ho with Stallion / GSD and Silky /
Golden Retriever
- Monique Hsu and kids with Nani / Maltese and
Lilo / Maltese
- Vincent Ho with Gigi / Beagle
- Melinda Ann Michael and son Shane with
Chewbacca / Catalan Sheepdog and Cleo / Miniature Daschund.
- Marjorie Ting - Helping hand
- Louiza Chan with Grace / Spoodle and
Beatrice / Spoodle
Silky - I'm glad you are feeling better this
week - you look fab with your trim figure!
Marjorie - I hope you had a bit of fun today, my apologies that Beatrice and
Grace were being spoilt brats with you! If you give them time, they'll get
there - ask Paola, HAHA!
and Paola - we miss you!!! ESPECIALLY BEATRICE! (who spent half the time
trying to look for you with her toys...so sad)
wish you were there to see your work being 'played out'.
Our next Friday visit, I believe, will be to AWWA. Stay tuned for the
reminder.
Until next time,
Louiza, Grace-pie and Beatrice-Bear.
PS Calling all Friday Troopers - if you have never given Charlie a photo of
your dog (for certificate or whatever), could you please do so? Charlie is
going to compile the photos of all the Friday regulars to make up a set of
memory game cards. Please make sure the photo you sent in is clear and a
representative of what your dog looks like (hmm, a no-goer on my part! No
one could recognize Grace and Bea with the photos Charlie have of them!..:P)
Back to Previous Page
Visit on 20
June 2008 - Sunshine Welfare Action Mission Home (SWAMI)
Dear fellow volunteers,
It's the weekend (well, nearly!) and that means another Friday has gone by and
you are reading yet another report from the Friday Troop at TDS once again. This
week, we were at SWAMI home in Sembawang, a bit of a trek for most of us, but
none-the-less, a fulfilling visit. We sadly bid farewell to Mercy, the
coordinator for the TDS program at SWAMI, who is heading back home to the
Philippines for good. We wish you all the best and bon voyage Mercy! You have
been an absolute gem and a great supporter of our work. In her place, Rex, our
other familiar face at SWAMI, will take over to be the coordinator.
This week at SWAMI, we were welcomed to the dementia ward with the smells of
Chee Kueh (sorry, I can't write Singlish, but I hope most of you will get what I
am referring to) and a bunch of bubbly volunteers from the various branches of
GOOGLE around the world. GOOGLE the company has instilled some volunteer program
(good stuff!) and the staff were there to I guess, volunteer! Most of them have
never heard of animal assisted activities and therapy work and so it was also a
good lesson to educate more people in the world about the benefits and wonders
of such therapy. So this week, not only did we get the oohs and ahhs from our
patients, we also got them from the GOOGLE volunteers!
Enough said. Back to business. This week, we shared our love around with the
uncles and aunties of the dementia ward, giving them chances to move about by
taking our poochies for walks to stretch their legs and strengthen their grips
whilst holding the leash. Some of the dogs obediently (or one, disobediently,
shall not name names here, Beatrice!) fetched balls and dumbells for the
patients and the rest, just worked their charms by encouraging touch and speech.
It was most encouraging to see that by the little something that we do every
week, we bring such joy and laughter to other people.
Whilst the happy happy joy joy therapy session is happening on the deck, I paid
a special visit with Grace to my favorite patient at SWAMI - Uncle Robert. Uncle
Robert is now bed-ridden and much more frail than when I first met him - I still
fondly recall the times that he acted as Beatrice's 'baby'sitter when she was a
puppy for the whole hour, just cuddling and patting her non-stop. And of course,
Beatrice, taking it all in happily. Despite being in pain, Uncle Robert still
made the effort today to wake up from his nap and say hello to Grace and me,
giving Grace a pat on the head, and forever being thankful for us taking the
time to come and visit. My prayers are with you, Uncle Robert! Stay Strong!
On this note, before I get all teary, let me not forget to thank my wonderful
team of volunteers:
- Alicia Chue with Diva / Labrador Retriever
- Francis and Evelyn Yip with Cash / Corgi
- Judy Blyth with Cara / Miniature Schaunauzer
- Constance Ong with Xian / Labradoodle
- Charlie Ho with Stallion / GSD
- Monique Hsu with Nani / Maltese and Lilo /
Maltese
- Paola Ng - Helping hand with Beatrice
- Chenny Tan - Helping hand
- Marjorie Ting - Helping hand
- Louiza Chan with Grace / Spoodle and
Beatrice / Spoodle
Our next Friday visit is to MINDSville -
please refer to our website and the reminder for more details - hopefully,
we will be kicking off with our structured therapy sessions this coming
week!
