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CaringSG 2023 Highlights and Memories

CaringSG 2023 Highlights and Memories

CaringSG 2023 Lookback 1
CaringSG 2023 Lookback 2

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National CAREConference 2023: Closing Address by Dr Lim Hong Huay

Closing Address by Dr Lim Hong Huay at the National CAREConference on 8 Dec 2023

Good afternoon, everyone. This is truly an honour to be here today. 

Ladies and gentlemen, caregivers and professionals, this is really a transformative event for all the caregivers in Singapore and I really want to thank you for being here today. 

This whole idea of a National CAREConference and CARECarnival actually started for me personally five years ago, In 2018, my child I have three children, two of them with special  needs the youngest, was diagnosed with autism and had to enter a special school. So, I had to give up my job and become a full-time caregiver.

At the same time, in the same year, my mother-in-law, a very close friend to me, was diagnosed with breast cancer. I went on this journey of full-time caregiving as a mother of children with special needs and also a caregiver to a person with dementia and breast cancer. At that point in time I really felt lost. Wow, there’re so many services to navigate, and there’re so many things I need to learn even as a professional (because I’m a doctor). 

I remember I was looking at the mental health and the elderly sector. There were conferences for caregivers or persons with elderly issues, mental health issues, but there wasn’t anything much for persons with disability. 

So in 2019 November, we gathered a group of caregivers and we did the first ever CARE Carnival right here in the Enabling Village. And that was a time that I made a wish. 

I wished that one day, caregivers of persons with disabilities, caregivers of persons with mental health conditions and caregivers of seniors can all come together in one platform, in one day, at one time, and one heart, to look at caregiving as a role, as someone who is important in this nation of Singapore. And we’re able to then work with the professionals, work with the different stakeholders to empower this whole community of caregivers. Not differentiated, not in silos and not cut apart by their dependant’s needs, but we caregivers as one holistic person.

So this is really a dream come true for me to be able to come here today and give this closing speech. Thank you everyone for coming here, to put your hearts and your brain and your lives together to celebrate caregiving and acknowledge the love that every caregiver gives to our dependants. 

For all the caregivers out there, we see you care. And we care for you, too. For all the professionals who are out there, thank you for coming together with caregivers to learn and grow together. And with this Together effort, Singapore can truly become a more inclusive and caring Singapore in the future.

This CAREConference, it’s so enriching in half a day and I’m just thinking to myself, how can we cram it so much in one day? I made a secret wish today that we will have more CARE Conferences in future and maybe longer (in duration) with more topics, so that we can have more cross-pollination and more learning.

What I learnt today is we really need to take a holistic, integrative and ecological approach. It’s not just dependant-centric, there is a caregiver-centric aspect as well when we help caregivers of persons with disabilities, mental health, or seniors. We must also look into the ecosystem and integrate the services to help these caregivers to navigate this lifelong journey of caregiving. 

Secondly, for professionals, while you care for caregivers and care for our loved ones, you have to care for yourself too. So as caregivers, all we need you to be is to be a friend. We need you to first come alongside with us and be our friend first. Please take care of yourself friend. And next, we need you to be resourceful and also be humble and learn together with us. So we can all learn together. We can learn about the different caregiving approaches, different frameworks and different learnings from the different sector.

For caregivers, this is a call to action. We can only make the future better if we are part of that creation process. For caregivers, if you are new, join a support group. If you’re an experienced caregiver, strengthen yourself, be knowledgeable, and come back and serve. There are many caregiver support organisations so we do look forward to you contributing, and volunteering and putting in your lives to enrich other lives. 

And lastly, for family and friends, you are really the sensor and the eyes out there for every caregiver. We need you to be there to bring any caregivers who are struggling to come into the sector. 

Thank you so much everyone for being with us today. 

Lastly, I want to have a shout out for the CARECarnivals coming in the next three Saturdays. Please come and continue this joyful celebration of caregiving and learning together in the next three Saturdays at our CARECarnivals in Enabing Village, Kampung Admiralty as well as Heartbeat@Bedok. I thank everyone for joining this National CAREConference.

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National CARECarnivals 2023 for all Caregivers in Singapore

National CARECarnivals 2023 for all Caregivers in Singapore

A wonderful 3,000 caregivers and their loved ones joined us at the CARECarnivals, organised by AIC Singapore, CaringSG, NCSS and SG Enable, at Enabling Village, Kampung Admiralty, Heartbeat@Bedok over the past three Saturdays. We were so happy to see caregivers from all walks of life coming with their care recipients to enjoy the carnival.

