Sree Narayana Mission playing vital role in helping seniors in Singapore: official

Singapore, Jun 19 (PTI) Nursing homes like the Sree Narayana Mission (SNM) play a vital role in helping seniors in Singapore age in place, a senior government official has said, applauding its social work and efforts being put into taking care of the aged.

“As a social service agency, it is indeed imperative to leverage community partnerships to move forward. There is a need to build on partnership efforts so that we continue to transform and grow to do good for the community,” Eric Chua, senior parliamentary secretary, told volunteers from the Indian community working with SNM during the celebration of its 75th anniversary here on Sunday.

“Nursing homes like the SNM play a very important role in helping seniors age in place. To echo this sentiment, SNM has established the residents’ committee to encourage empowerment amongst its residents,’ said Chua at the conclusion of a two-day exhibition on the mission’s activities here on Sunday.

“This is an excellent idea as it allows residents to play an integral part in decision-making on behalf of residents for the home,” said Chua, who is Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministries of Culture, Community and Youth as well as Social and Family Development.

Denise Phua, the Mayor of the central Singapore District, said charity organisations like the SNM were instrumental in tightening the charity landscape within the community and helping bridge the gaps within the society through its interventions to ensure that no one gets left behind.

“They have done tremendously well over the years, playing a part in our healthcare sector as well as the community. Safeguarding the well-being of seniors is a collective effort, and each of us can play our part to support one another,” said Phua.

Founded on June 18 in 1948, the mission operates a 224-bed nursing home, two senior care centres, and a care centre in Singapore.

The organisation is working on raising funds in the coming months for a second nursing home to be completed by 2026, and a third senior care centre.

A series of events have been planned as ongoing celebrations, including a dinner to raise funds for the new facilities.

The two-day celebrations on Saturday and Sunday focused on SNM’s historical roots and growth trajectory in the next five years.

The Singapore Mission follows the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru, a saint, philosopher, spiritual leader and social reformer from Kerala who worked for the social development of the Indian community during his lifetime.

SNM (Singapore) is also a recipient of the Charity Transparency Awards awarded by the Charity Council.