TOUCH Community Services

When Mr John Loh found out that a senior under his care had died by suicide, he was shocked and heartbroken.   As the lead driver for TOUCH’s Medical Escort and Transport service team, this incident was a turning point in John’s career. It also marked the start of his proactive approach to reach out to other lonely seniors and encourage them to find new friends and support through community activities.   On top of shuttling seniors to their medical appointments daily, John also invites them to join him for lunch and accompanies them for their consultations.   John is one of five individuals from TOUCH who received the Healthcare Humanity Awards 2024, which recognises outstanding healthcare and community care professionals who have gone beyond their call of duty to offer care and comfort to those in need. We are so proud of our colleagues who have gone the extra mile for our clients!   Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gvzT27x7

We are honoured to share that five of our staff have won the Healthcare Humanity Awards (HHA)! The HHA recognises outstanding healthcare workers who are inspirational role models for going the extra mile to offer care and comfort to those in need.   A huge congratulations to: • Chai Kim Yoke, Home Care Assistant from TOUCH Home Care • Ong Wee Ying, Senior Nurse from TOUCH Home Care • Loh Tuck Poh, Lead Driver from TOUCH Home Care • Cheong Sook Peng, Senior Social Worker from TOUCH Community Case Management • Ooi Chai Hong, Programme Executive from TOUCHpoint@Geylang Bahru   Your dedication to our clients and community is truly commendable. Thank you for all that you do!

Did you know that 17 October marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP)? It reminds us of our commitment to empower lower-income groups to break out of poverty.  Due to lack of financial resources and support networks, lower-income households are more susceptible to external shocks like inflation and retrenchment. Compounded with internal circumstances like limited savings and chronic health issues, these households have become more vulnerable and lack the capacity to improve their circumstances on their own. From November 2024 to March 2025, join seasoned practitioners from TOUCH, with decades of experience working with lower-income families, for a series of Empowerment Workshops conducted in partnership with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). The workshops are recommended for professionals and volunteers working with lower-income families. Interested participants can find out more at: https://lnkd.in/gE2M-3Mr Please note that our second workshop will be held on Jan 2025, not 2024.

What does inclusivity in the workplace mean? For Loh Sau Kuen, who received the Enabling Buddy Award by SG Enable, it is about being intentional in embracing people with special needs and engaging a community of likeminded people to come alongside and provide support.   As the Senior Art Facilitator for the TOUCH SpecialCrafts programme at TOUCH Centre for Independent Living, she develops the centre’s art curriculum and supervises two employees with intellectual disability as they develop and produce handcrafted products for sale.   By creating a culture of understanding and empathy at the workplace, she has helped these two colleagues gain confidence and succeed in their jobs.    We are grateful for staff like Sau Kuen who have shown that it is possible to break barriers and adopt more inclusive workplace practices for persons with intellectual disabilities! 

TOUCH is pleased to be a part of the 15M social movement for residents in communities to connect and act together for each other’s health. We encourage our seniors to stay active and mentally well through our five Active Ageing Centres in Ang Mo Kio, Geylang Bahru, Yishun and Wellington. Special thanks to National Healthcare Group for this inspiring video which also highlights how our seniors in Geylang Bahru are making a healthy lifestyle their shared journey and doing their part in building a caring community. Watch more at: https://lnkd.in/gN6Jxdxk

This World Mental Health Day, we’re reminded of the power of community. Here’s a sharing from our CEO about how a caring community can make a difference in the journey of healing.

TOUCH has partnered LG Electronics Singapore to provide better living conditions for beneficiaries under our care. This partnership aims to support families in Singapore by replacing faulty or outdated fridges, washing machines or televisions with newer LG appliances.   A total of 70 appliances and TVs will be donated to 45 families this year to improve their immediate living conditions.    “We are grateful for LG’s generous donation of essential home appliances which would benefit the families we serve. Access to these home appliances provides these families with greater convenience and enhances their daily living. This partnership reflects our shared commitment in uplifting the lives of the vulnerable in the community, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our families,” said Mr James Tan, CEO of TOUCH Community Services.   A big thank you to LG Electronics Singapore for partnering us to uplift families in need!   Photo credits: LG Electronics Singapore

How can we better equip our children to deal with fake news online?   According to a survey by global market research firm Milieu Insight, over 60% of youths under 18 have encountered fake news, with many of these coming from social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.   TOUCH Cyber Wellness (TCW) works closely with youths, educators and parents to cultivate responsible use of digital technologies. As part of its media literacy programmes in schools, TCW makes learning fun and actively engages students through online games. This involves getting students to participate in online simulated games to identify tell-tale signs of scams via email or text messages.   As a firm believer of the whole-of-family approach in helping families move forward together in the digital age, TCW also actively engages parents and empowers them with tools to protect their families from online scams.   Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gzwTMbG4

As part of the launch of Gardens by the Bay’s Carnival of Flowers – An Australian-themed floral display, the children from TOUCH Child Care were invited to design colourful floral floats and showcase their creations in a mini parade at Flower Dome.   With guidance from horticulturists, the children got the opportunity to learn more about different blooms including unique native Australian plants, before embarking on designing their floats.   A big thank you to Gardens by the Bay for having us at Carnival of Flowers! 

What is it like for a hearing person to work with Deaf individuals?   In conjunction with International Day of the Deaf, we speak to Luke Lim, Community Outreach Executive from TOUCH Silent Club (TSC), to find out how his seven years of working with and serving the Deaf community have given him new perspectives and inspired him to keep going.   Read more at: https://lnkd.in/guxwCPtd