Its name is Ci Hang – Chempaka welfare association, a Chinese old folk’s home. It is located in Kg. Subang, Shah Alam, Selangor. It takes about one hour to reach there from IIUM campus by using bus. I and my friends went there on 23rd of November at 09.20 am and arrived at around 10.15 am.
When we arrived there, the fellow of the home looked to be amazed. I listened from one of my friend that our arrival here was not known by the association. It meant that we came as strangers for them. But he welcomed us and allowed us to look around the home and interview all residents after he introduced briefly about this place.
Then, after the introduction, we came upstairs to meet and interview all uncles and aunties. Unfortunately, only few of them who can understand malay language and speak in malay. Majority of the residents speak in Chinese language. They are very friendly in responding our questions.
This old folk’s home is a free welfare association and can run until now because of the donation given by generous people. Everyone who has no family and reach the age of 65 and above can leave here to spend the rest of their time. All residents here are Chinese, but actually it is opened for all nationalities and religions.
Many aunties who live here are so weak. It may be because they suffer from illness that decrease their power and make them look so weak and tired. But when I saw the uncles, majority of them are still strong enough. The oldest person in the home is one aunty who reaches the age of 94.
There is no significant activity that they spend here. Their daily activities are only sleeping, eating, reading newspaper, talking with their friends, exercising, and walking around the home. And about three times a week, they do physiotherapy. It may make them feel bored, but they can do nothing except it.
I had interviewed some of the aunties. From them I can know some of the characteristics of the old age people. From my observation, I got that the old people were so friendly even they treat us like their grand children, they talk and move slowly (may be slower than before), the ability to hear is decreased, and the level of understanding slightly decline. Those conditions made us speak louder to interview them and sometimes their answers were unrelated to the questions.
After we finished the interview session, we invite all resident to come to the hall to have a small party. We ate a cake which was bought by my friend. They looked very happy and even some of them sang a Chinese song for us. Then we were photographed together with a large smile on our own face.
It was the time for them to have lunch. We finished the small party and pleased them to continue their activities. Then we waited for the bus. We spent around half an hour to wait the bus come. After the bus arrived we asked the fellow and all resident for leave.
We spent more than one and half an hour in our journey back to the campus. The traffic jam was a tiring thing that time. After we arrived the campus, we continue with our own activity. What an interesting journey!
