The old-folks home was in Convent Bukit Nanas. Don't really know how they managed to do that, have a nursing home in a school... We prepared some food and groceries to give to the residents. Then cousie and I were ushered into a room where the residents had already formed a circle. They were having a sing-along session with the volunteers.
Looked around observing. Many of the residents looked old and frail. When we distributed the red packets, discovered some were even speech or visually impaired. And here they are, in a nursing home, no family to look after them. Though on the bright side, better to have someone looking after you than staying with a family who doesn't even care.
We then went back to the dining hall for lunch. Sit around and suddenly think of my parents. One day, some day, will they be like that too? How am I supposed to look at them without tears welling up? The hands which once fed me may become immobilized by the diseases of old age. One day they may forget everything, but I guess that eases the process of leaving, without anything to worry about? Who knows...
Don't know how the residents actually ended up here. Did they have families? Did their families send them here? If so, how could they bear to do so? Was it financial circumstances? What were their reasons? Sending their parents somewhere out of sight, how do they not worry? Do they still come to visit them? Do they still remember them? Too many questions I want to ask, but are better untouched.
Before leaving, the residents thanked us for visiting and they looked so happy. My uncle said: "Who knows, smiles may be all we see on the surface."
Hopefully they will be able to live happily for the remaining time they have.
