Stories

Jane’s journey with Yong-en Care Centre is one of love, gratitude, and giving back. Her mother, Pauline, attended our Dementia Day Care programme for nearly a decade. Since 2015, Jane has honoured her mother’s memory by crafting handmade merchandise and donating the proceeds to support Yong-en’s work. Year after year, she can be found at our charity bazaars, personally selling her creations with a smile and contributing both her time and talent to support seniors and families in need.

Born and raised in a small town in Kent, England, Pauline was a vibrant and elegant woman. She loved dancing, particularly the quickstep, and was always impeccably dressed, pairing stylish outfits with carefully chosen shoes and accessories. It was on the dance floor that she met Harold, a young sailor from the British Royal Navy. What began as a regular dance partnership soon blossomed into love, marriage, and eventually the birth of their daughter, Jane.

Years later, Jane moved to Singapore for work and built her life here. Pauline and Harold visited often after retirement, enjoying time with their daughter and experiencing a different part of the world. But life brought its share of challenges. Harold passed away after a heart attack, and Pauline, living alone in England, began showing signs of dementia.

Concerned about her mother’s wellbeing, Jane brought Pauline to Singapore in 2002 when she was 79 years old. Although adapting to a new country was not easy, Pauline soon grew fond of Singapore. She enjoyed local favourites such as satay, mee siam, and desserts flavoured with gula melaka. Most importantly, she found support and companionship through Yong-en’s Dementia Day Care programme.

For almost a decade, Yong-en became part of Pauline’s life and Jane’s caregiving journey.

“My mother attended Yong-en’s Dementia Day Care for approximately eight years after moving from the UK to Singapore,” Jane shared. “The centre removed much of the burden of caring for her around the clock. It gave me peace of mind knowing she was cared for with patience and kindness.”

When Jane retired from full-time work, she began thinking about how she could give back to the community that had supported her family during a difficult season of life. Combining her creativity with a desire to serve, she started transforming old greeting cards into bookmarks, gift tags, and handcrafted gifts. What began as a simple hobby soon grew into a meaningful fundraising effort, supported by friends, churches, community groups, and Yong-en’s charity events.

“Find something you are passionate about and apply it to giving back to society.”, said Jane who is current in her early 70s, and a volunteer with Yong-en since 2015.

“It keeps me connected to the centre,” Jane shared. “I get to interact with the team members and feel like one of the family.”

Today, Jane continues to support Yong-en through her time, talent, and generosity. What began as a daughter’s search for care for her mother has grown into a lasting partnership rooted in gratitude and purpose.

Yong-en once gave Pauline care and companionship when she needed it most. Now her daughter Jane gives back through the handmade crafts she creates and sells to support Yong-en’s fundraising, bringing that same care to other seniors and families. What started as gratitude for her mother’s journey has grown into something larger, a reminder that one act of kindness can ripple outward, touching lives across generations.

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