Care Pro Spotlight: Soon Mee
It’s December, and the holiday season is in full swing. It’s the time of year for good food, and good friends and family for most of us, but for many others the holiday season can remind them of just how lonely they are. Read on to learn more about how Soon Mee is sharing the joy and love of Christmas with her patient!
Meet Soon Mee!
Soon Mee is an adventurous retiree who aspires to explore any opportunities that are presented upon her. Although retired, Soon Mee is still actively taking up visits with Homage as she believes in the empowering nature of the caregiving field and the flexibility, which has greatly influenced her tenacity. Her prior positions as a legal clerk and a tour guide had honed her people skills, making her an amazing caregiver in Homage.
How has working with Homage shaped your professional or personal journey?
I had no prior experience caring for elderly, but Homage has provided me with plenty of training to up-skill from time to time, which has made me more confident in providing care. Overall, it has made me a better person, one who is more attentive and compassionate.
I’m truly delighted I discovered Homage since it allows me to use my leisure time to serve the elderly by making them smile and doing something worthwhile. – Care Pro Soon Mee
What is the most heartfelt story throughout your journey with Homage?
For visits where I need to bathe the patient, it has always been a habit of mine to carry my own slippers that are non-slippery. There was this one senior who used to laud my non-slip slippers, so the following time I had to shower her, I gifted her a pair of non-slip bathroom slippers of her own to keep her safe while I showered her. She was overjoyed by the modest favour and wanted to reimburse me for the slippers, but I declined because I intended it as a small Christmas gift for her. She can now take a shower on her own with the slippers, even without me.
Why do you choose to provide caregiving services during Christmas with Homage?
Christmas signifies a time of love and joy. However, that might not be the case for everyone.
Many elderly people, especially those with physical restrictions, find it difficult to move around as they previously did, hence, the holidays will be less thrilling as a result of their inability to celebrate the holidays in the same way as others, as is the case for the senior I’m looking after this Christmas. The patient’s family will be abroad for the Christmas holiday, leaving her alone at home; hence, I aim to make her feel at home and well-accompanied even in the absence of her family.
How do you see yourself playing a role to the senior on spending Christmas together? Any activities or gestures planned?
Loneliness and social isolation experienced by seniors do not take the holidays off. In fact, those feelings can be exacerbated by the appearance of togetherness and cheer at every turn.
Sometimes all you need is a little cheer to get in the spirit of the holidays. To avoid feeling the blues, I’m gonna set up a small feast for her while playing all Celine Dion’s Christmas songs to remind her about the greater parts of the holiday season – merry and joy. She also enjoys interacting with others. Since she spends much of her time alone and has no one to speak to, it would be wonderful to spend a full evening catching up and sharing memories.
All of these things help remind us of our favourite holiday memories and traditions, putting us in the right frame of mind to celebrate and enjoy the coming holiday.
What’s your hope/goal for the senior upon receiving your care this Christmas and yourself upon providing care for them?
I want to help the senior overcome any loneliness, boredom, or depression that she could have over the holidays while being far from her family. It’s crucial that I continue to take the initiative and go above and above to ensure that she can celebrate in the same way as other regular people and not feel excluded. I’ll know I’ve succeeded if the senior is pleased and beaming!
In this spirit of togetherness, don’t forget to be on the lookout for individuals who perhaps need a connection during the holiday season. – Care Pro Soon Mee
Offering Primary Caregivers Respite and Support
Homage has many caregivers from different walks of life with the common goal to help seniors and adults in their road to recovery. Our home care and support are aimed at empowering them to continue living healthy, fulfilling lives. At Homage, working as a Care Professional grants you a wide array of opportunities and advantages:
- Stay flexible with a better work-life balance as a freelance, part-time, or full-time Care Professional
- Receive a stable income or competitive salary package that corresponds to their knowledge, skillset, and experience
- Gain opportunities to work with us regularly and tier up in your career pathway as a Care Professional
- Upgrade your skills with holistic and specialised training and certifications from our training partners and in-house specialists
