Monday, November 3, 2014

KUAN AI NURSING HOME FOR THE ELDERLY


With the rapid rise in the number of older persons looking for assisted living facilities, it is always heartening to hear about the opening of a new nursing home or a retirement home. Last Saturday (1 Nov, 2014) SeniorsAloud was invited to attend the opening of the Kuan Ai Nursing Home in Serdang Jaya, Seri Kembangan, Kuala Lumpur.


Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, was the guest-of-honour. In her speech, she spoke about the urgent need for more nursing homes as Malaysia is fast moving towards becoming an ageing nation by the year 2030. Socio-economic changes have resulted in an increase in the number of elderly people living alone. They often feel lonely and depressed. Perhaps, more importantly, who is there to help should anything happen to them?

Open concept of the office, and (right) nurse manager Ms Angela Lee.

Adult children who are unable to look after their elderly parents for one reaon or another should not feel guilty about putting their loved one in a home, provided it is a home that is well managed and run by qualified staff who are dedicated and committed to providing the best care. The traditional view of filial piety needs to be revamped in keeping with the changing times.

The Kuan Ai Nursing Home is fully licensed with eight qualified and experienced staff members, led by nurse manager Angela Lee, who has an Honours degree in Nursing Science. It was started by a small group of businessmen and academicians who saw the urgent need for a homecare establishment with full facilities for the elderly. Do visit the home and check out the facilities yourself before you decide if you would recommend it to anyone.

(Above): Rooms are bright and well-ventilated. Clients have a choice of 2-bed, 3-bed and 5-bed rooms. Current rates are RM2500, RM2000 and RM1600 respectively. All 21 beds are fully occupied at the moment. There are plans to open the adjacent wing soon to take in more clients.

(Top): The airy and spacious dining area with seats at the side for visitors. (Above): The kitchen. All meals are halal and menus are planned with the nutritional needs of the elderly in mind. Laundry is taken care of and there are weekly visits by a doctor.

(Above): Hand rails and grip bars are installed in all the bathrooms and toilets, as well as along corridors. What is also needed are non-slip tiles and mats, which will probably be added later on.

(Above): Reclining chairs where the elderly can rest or catch a nap during the day. Note the purple curtains which can be drawn to provide some privacy or to convert space into wards. The home is fully air-conditioned for the comfort of the clients.

(Above): An outdoor wash area. A cascading fountain and hanging flower pots. Little touches like these add to the pleasant surroundings of the home. There is a children's playground and garden adjacent to the home where the elderly can enjoy morning strolls.

(Above): The home has a schedule of daily activities for the clients. There are plans to hold celebrations for birthdays, festivals and Parents Day. The home encourages visits by NGOs and private companies.

(Above): Group photo with the Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (in red). Seated: Board of Directors; Back row: Staff nurses with nurse manager Angela Lee (centre).

The oldest client is Mr Teo Kim Ser, a super centenarian. I had the privilege of chatting with him over lunch. Apart from being a little hard of hearing, he could converse easily in English and had clear memories of his early days attending school at St Paul's Institution in his hometown of Seremban. He told me with much pride that he was born in 1913, and worked with OCBC before he retired. One thing I have learned about the elderly is they love to chat. They also enjoy physical contact like hugging and holding hands.

To attend the open day, I took the KTM commuter train to Serdang, and from the station it was a short taxi ride to the nursing home. If you are driving, the home is easy to locate as it is situated in a quiet residential area close to the township of Serdang Jaya.

Opening hours are from 10.00am to 8.00pm daily. Give Angela a call before you drop by. She will be happy to show you around the premises.


1 comment:

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