Day 01 @ Care Corner

House visit #1 - check if a client has died at home.
Venue: 1-room flat in a rental block at Lor 1 Toa Payoh.

What struck me about the block:
Why isn't there lifts on every floor? Doesn't it make sense to install lifts on every floor? The block has mainly elderly living in it. Is it that there aren't enough elderly living in the block who has difficulty climbing stairs? (Are there actually such statistics around? When the appeal was made to Town Council, what were the reasons presented?)

Also, can I be so bold to see it as an issue of politics? Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC is a walkover GRC. Toa Payoh has a substantial proportion of elderly living in it. Could it be that the voices of the elderly are not heard? What avenues are there for their voices to be heard? How are the elderly engaged meaningfully within the community? (Note to self: find out about svcs for the elderly in TPY and find readings about elderly-related stuff.)

The house:
The house smelled of urine. Minimally furnished with a bed and a chair. Religion seems to play some role - existence of an altar in his house. Both clocks in his house are out of sync with time which might be symbolic of how out-of-touch he may be/feel given that he has been unable to get out of the house for some time.

Client looked unkempt - long, untrimmed hair, beard, long fingernails. Has a swollen-looking right knee. Complained of leg pain.

Upon coming back, I learnt from Lydia that the logistics and financial aspect of planning a seemingly simple program like meal delivery are important considerations - which was why the program was scrapped.

Elderly issues - Important considerations and things to know when working with them.:
their personal hygience,
their health, bills/financies,
their support networks or the possible lack of it. Coming from the ecological systems viewpoint, elderly who live alone in one-room flats may be isolated and lack social support, it is thus important to help them achieve a better 'fit' with their environment by increasing their awareness of community resources and helping them build social networks - interpersonal systems (Hepworth et al., p. 18). --> then how can we help this client to build social support networks? In the first place, is this a concern to him? I think a more immediate need might be his leg problem.
their daily needs, structural issues (are they oppressed? are their voices heard?)
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House visit #2 with Siew Kuan: possible termination or to help client apply for SPMF if applicable. (to be continued).

Was just looking at the CDC website on Comcare. Actually this client can be referred to the Work Assistance Programme right? CDC can help her to find work or take up programs to pick up skills. But this is given that her leg gets better and she is certified to be medically fit for work and she is already eligible cos she earns less than $1500 per month. Cos SPMF can only provide her $80 ($30 for pri sch kid, $50 for sec sch kid) per month for her 2 children. How much can a person do with $80/month?
This house visit allowed me to see that not all clients who need some form of financial assistance are necessarily pessimistic about their situation. For her religion plays a big part, she prays twice daily and decides not to think too much. Plus, she believes her late husband comes back to visit her during times of crisis. So in that sense, this memory of her late husband becomes a crutch for her.