“Building Dependable Caregivers” with the Singapore Prison Service

iCare Life, with its social objective to enable the development of a caregiving society, organized a two-day Eldercare Programme called “Building Dependable Caregivers” in association with the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) on the 17th & 18th of February 2016 at Changi Prison. The main objective of the programme was to train the caregiving inmates and teach them the proper way to take care of the elderly inmates within the premises of the prison.

As the SPS is facing a growing number of elderly prisoners in their system, it is necessary that the younger inmates have an understanding about eldercare so that they can coexist with each other in a better environment.

Thus, iCare took this opportunity and conducted a series of sessions about eldercare, the issues and challenges of caregiving and ways to develop a better eldercare culture.

The programme was attended by 12 prisoners who are the first to assume the role of a caregiver to aid 24 elderly inmates with mild disabilities. The inmates participated actively in the practical sessions which involved the use of mobility aids and the learning of transfer skills. They also shared their real life experiences and personal reflections with each other. Hence, apart from being a learning platform, these sessions became a medium to exchange personal views as well.

The two-day session ended with a positive note. The inmates got a better understanding of the elderly and also learnt the way to build an elderly friendly community irrespective of the location; be it in a prison, a society or a home. The next phase of training is currently being reviewed and the plans to include Activities of Daily Living (ADL) in a prison setting is being discussed.

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Guest Writer

iCare Life