Wong, 67 years old 

I am 67 years old this year. You can call me Uncle Wong. A few years back, my wife was ill with cancer and due to the huge amounts of medical expenses, I had to sell my 5-room flat away and move into a second-hand 4-room flat in Serangoon Avenue 3. As her conditions worsen, I decided that I have to take care of her and so, I sold my business away. After she passed away, I then sold the house away because I needed money.

“Oh no that must have been hard for you, who are you living with now then?”

I live alone. After my wife passed away, my son left Singapore when we were living in the Hougang 2-room rental flat. He only gave me money twice before ($200 each). When I went for the heart operation, he was aware of it but he didn’t come back to express any form of concern. We cannot communicate. If I ask too much, he will blow up and we will quarrel.

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“Oh I see… then what do you usually do on usual days do you meet up with your friends?”

Not really. I lost contact with many of my friends, because we kept moving around, and places are quickly replaced in Singapore. I also don’t meet up with my family that frequently, only during festive seasons. If I feel bored I just switch on the computer, and I will go downstairs to take a walk sometimes, or watch tv and listen to songs at home during my free time.

“You mentioned earlier that you went through a heart operation, why did you have to go through it?”

I had a hole in my heart and I did my operation a few years back when I was 68, now I just take medication everyday. I usually go for regular consultation every 2 weeks at the polyclinic and the bills are relatively cheap. Currently, the doctor is helping me to readjust my medicine.

“In that case, isn’t it difficult for you to cope in your job?”

Yes, it is tiring sometimes because I have to work long hours and it’s difficult to concentrate because I need to be very focused to check for the expiry of work permit passes of foreign workers and I can’t afford to make any mistakes.

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“Why didn’t you seek for financial assistance then?”

As long as I can earn for myself, why trouble others? Like (I’m) begging for money.

Loneliness is a common issue among elderly living alone like Uncle Wong, where there is a lack of social and emotional companionship in their life. Often, help is given in terms of rations or financial assistance but it is important to also note the importance of ensuring that these elderly feel included in the society.

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*name has been modified for anonymity purposes