Saturday, 16 November 2013 – The 2013 Model Caregiver Awards were presented this morning by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health, at an event at Hyflux Innovation Centre.

[slider_pro id=”1″]

Organised by AWWA Centre for Caregivers (CFC), with support from Agency for Integrated Care and SG Enable, the “Celebrating Caregiving” event aimed to highlight stories of exemplary family caregivers who had demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness in managing the challenges of being a caregiver, and to inspire fellow caregivers across Singapore and generate greater awareness among the wider community.

More than 160 caregivers, guests and volunteers came together to celebrate the occasion.

Twenty award recipients were selected from 29 caregiving individuals and families, and domestic helpers, and nominated by various Voluntary Welfare Organisations, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and a Community Development Council. For the domestic helper category, nominations from the public were also sought.

Of these, six individuals/families were selected to receive the two top awards in three categories: The individual caregiver award, the family caregiver award and the caregiver domestic helper award.

[spacer style=”1″ icon=”none”]

2013 Model Caregiver Award: Mariah Bte Ahmad
For the past 14 years, 59-year-old Mdm Mariah has been caring for her nephew Mikhail, who was diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegia. Patient and loving, she cares for him like he is her own child. Mdm Mariah often helps out in Mikhail’s class activities and even educates other caregivers on how to better care for their children. Mdm Mariah’s devotion to Mikhail’s care and development enables her widowed sister to work and support the family.

2013 Model Caregiver Merit Award: Cheong Yoke Cheng
Mdm Cheong demonstrates great strength, love and optimism while caring for her 17-year old son, Joshua, who has Cerebral Palsy. Despite numerous challenges, the 54-year-old mother of two has overcome each with a strong resolve, to become an inspirational pillar of support to her family and the community. She also leads an informal support group of caregivers at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore.

2013 Model Caregiving Family Award: Nuraini Mohd Noor, Yusuf Bin Noordin, Naqiyah Bte Yusuf & Sumini Bte Rasid
Mdm Nurani, her husband Yusuf, and one of their daughters, Naqiyah, are caregivers of two teenagers and a young child with intellectual disability and epilepsy. Mdm Nuraini, who also has epilepsy, taught herself special massage skills to help with her children’s conditions, which have since improved. Despite his shift work, Mr Yusuf helps his wife with grocery shopping, as well as bathing and ferrying the children to and from school. Sixteen-year-old Naqiyah has demonstrated great maturity and understanding in helping to take care of her siblings. This experience has inspired her to aspire to pursue nursing as a career, and to care for others in future. Mdm Nuraini’s mother, Mdm Sumini, also helps with the caregiving duties.

2013 Model Caregiving Family Merit Award: Mala Palmanappam & Jennifer Chua

Mdm Mala and her 18-year-old daughter Jennifer banded together to care for their late husband/father, who was diagnosed with final-stage cancer. Jennifer, who obtained a leave of absence from her Junior College studies, tended to her younger siblings, and took on part-time jobs to supplement her family’s income. Her daughter’s significant role allowed 43-year old Mdm Mala to devote all her time and energy to caring for her husband in his final days. Mdm Mala has since discovered a vocation in nursing, and now cares for others in a nursing home. Jennifer has resumed her studies with renewed determination to pursue her aspiration to study medicine.

2013 Model Caregiving Domestic Helper Award: Satem Bte Nawireja
For the past 12 years, Ms Satem has been caring for 18-year old Colin, who was diagnosed with Lysosome Storage disease. She has also recently begun caring for Colin’s grandfather, who was diagnosed with cancer. The 34-year old Indonesian is extremely dedicated in taking care of Colin. She has not returned home since 2010, as she cannot bear to be away from him. The hardworking Ms Satem juggles caring for Colin and his grandfather with routine household chores, and finds fulfillment in contributing to their happiness and quality of life. She is committed to caring for Colin as long as he needs her, and embraces the Cheam family as her family in Singapore, despite pleas from her own family to return home.

2013 Model Caregiving Domestic Helper Merit Award: Suriya Neman
Ms Suriya hails from Java. The warm-hearted 37-year-old cared for the late Mr Loh Chuan Yick to her utmost ability, and bonded with him emotionally. Despite the language barrier, she learnt to cook Mr Loh’s favourite dishes and even picked up his dialect in order to better communicate with him. The elderly Mr Loh was diagnosed with advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and had bad eczema outbreaks. Ms Suriya diligently applied moisturizer on Mr Loh’s body, and massaged him every night. As a result, Mr Loh’s pains were alleviated, and his skin condition improved significantly. With such dedication, she helped ensure that he stayed out of the hospital for a year. She continues to work with the family and joins Mr Loh’s daughter to pray at the temple for his soul.

[spacer style=”1″ icon=”none”]

About the Awards

In 2007, AWWA CFC launched the Model Caregiver Awards to highlight stories of exemplary family caregivers who had demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness in managing the challenges of being a caregiver.

Besides celebrating caregivers’ dedication and commitment through the annual awards, the aim is also to inspire fellow caregivers across Singapore and to generate greater awareness among the wider community.  A new award category was introduced in 2012 to recognise the significant role that foreign domestic helpers play in helping Singaporean families care for their loved ones. Caregivers were nominated by Voluntary Welfare Organisations and interviewed by a panel comprising representatives from VWOs and health sector agencies.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

GRC system: Wool Over Eyes (Part 2 of 6)

In the second part of a series of articles on the GRC…

长期待业青年易成“茧居族” 私召车成热门工作

近日《海峡时报》一篇报导,探讨我国不工作、不就业、不培训的“尼特族”现象,以及长期失业问题。 其中提及一名20几岁的青年,在失去工程师工作后,迟迟未能找到工作,最终他把自己幽闭在家中,终日以电脑游戏为伍,成为茧居族(hikikomori)。 隐蔽人士,俗称茧居族(hikikomori),由日本心理学家齐藤环在1990年代提出,指人处于狭小空间、不出社会、不上学、不上班,自我封闭地生活6个月以上。他们通常带有低自我价值和社会排斥,本国研究院刘光明(译名)表示。 据悉,该名男子三年未曾出门,对社会产生排斥。他甚至还为自己理发来逃避出门剪头发。一开始,他的妻子还支持他,但最终妻子忍受不了选择离婚。 另一方面,其他失业青年在迫不得已的情况下,最终选择成为私召车司机。 上月,交通部长许文远在国会被要求公布,目前现有各个年龄层的德士司机和私召车登记人数细项。 逾四万人持私召车司机执照 许文远回应,截至今年2月,有4万1000人持有私召车司机职业执照(Private Hire Car Driver Vocational…

王瑞杰:部长、议员将减薪一个月

副总理兼财政部长王瑞杰,今日在国会总结新财年政府财政政策辩论时,宣布所有部长、政治职务者都将减薪一个月、国会议员也将减少一个月的津贴。 他表示此举是为了与国人共度时艰。 此外,总统哈莉玛也同样减薪一月,部分高级公务员也减薪半个月。 他在致辞中也指出,企业和管理高层和工会及工友站在同一阵线,政治领导也会和公务员及人民合作,共同抗疫。 “新加坡得以对疫情作出有效反应,这是因为人民和政府之间的相互信任。”