67-year-old Lim Ai Ling has been a volunteer at the charity organization Brahm Center since 2012.
Currently, she teaches a class called “Brain and Body” every week at the Tampines branch center. By combining simple hand and body movements with educational games, she hopes to help the elderly participants in the course to exercise their brain and body coordination.
Her classes are popular among the elderly, with more than 40 people currently participating.
Lim Ai Ling, a cheerful woman with type 2 diabetes, signed up for a free dementia research screening in 2022. The test revealed that, perhaps due to years of diabetes, her brain was shrinking faster than her peers, putting her at risk for dementia.
She said that although she showed signs of brain atrophy, she was fortunately not diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She has been offering weekly “Brain and Body” classes since 2018, hoping that keeping her life and brain active will help reduce the risk of further brain atrophy.
Brahm Centre launched the exhibition to raise public awareness of dementia.
In addition to the “Brain and Body” program, Brahm Centre also offers other programs, including art and mindfulness. In conjunction with Dementia Awareness Month, Brahm Centre @ Tampines hosted a three-day art exhibition from September 26th to 28th, showcasing nearly 200 artworks and handicrafts created by seniors participating in the art and mindfulness programs.
Minister David Neo: “Art showcases the creativity and courage of senior citizens”.
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education was invited to open the event and deliver a speech, said that the art exhibition reflects the creativity, courage and personal growth of the elderly.
“The artists whose works are exhibited here are all elderly people who have only started to get involved in or returned to artistic activities in their later years. They have found new meaning, joy, and a way to express themselves in painting.”
At the opening ceremony of the art exhibition, Minister Neo also presented a certificate of appreciation to volunteer, Lo May Ling (78 years old), to recognize her contribution to Brahm Center.
Before retiring, Lo May Ling was Deutsche Bank’s regional director for Asia Pacific. After leaving Deutsche Bank, she worked in various companies and institutions before officially retiring in 2014.
At the invitation of Brahm Centre CEO, Ms Angie Chew, she managed the construction project of Brahm Centre @ Tampines in 2019. Currently, she is also responsible for managing the construction of the Aljunied and Telok Blangah sub-centres.
For May Ling, managing the various construction projects at Bairen Center is also a way to exercise her brain, keeping her mind sharp.
“If I want to exercise my mind, I have to think actively. I try to stay active. I don’t have a TV at home so I can’t just sit and watch TV all day.”
目前，她每个星期都会在淡滨尼的分中心，教授一门名为“脑部与身体”的课程。通过结合简单的手部、身体动作，以及益智游戏，希望协助参加课程的乐龄者锻炼脑部与身体协调。
林艾鸰的课程受到乐龄者的欢迎，目前有40多人参加。
外表开朗的林艾鸰，是二型糖尿病患者。2022年，她报名参加一项免费的失智症研究检查。检查后发现，或是因为多年患有糖尿病，她脑部的萎缩速度比同龄人更快，也因此有患上失智症的风险。
林艾鸰说，虽然检查出脑部萎缩的迹象，所幸没有患上阿尔兹海默症。她从2018年开始每周开办“脑部与身体”课程，希望一直保持生活和大脑的活跃状态，能有助于降低脑部进一步萎缩的概率。
除了“脑部与身体”课程，百仁中心（Brahm Centre）也开办其他课程，当中包括美术和正念课程。配合失智症意识月，百仁中心@淡滨尼在9月26日至28日举办为期三天的艺术展，展示近200件美术及手工作品。这些作品正是参加美术和正念课程的乐龄者所绘制的。
梁振伟：艺术展现乐龄者创造力和勇气
文化、社区及青年部代部长兼教育部高级政务部长梁振伟受邀为活动开幕并致词时说，艺术展体现了乐龄者的创造力、勇气和个人成长。
“在这里展出作品的艺术工作者，都是在晚年才开始接触或回归艺术活动的乐龄者。他们从绘画中找到新的意义、快乐，及表达自我的方式。”
梁振伟也在艺术展开幕仪式上，为另一名百仁中心义工李美玲（78岁）颁发感谢状，肯定她对百仁中心的贡献。
李美玲退休前曾担任德意志银行的亚太区域总监。离开德意志银行后，她到不同企业和机构任职，2014年正式退休。
在百仁中心总裁周荧柃的邀请下，她于2019年管理百仁中心@淡滨尼的施工项目。目前，她也负责管理阿裕尼和直落布兰雅分中心的建设。
对李美玲而言，管理百仁中心的各个施工项目也是锻炼脑力的方式，使她维持思维敏捷。
“如果我要锻炼思维，就得主动思考。我尽力保持生活活跃。我的家中没有电视机，让自己无法整天坐着放空看电视节目。”
