Similar to the concept of childcare centers, senior day care centers can not only alleviate the burden on caregivers and the family, it also allows seniors to connect with people and engage in activities that can reduce cognitive decline. We spoke to Jared Lim and Beatrice Lim, Director and Managing Director of HoviClub Orchard, a private senior day care operator, to discuss the pros and cons of private versus public senior day care centers, and factors that one should consider when selecting a senior day care center.
Name: Jared Lim, Beatrice Lim
Company Name: HoviClub Orchard
Specialization: Senior Day Care Center
Base Country: Singapore
Service style: Personal, communicative, meaningful
Q: Can you tell us about yourself? How did HoviClub Orchard come about?
Jared: It has always been a life goal of mine to make a positive impact on people's lives. I started by working in the public sector at a hospital, focusing on improving administrative processes for better patient care. This experience inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare.
My business partner, Beatrice, who is also my sister, shared similar aspirations, and together we sought ventures that could bring both wellness and joy to people. We got to know about Hovi Care Group, a Finland-based independent, family-run elderly care service company, and went to see the incredible work they have done in Finland firsthand. It was then that we realized that the opportunity to franchise HoviCare was the golden ticket that we had been seeking.
Beatrice: It has been my ambition to nurture young children for a better future and add value to the families under my care. Throughout my career, I have been able to accomplish this, and I want to use the skills and experience I have gained in the education sector in a senior care setting. Nurturing doesn’t stop with young children; seniors need nurturing and love too.
We were impressed by their family-oriented approach which spurred us on to take on the challenge and start HoviClub Orchard.
Q: What services does HoviClub Orchard offer?
Jared: HoviClub Orchard is a senior day care center that offers both club-based care services and home-based care services. Our primary focus is on engaging clients in three key components: physical, social, and cognitive wellness. We conduct activities and engagement based on these three pillars.
Club vs Home Care Services
Club services involve activities conducted at our center, such as interactive tabletop activities like board games and arts and crafts sessions, as well as outdoor wellness walks for seniors. On the other hand, home care services bring these activities to seniors' homes.
Home care service is tailored to seniors who may face challenges leaving their houses due to reasons such as limited mobility or difficulty in socializing due to their mental or cognitive state.
Q: What are the key problems that HoviClub Orchard is tackling for seniors and their caregivers?
Jared: We are tackling two main concerns: families struggling to interact with seniors affected by mental capacity-related illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's, and families eager to help a depressed senior rediscover the joy in life.
Family members are often at a loss when interacting with seniors facing cognitive illnesses. They become stressed about the senior’s declining state and actively seek out ways to at least slow down the worsening of the senior’s condition.
There are also seniors who are perfectly healthy and mentally alert but exhibit signs of sadness and loneliness. Family members often worry that prolonged sadness and loneliness could negatively impact the physical and mental health of these seniors, and they seek out ways to improve the seniors’ mental health.
Our goal is not only to enhance the well-being of the seniors but also to alleviate the stress and pain their family members are experiencing.
Check out the services offered by Hoviclub Orchard in detail here.
Q: How does HoviClub Orchard differ from other day care centers?
Jared: We are frequently compared to active aging centers and community centers, and we differ in three key aspects - the clients we serve, the customization of care plans, and our personalized approach.
[Active ageing centers are centers for seniors to make friends, enjoy recreational activities, and access community health services.]
From Healthy To Those With Cognitive Illnesses
At HoviClub Orchard, our client base ranges from those who are perfectly healthy and here to socialize, to those with mental capacity-related illnesses, including various stages of dementia (onset to severe), Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. Our smaller client-to-care staff ratio allows us to cater to more challenging clients, such as those with severe dementia, who require more attention. This allows us to afford more time and resources for each client, getting to know them at a more intimate and personal level.
Our center has been specifically designed with an open space plan. Space is important in a senior day care center as it allows us to create pockets of safe zones. In the event that a senior feels uneasy or distressed during activities or interactions, we can easily relocate them to a more comfortable environment to calm down and decompress before rejoining when they are ready.
Low Senior-To-Care Staff Ratio
With a lower senior-to-care staff ratio and smaller group sizes, we can tailor our approach to each individual’s needs, ensuring that every client receives the adequate amount of time and attention that they require.
Families often approach us with diverse objectives. For example, some aim to expand the social circles and enhance the sociability of the seniors, while others look to slow down a senior’s dementia condition. Regardless of health status, we customize care plans for each senior by working closely with them and their families to understand their goals. This involves designing specific activities to promote and support the outcomes they desire.
