Hi Fellow Volunteers,
It was quite unusual for a small team of human and canine volunteers on last Saturday PAT session. Maybe it was my faulty because I sent out a reminder on late Thursday evening! However, we spent a wonderful time interacting with the residents. I feel that with more volunteers we could stretch our healing hands and healing paws to more residents.
Our visit to BHID is always a journey of joy, happiness and laughter as the residents warmly greeted us with cheers, handshakes and hugs. Following the usual human and canine interaction, we played some of our PAT activities that could be beneficial to the ID residents:
Memory card game - it's a simple game but a very effective tool that helps the selected residents to improve their memory skills. Imagine how the residents react when they get it right and feel the sense of achievement. My heartfelt thanks to Lui Tuck Yew who faithfully conducts this activity on our monthly visit. Tuck Yew has very tight schedules in his ministry works as well as the works at his GRC ward, and he still can take time to come and help our fellow citizen ... the underprivileged. Much appreciated.
Passing the message game - there will be 3 residents standing in a row, and the dog with the handler (Stallion & Amanda Leong) at the 3rd resident end. I told the 1st resident the command "Sit", then the 1st resident whispered to the 2nd resident, then the 2nd resident to the 3rd resident who then commands the dog to "Sit" ... Stallion will perform it with Amanda's help. This game will continue for the next command "Down" & "Stand". The 3rd resident will move to the 1st resident position ... the 2nd resident will move to 3rd position. The objective is to help the residents to communicate, read and speak. It gives them a sense of fulfillment when the dog "gets it right" and obeys their command.
Mini Obstacle course - to encourage physical movement with the dog by weaving along the row of cones. At the last cone the resident has to command the dog to either "Sit" or "Down" position. Then the resident has to throw the ring (total 5 rings) into the colourful short pole. After that the resident picks up the dog and weaves back to the starting position. The objective is to team up with the dog in walking exercise or physical movement, learn to command the dog and sense of achievement when they do it right ...ring throwing. Although it was our first try at BHID, Alicia and Diva, Elaine and Polar, did a great job in helping the residents to play this activity. A small hiccup but it brought lots of laughter and fun.
I spoke to BHID staff in charge of our PAT session that I plan to continue the above activities, if possible, on a monthly basis. I need from her the names of 3 residents for activity (2) and for activity (3) I will work out a chart to show the level of achievement for 6 months period.
I would like to keep in record with heartfelt thanks to the following attendance:
Alicia Isreal & hubby Simon with Diva & Magic / Labrador
Samantha Yue with Yakuza / Shih Tzu
Mak Mun San, mum & dad with Flash / English Springer Spaniel
Elaine Lui , mum Soo Fen & dad Tuck Yew with Polar / Samoyed
Charlie Ho with Stallion / GSD
A warm welcome to Amanda Leong and her mother who came to observe our PAT session. They are keen to join the next PAT session when their dog Sacha / Toy Poodle has taken the temperament assessment. My thanks to Amanda who helped me to handle Stallion. I shall look forward to seeing Amanda and Sacha in action shortly.
Please check out our website for the details of our next visit.
Have a Happy Easter and a Blessed week ahead.
Warmest regards
Charlie Ho
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Visit on 26 March 2010 - MINDSville
-- Report in progress --
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Visit on 21 March 2010 - Ward 66A Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
Hi Everyone,
Here's the report of our visit to IMH on the 3rd Sunday of March 2010.
We have a good turn out rate this time round :) Thanks for everyone who took their precious time to spend with the ladies in MH Ward 66A.
This time round we have the opportunity to carry out a new activities with the residents. Charlie helped set up a mini obstacle course whereby the resident has walk through with a dog. Some of them participated and it drew the attention of the others. This activity allowed some of them to experience a sense of control when they, together with the volunteer led the dog through the course, and gave command for the dog to stay while they play with the hoops at the end of the course. And with the hoops, they get to do some simple problem solving as they try to adjust the force and distance to throw the hoop so that they can get it through the cone :)
I think some of them had a great time, and someone even sang for our volunteers. Many are also eager to take the leash and walk our dogs.
