RCs can engage seniors, revive kampung spirit

I refer to this week’s Talking Point, “Will I be lonely when I’m old?”

In many households, due to the rising cost of living, both husband and wife — and, in some cases, the children — work from morning to evening, leaving elderly family members by themselves. The latter may then feel neglected and unwanted.

While Senior Activity Centres do provide our aged with an avenue to mingle with their peers in the neighbourhood, Residents’ Committees (RCs) could play an important role to improve their lives by engaging them and organising activities.

RCs could also engage housewives to look out for seniors and visit them, say, twice a week to enquire after their well-being.

I remember that, in the 1980s, RC members were assigned to each apartment block and knew about the needs of the aged, the sickly or those who stayed indoors all the time.

We should endeavour to revive the kampung spirit. It can be the glue to bind our society as one big, united family, regardless of race, creed or status.