[GEN2060X] Reconnect SeniorsSG

Many seniors are lonely or estranged, isolated from critical social networks and support structures. Volunteers provide the vital link to reconnect them with society and restore their well-being. In this course, students will learn key concepts in volunteerism, and essential skills, including communications, conflict management, needs identification and risk assessment, to support vulnerable seniors identified by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), checking on them regularly to provide emotional support and early intervention, if needed. Thus, students will develop empathy, sharpen observational and decision-making skills.

Learn more about the service-learning experience at:

• Shermaine Ang, 1,000 NUS students befriend seniors as part of course to encourage volunteerism, The Straits Times (17 Nov 2023)

• Amanda Yeap, Undergrads form meaningful connections, pick up language skills as they befriend seniors in graded volunteer work course, TODAY (25 Nov 2023)

• Service-learning in action: NUS students befriend seniors and champion healthy ageing under year-long community engagement courses, NUS News (15 Dec 2023)

Through this course, students will:

1. Understand fundamental concepts of volunteerism: motivation & benefits, roles & impact, and ethical & good volunteering

2. Evaluate and apply general skills related to communications and collaboration, including empathy, active listening, conflict management, and self-awareness; and specific skills related to identifying needs, and providing emotional support

3. Empathize with vulnerable seniors, develop emotional support skills, sharpen observation & analysis, and enhance decision making

4. Synthesise reflexive learning to develop character and empathy, fostering personal effectiveness.

Students will be challenged to engage isolated seniors across a spectrum of activities, from the analysis of needs & risks to the provision of emotional support to enhance psychological and social resilience.

NIL

4 Units. As this course spreads over up to a year, it will count 2 Units in the first semester and the other 2 Units in the following semester. Thus, students can always register for these courses on top of their usual planned workload of 20 Units or so, without breaching workload cap per semester. 

Grading. Graded. Students will be assigned an In-Progress (IP) grade in the first semester and will receive their final grade upon the completion of the course.

Delivery and Assessment. There are no final exams. Students are required to watch pre-recorded online lectures, attend three face-to-face tutorials, and carry out service work. They will be assessed through submitting a service portfolio.

Befriending Prerequisites

• Singapore Citizen, or Singapore Permanent Resident

• Able to speak basic Malay, Tamil, Mandarin or Chinese dialects

• Able to provide an active handphone number for tele-befriending and correspondence with field supervisor or AAC staff

Commitment

60‒80 h of service work spread over one year. You will provide companionship, support and care for your befriendee(s) through regular contact. Together with your befriending partner, you should conduct home visits twice a month, except when you are overseas. In most cases, you are encouraged to make weekly contact alternating between home visits and phone calls.

Training will be provided by AIC and NUS to equip you with befriending microskills and knowledge on volunteerism, ethics and the social landscape. You are free to arrange your befriending schedule in coordination with your befriendee(s), befriending partner, and in some cases, your field supervisor.

Your tutor will specify a target direct service hours to your befriendee(s) typically of 40‒60 h. This forms your minimum service obligation. To meet this obligation, you have to log your direct contact hours on the Fieldwork Management System (FMS). In most cases, your total service hours will likely be less than 80 h.

You should not worry if you cannot meet the minimum service obligation if the contributing factors are outside your control, e.g. you have not been assigned enough befriendee(s), or your befriendee(s) withdraws from the programme or is unable to meet. You will not be penalized for such extenuating circumstances, provided you have documented them in FMS, and made effort to engage.

Roles and Responsibilities

Students are responsible to:

·       Keep seniors well. Build rapport with the assigned seniors. Conduct regular check-ins via home visits and phone calls; perform simple activities to help sustain socio-emotional, cognitive and physical well-being of assigned seniors, e.g. by eating together, playing games, shopping, going on walks, attending activities organized by Active Ageing Centres (AAC)

·       Keep seniors safe. Look out for signs of self-neglect, mental and/or physical deterioration, and risks of self-harm, and report concerns, anomalies or doubts to your field supervisor or partner organization for follow-up and early intervention

Service Work Locations (To be updated for AY24/25 Semester 1)

Students may book their preferred service work locations from a list of AIC community care partner organisations. Booking will be granted on a first come, first served basis. The list of locations will be available in due course.

First Semester

Second Semester