And there are also those who enjoyed chatting with our volunteers.
Once again, thank you to those who turned up that day.
1. Doris with Bambi
2. Amy and May Leng with Pfeiffer
3. Jane and Mun San with Flash
4. Yolanda with Chewy
5. Charlie with Stallion
6. Soo Fen with Polar
7. Janice Ho and Sharon with Zechy
8. Lishan (McMug absent with apology)
9. Alyssa (observer)
We hope to see you again next month :)
Best Regards,
Lishan
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Visit on 19 March 2010 - Sunshine Welfare Action Mission Home (SWAMI)
Hi Fellow Volunteers,
As usual, PAT session at the dementia ward focused very much on motor skills and communication. Our PAT session continued doing the walking exercise with our dogs including touching and petting our dogs ... such activities have helped the dementia residents to increase motor skills. We encouraged them to communicate and socialize ... I personally enjoyed talking and listening to their stories, thus helping them to relax and open up to others. Our fellow volunteers put in great effort in cheering them up together with their K9 buddies ... lots of fun and laughter.
My heartfelt thanks to the following volunteers. I wish to add that they have big heart and love to all:
Alicia Isreal with Diva & Magic / Labrador
Helen Lea with Rosie / Labrador
Radha Nagesh - Helping Hand
Charlie Ho with Silky / Golden Retriever & Stallion / GSD
I am taking this opportunity in asking our fellow weekday volunteers to make time for a happy hour of PAT session with the loving dementia residents. They need your help!
Have a Happy Easter and a Blessed week ahead.
Warmest regards
Charlie Ho
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Visit on 13 March 2010- Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (BMNH)
Hi everyone
We had a huge crowd of residents who wanted to meet with our canine volunteers on Saturday 13 March -- more than 50 residents filled the Hall of Praise, 'parking' themselves around sides of the hall as well as in the centre! It must be because they missed our dogs after we had to cancel our Feb visit due to CNY.
Our dogs were kept very busy as they went around to each resident who wanted some time with both big and small canines. Whilst some residents fed treats to the dogs, others were happy to have the small ones Yaki and Hayden simply rest on their laps. Still others enjoyed chatting with our linguistically-skilled volunteers in Cantonese, Teochew and Hokkien.
Many thanks to those who made a special effort to come, including Pearly and Joshua with their larger-than-life black and white team of Sam, Caleb and Grace, ever-faithful Michelle with cuddly Yaki, and Charlie and Stallion, who made his presence felt despite being on MC. We also welcomed Lay Hui with Hayden joining us for the first time at BMNH, and observers Mandy, Linnette and Shelly, who took time to interact with the residents as well. We were also happy to have Davinia who, as usual, brought beautiful flowers to present to the ladies in the Home -- it was certainly a nice touch to end our visit :)
For the record, the following faithful volunteers made a HUGE difference that day:
1. Charlie Ho with Stallion/GSD
2. Michelle Loh with Yaki/Dachshund
3. Ang Lay Hui with Hayden / CKCS
4. Pearly Cheong and Joshua Koh with Samuel and Caleb /Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Grace/Border Collie
5. Elaine Lui and mum Soo Fen with Polar/Samoyed
Many thanks also to Pearly and Joshua who took time to visit the bed-bound patients in the wards with their trio. It certainly made a huge difference to them!
Those who have been regular will understand that it takes time to get to know the residents, to help them get familiar with us and open up to us. So, for this to happen, we will need volunteers who are committed to making time on the second Saturday of each month.