Finally, just a quick note to wish Paola bon voyage as she heads off to the
States for the next 3 months - we will all miss you muchly, especially
Beatrice!
And Silky, get better soon!
Till next time!
Louiza, Grace and Beatrice.
Back to Previous Page
Visit on 14
June 2008- Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (BMND)
Hi All,
It’s me again. J. Hope you’ve all been well.
Apologies for this late report as it been yet another busy period for me. Yup,
as you can see, I’m still up at this hour. L
We had a fantastic visit to BMNH on Saturday 14th June 2008 with a good turn out
of volunteers and their dogs.
With Thanks to Our Helping Hands and Healing Paws Stars of the day. They
include;
- Charlie Ho
with Stallion (German Shepherd) and Silky (Golden Retriever)
- Elaine Lui
and Mum Soo Fen with Polar (Samoyed)
- Patricia Koh
with Brutus (English Bulldog)
- Ann and
Esther with Vickie (Maltese)
- Melissa Tan
with Shemuel, Ammiel and sister Ainee and her two dogs Horlicks (Labrador
Retriever) and Mooji (Chihuahua)
- Yvonne with
Enormous and Nano both mini Daschunds and her friends
Priscilla and Josephine.
- Rebecca Kwan with
Cocoa (Maltese)
It was definitely
great to have Vickie join us again. As usual, she was ever so obedient and calm
while the aunties and uncles hugged and showered her with love. However,
unfortunately Ann has advised that Vickie somehow fell off one of the
wheelchairs during the session and will have to be out of action again for the
next few months until she is well again. We send our best regards to Vickie and
wish her speedy recovery!
We had the boys Shemuel and Ammiel delight our afternoon by playing some
beautiful piano pieces.
Michelle came by for the first time as an observer and I’m sure she had a great
time getting to know the dogs as well as the residents. We hope she can join us
with her dog Yaki next month.
Thanks to Sigi who was there to lend her support and, as usual to advise us
which uncles and aunties were eagerly waiting for their turn to carry and
interact/feed the dogs.
Schedule for July 2008.
The next visit at BMNH will be on Saturday 12th July 08.
Hope our new volunteers and observers enjoyed the visit and will continue to
support TDS and make time for BMNH and the many homes we visit each month.
Please do visit our website at www.tdspore.org for the latest updates on
upcoming visits.
Catch you again soon!
Take Care,
Rebecca & little Cocoa
Back to Previous Page
Visit on 13
June 2008 - Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens (TTHSC)
Hi Fellow Volunteers,
We had a good turn out of 10 experienced volunteers, 9 equally seasoned therapy
dogs and 3 experienced students volunteers who came and cheer up the senior
citizens of TTHSC, including:
- Louiza Chan with Grace & Beatrice /
Spoodle
- Alicia Chue with Divan / Labrador
Retriever
- Elaine Lui, sis Emily , mum Soo Fen with
Polar / Samoyed
- Francis and Evelyn Yip with Cash / Corgi
- Judy Blyth with Cara / Miniature
Schaunauzer
- Constance Ong with Xian Labradoodle
- Paola Ng - Helping hand with Beatrice
- Chenny Tan - Helping hand with Silky
- Marjorie Ting - Helping hand
- Charlie Ho with Silky / Golden Retriever
and Stallion / GSD
My sincere thanks to all volunteers who brave the
afternoon heat to bring joy and comfort to our aunties and uncles especially
those who came for the first time to TTHSC. The residents had a great time
patting and hugging our furry big and small dogs and feeding the eager mouths
with treats. As usual, Mdm Koo Chan with a tubful of treats was very popular and
ever ready to feed the dogs. On top of that, Soo Fen with the help of TTHSC
staff started playing memory card game - using pictures of our dogs - with
selected residents. It was a stimulating game that helped the elderly residents
to exercise their mental skills. It gave them a sense of fulfillment when they
did it right.
Our achievements were:
Cognitive/Communication /Socialisation Therapy:
-- encouraging the residents to talk about their good old happy days. Through
conversation, elderly residents maintain mental agility
-- testing some of the residents' memory skills by asking them to recall the
name of our therapy dogs.
-- encouraging the elderly residents to play the memory card game that can help
them to exercise their memory skills.
Motor/Physical/Sensory Therapy:
-- encouraging the residents to throw dumbbell, ball, for our dogs to retrieve -
this is a form of physiotherapy
-- motivating and assisting the residents to move their hands to pat and stroke
the dogs
-- getting the residents to feed treat to the dogs
Our next visit is to SWAMI Home on this Friday, June 20th. Please check out our
website for the details.
Warmest regards
Charlie Ho
Back to Previous Page |
