Hovi Care Ulu Pandan was pleased to welcome the GrowWise student team from ACS International for a meaningful intergenerational project designed to support seniors through digital learning, creative activities, and companionship.
With a simple but important purpose at its heart — helping seniors grow more familiar with technology, stay digitally aware, remain active, and enjoy social connection — the GrowWise team brought practical support, warmth, and creativity to the seniors at Hovi Care Ulu Pandan through a series of in-person sessions.
The programme extended well beyond screens.
Students initially explored a broad range of topics, including phone use, scam awareness, artificial intelligence, and creative activities. After thoughtful discussion and feedback, the programme was refined to better suit the needs of seniors, including those living with dementia. The revised approach placed stronger emphasis on simple, practical, and repeated learning — particularly around basic phone functions, WhatsApp use, and scam awareness.
This dementia-friendly adjustment reflects an important principle in eldercare: learning should be meaningful, achievable, and adapted to each senior’s ability and comfort level. Rather than focusing on complex technology, sessions were designed to build confidence through familiar tools that seniors encounter in daily life — mobile phones, messaging, calls, photos, and basic settings.
Scam awareness was another key focus.
Seniors can encounter suspicious calls, fake messages, misleading websites, or requests for personal and financial information. Through simple explanations and guided sharing, the GrowWise students helped seniors recognise common red flags: urgent requests for money, pressure tactics, unknown links, and offers that seem too good to be true.
The programme also had a strong creative component. Activities such as origami, clay modelling, finger painting, button art, colouring, and collage were woven into each session to stimulate the mind while encouraging expression, participation, and social interaction. These activities were chosen not only for their enjoyment, but also to support engagement, fine motor movement, creativity, and connection.
Perhaps most meaningfully, the sessions created genuine opportunities for companionship.
The students did not simply “teach” — they spent time interacting, encouraging, listening, and building rapport. This intergenerational exchange brought energy and warmth to the centre, allowing seniors and students to learn from one another in a relaxed and supportive environment.
At Hovi Care, we believe that meaningful ageing is supported by connection, dignity, and person-centred engagement. Collaborations like the GrowWise project reflect our commitment to creating enriching experiences for seniors, while giving young people the opportunity to better understand ageing, dementia care, and community service.
We sincerely thank the GrowWise student team from ACS International for their thoughtful preparation, enthusiasm, and willingness to adapt their programme to the needs of our seniors. Their contribution went beyond digital confidence and creative engagement — it brought the simple but powerful gift of human connection.
Hovi Care looks forward to continuing partnerships that support active ageing, dementia-friendly engagement, and a community where every senior is welcomed, included, and celebrated.
