MARINA Bay Sands (MBS) partnered non-profit organisation Care Corner Singapore to celebrate Chinese New Year with seniors at a reunion lunch on Friday (Feb 2).

Forty volunteers from MBS joined Care Corner’s staff and volunteers and nearly 80 seniors at the event, where they engaged in lo hei and games together and watched performances by volunteers and fellow seniors.

This event is a continuation of the partnership between Care Corner and Sands Cares, MBS’ community engagement programme. One of the groups that Sands Cares supports is seniors who are socially isolated or have limited access to social, financial, medical and housing support.

Nicholas Ionides, MBS’ vice-president of communications and corporate affairs, said: “We have pillars of support that we provide, and one of (them) is helping vulnerable communities… Over the years, the partnership has developed from giving financial support to volunteering to mentorship, and we hope we can continue with it.”

MBS’ partnership with Care Corners started in 2015, and volunteers have been partaking in Care Corner’s Neighbour Cares programme since 2021. As part of the initiative, volunteers make weekly doorstep visits to isolated seniors and befriend them, thereby mitigating isolation and improving their mental well-being. So far, over 350 seniors have been supported through six cycles of the programme. 

Christian Chao, chief executive of Care Corner, noted the importance of improving the quality of life of seniors. Issues such as social isolation and frailty management are particularly important to address, he added.

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“Some of (the seniors) may not have very strong family support or family relations. This is why we have to be proactive in reaching out to them, establishing strong social connections, making them feel comfortable to be part of the community again.

“This is where partnerships with MBS have been really helpful. One thing that we are really happy about is the commitment to journey with the seniors over a period of time – developing similarities, relationships, trust, and I think that’s where the seniors start connecting,” he said.