Personalized Approach
When there are fewer seniors per care staff to take care of, our staff can spend quality time with each senior. They can understand their interests and preferences, form meaningful connections with them, and introduce them to new experiences.
For instance, we assisted a senior from China who, despite having been in Singapore for many years, had limited exposure to the local culture because her children were busy and weren’t able to spend much time with her. We took her to visit MRT stations, supermarkets, and other places in the community, and she found it fascinating. By integrating her into society, we helped broaden her experiences.
Furthermore, we ensure active involvement in every senior's journey by regularly monitoring and documenting their progress through our tracking platform. This includes their health, changes in mental well-being, and other aspects.
Q: How do you monitor the seniors' progress? Could you provide details on the tools or methods that you use for tracking and how the process is carried out?
Jared: During the activity sessions, our care staff constantly monitor any changes in the seniors' cognitive function or mood. We have chat groups to maintain communication with family members by sharing videos and snapshots of the seniors and giving them insights into our activities. This is similar to how childcare centers operate these days. Even when the seniors are not at the center, we stay connected with family members.
We once had a client who is in the late stages of dementia. While she is generally a cheerful person, there are instances when her mood changes, and she becomes agitated or angry. In such cases, we inform the family about our observations and inquire about potential issues. Through this process, we discovered that her altered mood may be linked to physical discomfort, like an upset stomach, or incidents at home, such as being unable to see a loved one due to time constraints.
Detecting Changes In Elderlies Using Technology
We also use a Finland-originated care management platform called Nursebuddy to track the seniors' progress. All the information our care staff need to know about a client is stored in this application. The information stored includes recorded care plans for each client, a list of tasks that need to be completed for each session, and important notes about clients for a particular session.
After each session, data will be recorded and fed into an AI system. The AI will collate and assess all the notes and information and detect any abnormal changes over time.
For instance, if a client who has always been neutral and calm starts displaying a pattern of increased aggression or restlessness, the AI can identify this change based on the information entered into the application by the care staff. Subsequently, it sends an alert to inform us, prompting a closer look at this senior. This information guides us in collaborating with seniors, their families, and even doctors to make necessary adjustments to help the client return to their neutral mood.
The collaborative sharing of information helps care staff attend to each individual more effectively and handle the seniors more appropriately.
Q: How much does it cost to participate in the activity sessions?
Jared: Our pricing is comparable to that of many government-funded senior day care centers before government subsidies.
Our club sessions range from about SG$100 to SG$110 per session, with each session lasting for four hours. Our home care sessions cost slightly more, with each session lasting for three hours. We also offer monthly packages, which make longer-term commitment more affordable. Most of our clients visit the club two to three times a week.
Unlike public senior day care centers, which can have as many as 80 people per session, we limit our sessions to 25 individuals. We offer a more intimate and focused environment, which is particularly beneficial for patients with dementia or cognitive disabilities.
Q: What factors should individuals consider when selecting day care centers for the elderly?
Jared: To be completely transparent, senior day care centers across Singapore share many common features. Therefore, it's crucial to focus on the supplementary services that make each center unique. Prioritize factors like the atmosphere and ambience of the facility and pay attention to any elements that make you uncomfortable.
Q: What are your hobbies? Anything interesting about you?
Jared: I'm a huge foodie, and my whole family shares the same passion. We love to eat a lot. I love to bake and cook. When I present a full plate of food to my family and friends, and they finish everything, it brings me a sense of accomplishment. I think this has translated into our center as well, as we often prepare lunch for the seniors in-house, using modified healthier versions of our family recipes, and to see them enjoying the food after their activities has really brought joy to us.
This interview has been edited for length.
FAQs
What is a Senior Day Care Center?
A senior day care center is a facility that offers elderlies a range of services and activities designed to promote social interaction, physical activity, and assistance with daily tasks during the daytime. The goal is to maintain or enhance the general, physical, social, and mental well-being of seniors.
How much does senior day care cost?
According to the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) in Singapore, day care centers cost around SG$900 to SG$1400 before subsidies, assuming daily attendance on weekdays, and excluding transport. Some centers also provide specialized care for elderlies with specific needs, such as dementia, typically at a slightly higher cost. Hoviclub Orchard is one of the centers that offer day care for elderlies with dementia in Singapore. Learn more about Hoviclub Orchard here.
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