Under One RoofLee Ah Mooi Old Age Home

CS2006Visual Literacy and Communication

Storytelling by Photos: Family Portraiture On Social MediaWee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information

Yeo Kai WenU1230455J

Introduction

According to the recent release of the controversial Population White Paper, Singapore will experience an unprecedented age shift between now and 2030 (National Population and Talent Division, 2013). This marks a

rising trend in the elderly being admitted into nursing homes, isolating them from their core families.

These nursing homes house large communities of the elderly, some having been abandoned. These elderly folk require a significant amount of care and concern because of their physical and mental conditions – many of

them suffer from ailments such as diabetes, dementia, and depression (MCYS, 2009).

Through this multimedia story, we will see how the elderly learn to cope without their families; yet at the same time immerse themselves with the concept of a family within the nursing home community.

REFUGE FOR THE OLD: The Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home at Thompson Road was acquired in 1984 with the assistance of the late Mr. Lim Kim Sang, known for initiating the Public Housing Scheme in Singapore. It is self-funded and run by Mr Then Mun Tat, 60, and his brother.

THE FEMALE QUARTERS: Mdm Lee Ah Yan, 75, keeps a watchful eye over her good friend, Mdm Tan Pek Jio, 78. Mdm Lee suffers from a late stage of dementia and has problems communicating with her caregivers.

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER: Mdm Lai Hua, 76, takes care of her husband, Mr Lai Tze Jiang, 77. He had suffered from a stroke ten years ago, and in the midst of recovering, was hit by a relapse and fall that has left him bedridden for life.

LIFE GOES ON: Mr Tong Chek Ngoh, 51, explains that the residents in Lee Ah Mooi are part of his family now, as they are all living under one roof. He keeps himself busy by reading the newspapers and helping out at the home.

THE LITTLE ONE: The daughter of Mr Then, Mak Ah Mee, 4, scoots around happily at the home everyday after school. Having grown up in this environment, she has learnt to care for the elderly and shower her love upon them.

THE FUTURE: As Singapore develops over the next few years, Lee Ah Mooi may be affected because of the construction of the new North-South Expressway. The home has moved a few times, the last one from Jalan Kayu in 1982, when the Seletar Expressway was being built.

Visual and AudioThe documentary-style photographs are supplemented with interview clips of the subjects. This initiates a cognitive interaction between the viewer and subject, giving the presentation a specific time and space setting. The environmental audio immerses the audience, “breathing life into the static photographic image, and making the unfamiliar familiar to the viewer.” (Toh, 2006). I was particularly inspired by the works produced by Mediastorm, a media organization that specializes in the documentation of poverty through the use of photography and audio interviews.

Tonal RenditionThe images were presented in black and white, adding to the objectivity and emphasis on the subject while increasing the narrative quality of the series. This is in line with the increased reverence for personal expression and individuality in the modern family portrait, which is increasingly evident in the Digital Path because of increased customization options. It also puts the photographer to the test as composition and craft is now the essence of the image. (Sarvas, 2011).

EXECUTION

Identity and BelongingBeing placed together, either by choice or abandonment, the elderly folk at the nursing home are now part of the same community. Spending that last lap of their lives at the home, they now eat, sleep, and are taken care of together. This family unit is made up of a few parts, namely the directors, nurses, volunteers, and the old folks themselves.

UNDERSTANDING FAMILY

Ties that Break and Bind – The Elderly ResidentsNot every elderly resident at the Lee Ah Mooi Home was abandoned. Their relatives and family members, who did not have the resources to take care of them, still visit regularly. And even as the abandoned elderly live their last lap in life at the home, bonds are forged as they form a community of their own. This is a testimony of how love, even among strangers, can bear fruit. Despite the preconceived notion of how a traditional family should be like, this is how a simple, institutionalized unit forms a family.

Ties that Break and Bind – The NursesHaving spoken to a few nurses during the course of this assignment, I realized that many nurses do express a tinge of regret that they had to leave their biological families behind in order to find a job in Singapore as a caregiver. This is not an easy task, as it requires a great deal of patience and passion to tend to the elderly. Flora May Orellano, 25, said, “I felt really sad to leave my family behind in the Philippines, but yes, this is my family now and I feel a great sense of satisfaction serving the elderly.”

Ties that Break and Bind – The Director and his DaughterMr Then had taken over the home from his late mother Mdm Lee Ah Mooi, and now runs it with his brother while taking care of his daughter. The family shares the same passion for the home – even Mak Ah Mee, his four-year-old daughter, was seen tending to the elderly folk for hours when I visited the home. The passing down of family traditions and heritage is seen here in it’s quintessential form.

Summary

With the use of photography, personal memories and social history are weaved together, producing an engaging narrative that unlocks the intricacies and complex nature of the “true” family behind the image. (Toh, 2005).

Keeping that in mind, the interviewees help provide a more holistic viewpoint of the concept of family – showcasing how everyone has a part to play in their own time and space.

Reflections

Through the process of collecting photographs and curating them with the audio interviews, I realised that despite the common misconception that the elderly in nursing homes are abandoned and devoid of family, there is actually an intricate web of love and respect for each other in the home. Family afterall, is not just about biological ties that we share with each other. Family is all about love, respect, and the care a group of people share. Through this endeavour I embarked on, I remember that the greatest gift that should come together with any family, is love. And that was what I encountered at Lee Ah Mooi.

1) Ties that BindOne interviewee, Mdm Lai Hua Jiang, 76, said that she had no choice but to send her husband to the home because of her inability to take care of him. However, she still comes by regularly to bring him home-cooked meals and keep him company. This is a testament to the concept of sacrificial love.

2) Ties that BreakTong Chek Ngoh, 51, was abandoned by his children eight years ago. However, he has found friendship at the home. He said that through the community, he has made new friends and these people who live under the same roof, are now part of his family.

Absences and PresencesThe Nursing Home family is formed through the absences of their biological family members, be it through abandonment or unforeseen circumstances. The following interviews showcase the ties that bind and break.

Platforms and Frames

To invite the audience into a passage of time and spatial dimension, six photographs were weaved together with audio interviews and subtle music. The increased level of customization in the “Digital Path” was kept in mind to increase the level of individuality and personal expression, with the supplementation of a multi-media experience.

ConclusionThe concept of family is not limited to blood or kinship. The nurses, volunteers, elderly and directors of the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home are also part of an institutional family unit, with many stories of their own to share. Through this multimedia presentation,

the photos and interviews will give a small peek into the lives of the Lee Ah Mooi Nursing Home family.

Thank you for your time.

Websiteyeokaiwen.tumblr.com

References

Chin, D. (2011, November 16). Others making way. Home for the Aged makes appeal. The Straits Times. Retrieved on 16 February 2013.

National Population and Talent Division. (2013). Population White Paper. Retrieved from http://population.sg/

Sarvas, R. Frohlich, & David M. (2011.) From Snapshots to Social Media. The Changing Picture of Domestic Photography. Springer.

MCYS. (2009). State of the Elderly in Singapore. Retrieved from http://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Summary/research/State%20of%20the%20Elderly_Release%203.pdf

Tan, L. & Koh, H.T. (2012, July 2). Nursing home raises fees, more to follow? The New Paper. Retrieved on 16 February 2013.

Tan, C. (2011, November 16). More than 500 homes to make way for highway. The Straits Times. Retrieved on 16 February 2013.

Teh, J.L. (2012, January 9). We hope we can stay. The New Paper. Retrieved on 16 February 2013.

Toh, J. (2006). The Heritage Journal, Vol. 2. Framing History: Displaying the Singapore Family through Photography.