POSITIONING FOR EARLY DETECTION & INTERVENTION
INSPIRING STORIES
Meals With A Difference
D
orcas serves about 210 clients under
its Meals-On-Wheels programme,
delivering meals to them daily. While most
of the beneficiaries are seniors, some are
in their 40s, with medical conditions that
affect their ability to buy or prepare their
own meals.
Again, the packet of meal hanging on the
gate served as an SOS. Our staff then
alerted the SCDF upon hearing some faint
voice shouting: “Jatuh… Jatuh…” from the
gate.
Besides ensuring adequate nutrition with
each meal delivered, Dorcas’ staff also
assist in monitoring their safety at home
as they come into contact with the seniors. At times, we also encounter false alarms.
One such case, an 87-year-old lady did
not take her bento lunch. After checking
with all the hospitals and no admission
record was found, we alerted the SCDF as
we feared for her safety.
Some seniors are rather reserved and as
Dorcas respects their privacy, meals are
hung on the gate after which the staff will
either knock on the door or inform them
that the meals have arrived. The senior was found sleeping when
the SCDF entered her house and the
paramedics examined and found her to
be stable with no signs of physical or
emotional distress.
Any meals found still hanging on the
client’s gate during the next meal delivery
serves as a red flag in that they may have
had a mishap at home. For Dorcas, each day ends only
when we know the elderly are safe
at home. Each packet of meals
is not only a service given to the
needy but also an Early Detection
and Intervention step for us.
On one occasion, an 88-year-old lady
had a fall and while she managed to get
herself up to the bed, she was too weak
to call for help. The senior’s younger sister
was hospitalised at the time and no one
was around to help her.
Mr Michael Foo
DORCAS Home Care Service
The only SOS was the packet of lunch
hanging on the gate when dinner was
delivered to her. Though she was hurt, she
was unwilling to seek medical assistance.
After much persuasion by our driver, she
finally agreed and was hospitalised.
On another occasion, a 72-year-old lady
fell at home and despite calling for help,
her room was some distance away from
the living room and no one could hear her.
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