At the first CARECarnival held at Enabling Village, Minister Desmond Lee shared the progress we have made over the past few years together with caregivers, supporters and funders. The heartwarming stories of many caregivers, and CaringSG’s Project 3i support (including CAREbuddy and Step One) were showcased at the carnival via media interviews, exhibits, videos, books and more.

Caregivers could visit the various booths to learn about resources available to enable them in their caregiving journey, such as caring for their physical health, improving their mental health, and joining support groups/networks. There were interesting activities to engage families such as journaling, clay art, henna, DIY cardholder, giant bowling, and food stalls distributing kacang putih, ice cream and popcorn.
 

If you’re a special needs caregiver looking to connect with other caregivers and support groups, join us at www.caring.sg/subscription.

Being a CaringSG member enables you to access our CAREconnect monthly webinars, request for CAREbuddy emotional support, check out other resources in our members’ portal, and receive regular email updates from us on upcoming events, member perks and services that are developed and curated for special needs caregivers and families.

Check out our social posts for more photos!

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The Purple Parade 2023: A Spectacular Showcase of Care and Inclusivity

The Purple Parade 2023: A Spectacular Showcase of Care and Inclusivity

The Purple Parade 2023, held on November 4th, was a heartwarming celebration of inclusion and support for individuals with special needs, their caregivers, and supporters. To stand in support with caregivers and their families, CaringSG participated in our second Purple Parade this year.

CaringSG’s Purple Parade Activities

CaringSG staff and volunteers prepared a colourful booth with touching quotes submitted during 2022 Purple Parade slogan quest

One of our signature features of the Purple Parade 2023 were the beautiful CAREcottage handicrafts by talented artisans. These intricately crafted items, lovingly made by caregivers and their care recipients with special needs, showcased their creativity and artistic skills.

CaringSG’s dinosaur mascots brought smiles to many caregivers

Visitors had the opportunity to browse and purchase these unique handicrafts, supporting the cause and taking home a piece of artistry that reflected the spirit of inclusivity. 

Our Uplift! Book, a project by CaringSG, was another highlight of the event. This beautifully crafted coffee table book encapsulates the incredible collaboration between local artist Chia Choy Ping, Lee Jun Le, an extraordinary individual with autism, with poems from Assoc Prof (Dr) Kenny Tan.

In addition, it features a collection of heartwarming stories and experiences shared by caregivers, an inspiring testament to the strength, love, and resilience of the caregiving community. Copies of this book were available for attendees to peruse, offering insight into the lives of those who are dedicated to caring for their loved ones.

From left: Edward Lim (Head of Corp Services and CAREconnect Lead), Faraliza Zainal (CAREchampion and Founder of MIJ Hub), Tan Pei Cheng (CAREchampion Lead) and Dr Lim Hong Huay (Founder and Honorary CEO of CaringSG) in front of the “Spur On, Caregivers” wall
Supporters penning down encouragement for caregivers for our “Spur On, Caregivers” wall

At the heart of our Purple Parade booth, there was a “Spur On, Caregivers” wall where many people penned down their heartfelt words of encouragement for caregivers. This wall served as a powerful symbol of solidarity and appreciation for the unwavering dedication of caregivers, a testament to the fact that caregivers are not alone in their journey and that their efforts are valued and celebrated.

Group photo of the Purple Parade marching contingent by CaringSG Ltd and BlackRock Singapore Ltd
We’re so happy to be a part of Purple Parade!

The Purple Parade 2023 also saw a strong show of support from the marching contingent by CaringSG Ltd and BlackRock Singapore Ltd. a prominent organization that believes in the power of inclusivity. The marching contingent comprised our community of caregivers, their families, and supporters from BlackRock and the public.

How You Can Support Special Needs Caregivers

Beyond the Purple Parade, CaringSG relies on the generosity of supporters and organizations to continue our mission of connecting, enabling and empowering special needs caregivers.

We welcome you to learn more about the caregiver services we offer by visiting our website to read more about CAREconnect, CAREbuddy and CAREwell. Here, you’ll find comprehensive information on our various services and resources available to caregivers to support them on their journey.

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