Hi Fellow Volunteers,
We were warmly welcomed by the cheerful residents with smiles, handshakes and even hugs from those who recognise us the faithful volunteers who are there every month. We spent lots of time just chatting, playing with the dogs, and doing a large-sized jigsaw puzzle which I had brought. It was very good to discover that they could handle the puzzle with some help, and that they enjoyed thoroughly as they tried it a few times over! I shall bring an extra puzzle next time.
Many many thanks to the following volunteers who came, gave and shared with them the unconditional love of their therapy dogs:
1. Fiona Yeo with JJ and Mei Mei/JRT
2. Jelyn Kho with Fluffy/Shih Tzu
3. Marjory Yeoh and husband Shing Tai with Snowball/Great Pyrenees
4. Soo Fen with Polar/Samoyed
We sorely missed Charlie and Mabel and their tribe Stallion and Silky, and look forward to having them back in action very soon.
Once again, my heartfelt thanks to those who came to bring joy, love and happiness to the residents. Please keep up the good work and I hope to see more of you at the next visit.
cheers
Soo Fen
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Visit on 28 May 2010 - MINDSville
-- May Visit Cancelled --
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Visit on 21 May 2010 - Sunshine Welfare Action Mission Home (SWAMI)
Hi, fellow volunteers,
We had a small team of 4 helping hands and 5 healing paws during our monthly visit to SWAMI Home. As usual, the dementia residents were seated patiently awaiting our arrival and welcomed us warmly. Our one hour there was very productive as we started immediately walking exercise with the dogs. They enjoyed taking the dog for a walk without much encouragement and persuasion ...
Misty, our new therapy dog, was the star attraction, she placed herself cosily in the company of few grandmas! They had a whole lot of questions to ask .. about her diet.. walk.. bath.. etc.. it was a glee to the eyes to see Misty patiently listening to them & then turning towards her official translator Steven to answer them.. a beauitful sight to cherish for our lives.. :-)
I personally enjoyed watching Diva ! She actually paused & gave a deep look to Daniel, the new therapist of the Home, before she agreed to be handled by him.. and they became good friends thereafter...
Chewy, Cleo & Magic are by now veterans at their job and can teach us a lesson or two on patience & committment.
PAT session at this home focussed very much on physiotherapy and communication. The dementia residents interacted first with the dog and then started to communicate with the handler.
My heartfelt thanks to the PAT team who came and helped make this visit such great fun
Melinda Ann Michael with Chewy / Catacan Sheepdog & Cleo / Dachshund
Alicia Isreal with Diva & Magic / Labrador
Steven with Misty/ Golden Retriver
Radha Nagesh - Helping Hand
Thankyou, Ann, Kamaljeet, Naz, Seidel, Daniel and few seniors from the day care, for your warm welcome each time we visit you.
Charlie & Mabel , we missed you .. I am quoting from one of your mail sent to to all of us sometime back...
What is it that makes me better?
Whatever makes you ..............
more compassionate,
more sensible,
more detached,
more loving
more humanitarian
more responsible,
more ethical
Have a nice and blessed week ahead.
Warmest regards
Radha Nagesh
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Visit on 16 May 2010 - Ward 66A Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
Hi Everyone, Here's the report of our visit to IMH on the 3rd Sunday of May 2010.
We have a good turn out this time round :) And let's welcome Nathini, her brother (so sorry forgot your name), and Ram who joined us for the first time!!!! Clap clap clap clap. Thanks to everyone who spend their precious time with the ladies in MH Ward 66A.
This time round some of our volunteers, together with their dogs went for a walk with the residents along the common corridor on level one, providing the residents with some form of physical exercises and a give them a change in their daily routine.
Of course, there are also some who stayed behind in the ward to accompany the other residents. Perdi had been particularly patient and was a delight for some of the residents as she sat quietly on their laps while they held her. One of the ladies actually sang to her. The residents also enjoyed the small chats they had with our volunteers. We hope that through the interactions with our volunteers and dogs, it'll help them emotionally and mentally as they shared their thoughts with us.
Once again, thank you to those who turned up that day.
1. Nanthini and brother with Ram
2. Yolanda with Chewy
3. Soo Fen and Elaine with Polar
4. Lishan and Chin Yang with McMug
5. John and Doris with Zorro
6. Janice Ho with Zechy
7. Evageline with Pepper and Perdi
We hope to see you again next month :)
Best Regards,
Lishan
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Visit on 14 May 2010 - Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens (TTHSC)
-- Report in progress --
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Visit on 8 May 2010- Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (BMNH)
Hi everyone
Once again, we were warmly welcomed into the Hall of Praise by the residents, who had been eagerly awaiting our arrival. It was a wonderful time of renewing our acquaintance with the dog lovers among them, who are always happy to see us.
We had lots of socialisation therapy, as we chatted about our dogs, about their past week, exchanged jokes, and even sang along with the 'resident-singer'. The residents were also happy to feed doggie treats to our ever-hungry canines!
We were so very excited and happy to welcome back Patricia, who has returned with Brutus after more than a year of absence! Brutus had always brought so much laughter and joy to the residents, and we know he will do the same again upon his return. We also warmly welcomed Angeline with Bernice, another friendly Bernese Mountain Dog to join our regulars Sam and Caleb.
For the record, the faithful volunteers and canines were:
1. Charlie Ho with Stallion/GSD
2. Mabel Ho with Silky/Golden Retriever
3. Patricia Koh with Brutus/English Bull Dog
4. Mandy Cheng & Lincoln with Casey/Maltese X
5. Angeline Ng with Bernice/Bernese Mountain Dog
6. Pearly and Joshua Koh with Samuel and Caleb/Bernese Mountain Dogs & Grace/Border Collie
7. Ang Lay Hui with Hayden/CKCS
8. Weiqin, human volunteer
9. Kunshan, human volunteer
Once again, many thanks to Joshua and Pearly for taking the time to visit the residents in the wards. Polar also received a special request for a visit too, so we trotted upstairs too :)
Many thanks also to Donna, our co-ordinator at BMNH, for facilitating this visit. Personally it was very helpful for me to hear from her to understand the background and problems of the residents so that we can better reach out to them. Perhaps at the appropriate time the regular volunteers can also receive such information on a confidential basis. We are also considering making a concerted effort to reach out to more residents in the wards. Small dogs and big dogs are welcomed, especially if you are prepared to stay beyond 4 pm! Just drop me a note if you would like to be part of this "Go the Extra MIle" (GEM) team!
Looking forward to seeing you all at the next visit -- check our website for details.
cheers
Soo Fen
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Visit on 7 May 2010 - Asian Women's Welfare Association Special School for Children (AWWA)
-- Report in progress --
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