Gifting as part of the legacy

REMOVING the extra leaves from the stems of carnations, measuring the flowers against the vase and cutting it to size. This is not an everyday scene at St Luke's ElderCare (SLEC), which provides a continuum of care for the elderly between the community hospitals and homes.

Two employees from Noel Gifts International Ltd are spending their time on a Wednesday afternoon teaching a group of 10 elders the art of flower arrangement.

Noel Gifts' production supervisor Chong Fong Yi says: "I found that the elderly participants really liked (the flowers and the workshop) a lot. I seldom have the opportunity to talk to our customers directly. This time, I could interact directly with the elderly, and treat them as my customers. The elderly participants really looked forward (to the sessions) and were very excited, asking if there were more classes and if they (the team) can come more often. The positive response from the elderly also made me feel happy."