We looking forward to seeing more volunteers, as we have been invited to 'adopt' specific individual residents at BMNH so that we can better meet their needs, and to visit the bed-bound patients in the wards. We have plans and great ideas of what we can do, but we will not be able to carry them out unless we get more committed volunteers onboard!
cheers
Soo Fen
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Visit on 12 March 2010 - Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens (TTHSC)
Hi Fellow Volunteers,
A strong weekday team, made the visit to the very efficiently run TTHSC, met with the usual large group of elderly residents all seated patiently and eagerly awaitring our arrival. As usual, we did not waste much time in making our rounds to interact with each resident. It seems that Stallion missed Mdm Khoo Chan for the past 2 months visit as she was not at the PAT session. Mdm Khoo Chan always has a tubful of treats for the dogs She is very popular with our dogs. I hope she is well and good but needs just some rest.
My sincere thanks to our regular weekday volunteers for their time and efforts in sharing their dogs' unconditional love with our fellow senior citizens
- Lyn Loh and friend Zach with Kobi / Cojack
- Helen Lea with Rosie Labrador
- Corrinne Choo and Billy with Flapper / Labrador, Pica / Shih Tzu & Maggie / Miniature Pinscher
- Alicia Isreal with Magic & Diva / Labrador
- Melinda Ann Michael with Chewy / Catalan Sheepdog & Cleo / Datschund
- Lillie Tien with Ollie / Poodle
- Charlie Ho with Stallion / GSD
A warm welcome to Lyn Loh & Kobi who came to TTHSC for the first time. and interacted very well with the residents like a seasoned PAT volunteer. Lyn is a Yoga teacher. We are looking into the possibility of introducing Yoga session to the elderly. I spoke to Bryan on this issue so that he can sound out the idea to the management of TTHSC. Lyn and I are still working on this project.
We will miss Lille Tien and Ollie on our weekday visit as Lille is going back to work. However, our weekend team will gain a dedicated and experienced human and canine volunteer as Lille will try to make weekend visit.
We always have a wonderful hour of good time with the residents. I know it's sometime uncomfortable at the afternoon heat ... as a saying " for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the session .. because it means you have been capable of working hard!" I hope to see many volunteers come forward and join us for a meaningful and enjoyable PAT session. To those who can join us at SWAMI Home visit ... I see you to-morrow, OK!
Have a happy and blessed week ahead.
Warmest regards
Charlie Ho
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Visit on 5 March 2010 - Asian Women's Welfare Association Special School for Children (AWWA)
Hello All
We had a lovely turn out of volunteers and children on Friday. As usuall, the children were really excited to see us and some of us really had our hands full :o)
Some children actually remembered a few of the dogs and volunteres. One of the boys even rushed up to our lovely helping hand Radha and touched her face. It was endearing to see that! He remembered Radha after 3 months of our absence!
We had a group of kids with their teacher who were afraid of dogs, so they just sat and watched the dogs doing tricks and being stroked. Surprisingly, later on one of the children from the group decided to walk our dogs. Fantastic !!........it actually takes a lot of effort for these children to overcome their fears!!! Hopefully on our next visit, the teacher will come up and walk the dog.
Another observation, was a child on wheelchair, with tightly clenched fist at first.......later on slowly allowed her teacher to opened it to pat our dogs.
See, we do make a difference in their lives, it may be little but we do help them....... :-)
Above are only some of the special moments that I encountered, please feel free to let me know if you had observered some special moments with the children.
Appreciation and gratitude for this visit goes out to our dedicated weekday volunteers
Alicia Isreal with Diva & Magic / Labrador
Helen Lea and Hubby Barry with Rosie / labrador
Gwen Wong with Chou Chou / Chow Chow
Melinda Ann Michael with Chewy / Catacan Sheepdog and Cleo / Dachshund
Lille Tien with Ollie / Poodle
Ang Lay Hui with Hayden / CKCS
Corrinne Choo and Billy with Pebble / Labrador, Maggie / Miniature Pincher & Pica / Shih Tzu
Charlie and Mabel Ho with Silky / Golden Retriever
Lena and Charis with Sammy / Chihuahua
Radha Nagesh - Much needed Helping Hand
Janelle Teng - Much needed Helping Hand
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.......YOU ARE ALL ANGELS.......!!!!!
Have alovely weekend and God Bless :o)
Melinda
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