On an overcast Tuesday morning, Valerie Ng strolls along the corridor of an HDB flat in Bedok, gently knocking on the doors of the seniors she has been assigned to visit for that day. Sometimes, no one answers. But whenever a door does open, she greets the senior with a warm smile and a gentle “How have you been?” Some visits are just a brief check-in, while with others, the conversation lingers, unfolding into family stories and fond memories.
For the past few months, this has been her weekly routine—going door-to-door at an HDB block near her home to check in on seniors who might otherwise slip through the cracks. As a senior outreach volunteer with Goodlife Studio (Bedok), an Active Ageing Centre operated by Montfort Care, she sometimes does visits alone, and at other times pairs up with staff.
Today, she is joined by San San, who carries the checklist of 15 seniors to visit, along with handouts of the month’s programme line-up. Their mission is simple: to reach out to seniors who have not visited the Centre for some time and encourage them to join its activities. Through these visits, Valerie and San San do more than check in—they bring companionship, comfort, and the assurance that someone cares.
Their first stop is the home of Mdm Fatimah, who receives them warmly despite the knee pain she has been struggling with. She ushers them in, happy for the company, as they share the schedule of upcoming activities—from bingo and batik painting, to Rummikub and reformer pilates. Eventually, Mdm Fatimah signs up for the upcoming talk by Changi General Hospital, Empower Your Kidneys, and she is glad that it will be conducted in Malay.
