Jamming studio, academy among features at new Bukit Batok hub for elderly

SINGAPORE — She has just undergone surgery and needs help to move around, but Bukit Batok East resident Susan Teo, 67, was so keen to see the new social service hub at her void deck that she visited the centre yesterday anyway.

The 300 sq m THK Social Service Hub at Block 235 Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 — the second in Singapore after one in Chong Pang opened two years ago — is an integrated hub aimed at promoting active ageing and volunteerism among those aged 50 and above.

Other than an elder academy that will offer courses where content will be driven by what the seniors want — be it to brush up on English or to learn more about computing — it also has a music jamming studio, a mini library and coffee tables for groups to sit around for a chat. There will also be wellness activities to maintain seniors’ physical ability and meet their social needs. In future, it will also serve free meals to needy elderly in the area.

At the hub’s official opening yesterday, Jurong GRC Member of Parliament Halimah Yacob said the centre will help to prevent isolation among the elderly, which is a growing problem.

Although there are active ageing programmes and committees in place in her ward, having a centre that organises regular activities and plans, as well as monitors programmes in a systematic manner is useful, she added.

“We can better serve our seniors in areas (where) we faced constraints before, such as providing them with information on other eldercare services that are available in Singapore,” said Mdm Halimah, who is also Speaker of Parliament.

Two staff from the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC) will oversee the hub and provide information on schemes such as the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund.

The THKMC is the welfare service arm of THK Moral Society, a voluntary welfare organisation here.

Mdm Halimah revealed that she requested for the centre to be set up after seeing her ward “visibly ageing” during her house visits — three in 10 of her constituents, or 18,300 out of 62,000, are aged above 50.

Housewife Ang Bee Lan, 52, welcomed activities such as karaoke and reading on offer at the hub. “It is also a place to just sit and drink coffee with friends and neighbours,” she said.

Ms Teo, a retiree, said she looks forward to using the exercise equipment at the centre when she regains her mobility.

The centre took over S$200,000 to set up, with costs shared between the THKMC and the Bukit Batok East Division. Manpower costs will be borne by the division, said Mr Satyaprakash Tiwari, the charity’s Divisional Director (Elderly and Disability Services).

Already, 140 residents have signed up as members. Anyone can walk into the hub, but signing up will enable follow-ups by staff or volunteers, said Mdm Halimah.

The society’s Chairman Lee Kim Siang said most of the courses will be conducted by volunteer instructors and will be free. There is a need to provide services to seniors while they are healthy, he said. “It’s better to prevent than just to cure.”