Life Point is a pilot project set up by the Society of Sheng Hong Welfare Services. The Centre commenced operations from 1 February 2013.
This community-based specialised service is developed to assist elderly aged 55 and above, especially those with weak or no social and family support. The service aims to help these people make informed decisions for matters relating to the last stages of their lives, so as to ensure the preservation of their self-respect, dignity, and peace of mind, while they approach the end of their life journeys.
While there is plenty of information available relating to end-of-life issues, there is a general lack of awareness of such information among the elderly and the general public. Hence, there is a need to bridge the communication gap and bring such information across in a manner that the elderly can understand.
Singapore is a fast aging society. Death is inevitable for anyone, regardless of social or economic status. While those who are educated and well supported by family and friends can properly plan for their end-of-life matters, we are concerned for those who are poor and alone. We believe that no one wants to die forgotten, and that all life deserves respect and dignity to the very end.
In the long term, we wish to reduce the taboo of discussing death-related issues, promote greater respect of life, and a higher societal acceptance and concern towards the aged. We wish to reduce loneliness and depression, so as to prevent premature death and suicide among elderly.
As our project’s Chinese name denotes, we hope to become someone to walk alongside with the elderly in the last stages of their lives, so that they will be informed and involved, and their last wish respected.
Besides giving information and practical help such as funeral arrangement; for end of life issues, our services also include promoting friendship, support, and integration for the lonely elderly before death, as well as bereavement support to their friends and relatives after death. It is in embracing a good death that we celebrate our life.
生命同行坊甫成立于2013年2月。这是一项由城隍慈善基金会所创办的社区计划。这项社区计划的宗旨是为了协助55岁以上的乐龄人士，包括缺乏家庭支援的年长者，提早思考并为人生终站的选择作决定，以提倡年长者行使自主权，维护生命尊严，从而达到内心的安宁，圆满走完人生道路。尽管坊间有愈来愈多关于临终课题的资讯，乐龄人士与社会大众对这个领域的醒觉性仍然普遍低落。有鉴于此，有必要将有关资讯以乐龄人士易于了解的方式来填补这个鸿沟。
新加坡是个迅速老化的社会。死亡是不分贫富贵贱，人人必经之路。受过良好教育的年长人士或许可以在家人亲友陪伴下，为自己的生命最后阶段做好准备。我们更为关心孤苦无依的一群。没有人该孤单死去，因为所有生命都应被尊重及保有尊严。
生命同行坊的长期目标为减少人们议论有关死亡议题的避忌，彰显对生命的尊重，并提高社会对年长者的接纳度与关注。我们希望通过减少乐龄人士的孤独感及忧郁，从而预防年长者提早死亡，甚至自杀。
如我们的中心名称“生命同行坊”所宣称，我们希望一路陪伴年长者走过人生后半段，让他们对自己的切身问题得到充分的资讯和参与作决定，从而达成他们的心愿。除了提供资讯及实际协助，例如协助葬礼安排及申办临终准备的各种法律文件，我们的服务还包括协助乐龄人士开拓友谊，结识乐龄友伴；关怀援助独居老人；支持丧亲者走出哀伤等。
拥抱善终让所有长者在生命的夕阳中欢庆生命，活得充实，活得有意义。
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