To spread the joy of the season amidst the community, Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV) has enlisted the help of some four-legged friends to bring that extra spark for the Christmas festivities during a visit to AgeCare Sdn Bhd, a nursing home for the elderly in Cheras.
On 10 December, the geriatric healthcare home was host to the 40-pax crowd that came together to connect with and support its elderly residents. This comprised 10 of the nursing home’s elderly, alongside their caregivers, family members and SMCV’s consultants and employees. With elderly care being a core focus for SMCV, the visit was part of the hospital’s commitment to giving back to the community throughout the year – and this time with a festive spin.
The visit was started with a talk by Dr Ryan Tee Chun Keat, Consultant Psyschiatrist from SMCV who spoke about “Caregiver Burnout Management”, who shared about the importance of caring for those whose main job was to care for others in need.
“Support and assistance for patients is very important to ensure they are well, however the wellbeing of their caregivers should be emphasized well. Caregiving is not an easy task and caregivers are often faced with the various demands of caregiving. As a result, they are at a higher risk of developing physical and mental health issues. Thus, it is very important for caregivers to learn how to manage their stress well and to look after their own mental health needs,” Dr Ryan shares.
Without a doubt, the highlight of the day was the special segment by Fetch Me Later, a boarding and grooming pet centre who brought with them several trained dogs to put on a special ‘pawformance’, and a mingling session with the elderly. This provided for a special time of laughter, joy and excitement as the residents were able to be entertained and entertain themselves by playing with the dogs present.
Studies have shown that pet therapy has a profoundly positive impact, particularly on the elderly. While the special bond between animals and humans have been shown to boost morale, it can also lower the incidents of depression amongst the elderly.
“Elderly patients, or older adults – especially those who are placed in care homes can often feel very lonely and displaced as they are put in an environment that they do not initially consider as their home. Having a pet, or experiencing pet therapy can alleviate these feelings of loneliness, give them something to look forward to, and increase feelings of happiness,” adds Dr Ryan.
Ms Jaya Rajamanickam, Founder of Age Care Sdn Bhd acknowledged SMCV’s consideration not only for the elderly but also for those involved in their care. She also expressed the significance of Dr Ryan’s health talk on caregiver burnout, recognising its value for family members and caregivers who face this unspoken struggle.
She also shared, “Throughout our years of working with the elderly in our home, we are constantly looking for new ways to provide improved care for our residents – we are greatly touched and thankful for SMCV’s visit at this time of the year. This added touch of pet therapy is very welcome, and this is evident from the way our residents’ faces lit up the minute they saw the dogs walk through the doors. We are looking forward to conducting more of these visits and welcome SMCV, and anybody else who would like to add a little light to the life of our residents, at any time.”
Aside from the heartwarming fun, SMCV Consultants were also present to conduct complimentary assessments for the elderly and their family members or caretakers, including Dr Raymond Yeak Dieu Kiat, Consultant Orthopaedic, Trauma and Sports Surgeon who carried out clinical examinations for bone health; Dr Juani Hayyan Abdul Karaf, Consultant Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) and Head and Neck Surgeon who carried out ENT checks, and Dr Lakana Kumar Thavaratnam, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Neuro-Ophthalmologist who conducted eye checks for the elderly and for those present during the event day. There was also an exercise demonstration conducted by SMCV’s Physiotherapy who taught the elderlies on how to lightly exercise if they are seated on the wheelchair.
Sunway Medical Centre Velocity is located at Lingkaran SV, Sunway Velocity. For enquiries, please contact +603 9772 9191 or email smcv-enquiry@sunway.com.my. For more information on Sunway Medical Centre Velocity, visit www.sunwaymedicalvelocity.com.my/ (Facebook: Sunway Medical Velocity).
