Retirement Reimagined in Taiping

When I decided to venture into the senior assistance service, Seniora, I began to collect massive information online and took a few foreign companies as references. As I was making progress in the preparation, I realized it’s difficult to apply the similar to our community due to the differences in culture, tradition, and civilization.

After touched down in Malaysia, there was one question keep on playing in my mind. During the 10-day self-quarantine in a hotel room, I spent most of my time tuning in and thinking about it:

“What’s the environment that can make my aging parents live happily, comfortably, and passionately when I’m not around?”

The children-like existence. A voice told me.

The parent-child relationship has an unbreakable bond and irreplaceable intimacy. We can never replace the children, but we can create an environment where the aging parents can express themselves freely just like when they’re with their children.

Trust is fundamental to a relationship. When I receive an inquiry, as soon as I figure out briefly the situation of the seniors, I would ask for permission to give them a call. Because the human voice has some magical power. It creates an engaging personal touch that heals someone’s insecurity and uncertainty.

Companionship services are something unheard of in Taiping. Therefore, most of the inquiries I received are inclined to nursing care. Often, the sudden decline in seniors’ ability to perform ADLs (activity of daily living) puts the children into an anxious and helpless state. They didn’t foresee it would happen and they’re not ready for it.

I couldn’t help them out, but I wish to give the children a direction on what to do next. I spent some time collecting the list of the nursing care facilities and nursing home care services that are available in Taiping. I would then advise them according to their requirements and budgets. This is because I hope there’s at least a lifesaver tube for the children to grab on before they get on the boats with their parents.

Initially, I imitated the large corporates by establishing a “luxury” assistance plan, so that it looks more worthy and professional. The truth is, service connects humans to humans. It is something irreplaceable by technology. So, I humanized my services. For every consultation, I would make a proposal with different plans. Hoping one of them will perfectly fit their needs.

We sometimes underestimate the influence of little things. I believe great things are built by a series of small things brought together. I have limited resources but it doesn’t restrict me from doing what I believe!

Lastly, Seniora wishes to put the parents and the adult children together to learn and discuss aging and retirement planning. Fear of death contributes to fear of aging. Younger adults may push older adults away because they don’t want to think about death.

Face the fear, embrace the fear, our ideal retirement life will be in our hands.