This month’s newsletter aims to focus at what SilverHairsClub can do for retirees or members who have given up a full-time job. If you are a retiree or have given up full time work, I look forward to hear from you. At 45+, many retirees have acquired years of skills, knowledge and experience. Retirees have seen the world, saw their children growing up, going through school and seeing them having their own career and families. As retirees, many of us also want to spend some time doing the things we have always wanted to do.
If you are one of the lucky Retirees or SHC members who may not need to have a part-time job, I would encourage you to help our fellow members find paid work, so that we can pass through our lives with fun, cheer and some comfort, without suffering from loneliness and an expensive society.
For different reasons, some of us want to continue working part-time; and may find searching for a suitable job difficult. We want to stay in touch with the outside world. If you wish to do something meaningful and like to find a part-time job, I am hoping we can do so collectively as a Club. Besides fun and social activities, SHC can present itself as a Club with experienced seniors. Over the years, various job ideas have cropped up, and I think it is about time, we re-try looking at this area of part-time work for Seniors.
Some of them are:
The list can go on, and as to how we will proceed, we really have to depend on your interest. Simply fill the details below and email this information to me at terences@SilverHairsClub.com.
For members who are working in organisations, and have a need for part-time staff, please let me know the company name, the contact person, tel, email address and job type. I am sure many retirees will benefit from your recommendation and effort. Ideas and suggestions welcome.
With effect from 1 July 2012, job postings will not be allowed on this forum by individual members. However, corporate members can continue to do so.
Thank you for your time.
Hi Terence
I’ve sent you an email putting myself on your waitlist.
Hee2
Cheerssss
I am very happy to receive so many responses for part-time work. All offers will be handled by SilverHairs Enterprise, and respondents will be given priority on job opportunities.
In fact, there are already a number of job offers coming in, and I shall try to get them dessiminated by this weekend.
Over the next 4 weeks, we will start a series of small advertising campaigns in the Straits Times and Today newspapers. This advertising do not come cheap, and I hope that this Blue Helmet project to provide part-time job for retired SHCians can work out well.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
Our Seniors can find jobs as Eldercare Assistants through the hospt or Ntuc.
Last year when I had a fall and fractured my leg, the A & E Coordinator of Nuh was quick to pick-up the data which showed that I would be alone at home for the next few weeks.
She called me on my Hp to offer Eldercare service for a 1 hr’s help costing $20 or a blk of 4hrs $60 each visit. Job covers whatever the Patient wants done during the paid period eg washing, simple general cleaning, cooking or accompanying pt to SPECIALIXT’S CLINIC.
Can’t tel if all hospts offer this service.
Hope that this info is helpful.
Cheers
Geok Suan
Hi Geok Suan #3
Sorry to hear that you had a fall and fractured your leg. It must have been v painful and this must be a difficult period for you. Take care and I wish you a speedy recovery.
Warmest regards,
Gabriella
Hi Gabriella,
Thanks for the good wishes. My fracture has healed but left big toe hurts. Supposed Dr didn;t check on it. Fracture nearly went undiagnosed.
Yes it was painfull but had to bear with it.
All seniors please take care not to fall. One may not be lucky enough to escape a fracture esp if osteoporosis is present.
Thanks again.
Geok Suan
Here’s something I like to share with everybody. As you know, we have always been wondering how to make our Club more vibrant; we try to analyse why many members are rather absent and why they do not participate in many of our activities.
Interesting, when I recently sent out our monthly circular, I noticed many members who have been silent, actually responded to our project on “part-time jobs for retirees”. Perhaps, this is one area that has not been identified as important. We tend to think that many members are working; and that our activities may not be to their interests.
I think by the end of this month, we will have a sizeable pool of members who are keen to take up part-time jobs. I have not analysed the data in full, but broadly, I see a keen area of interests in “Company stand-in”. This is temporary replacement of staff when the full time staff goes on medical, or temporary leave.
Thank you Geok Suan for your feedback. Think about it, there are many patients who had gone into a hospital for a surgery, and need not stay in the hospital for continued attention. They can go home; but still they need some assistance in the home, while they have difficulty in standing up or cooking a meal.
Approaching hospitals is a good idea; and I am sure these are good opportunities for Eldersitters. Thank you Geok Suan. Thank you for your contribution.
Terence Seah
Terence,
Usually meals are a big problem when one is convalescing at home – it will get the patient down when he/she has to look where to get his next meal when he/she is immobile and helpless. It will be a boon – we all know good food will make a person’s mood better especially when he/she is sick, but then sometimes he has no appetite, but it depends on what is the sickness. Well, at least he/she knows he has a nice hot meal to look forward to and I’m not talking about those tingkat food. From what I see or read about at our potluck events, there are quite a few good SHC cooks. I dont know whether it will work out, and sorry I dont have the time to think of how we can tap on such talent but if you develop the idea and can see how we can use it as an eldercare service, it might be a good outcome. Maybe you can persuade some members to provide a home cooked weekend meal on a commercial basis, but it cannot be just anybody who says she can cook. You need to have a good and trusted person who will test the food first. Dont laugh hor – just brainstorming.
Here’s the note which I sent out to respondents to our Eldersitter project.
Hi everybody,
I have your names as interested Eldersitters. We have just started, with advertising in the Straits Times and Today newspapers. Obviously, I think we have to work hard to get our services into the market. Unfortunately, we have no helpers, and depending on advertising is an expensive affair.
However, Eldersitter services are a demand. Based on earlier discussions, we will focus on companionship services, errands and care help for the elderlies in their homes.
Our plan charges to the families of the elderlies are $20 per hour, a minimum of 3 hours. Eldersitters are paid $14 per hour.
Depending on client satisfaction, the eldersitter can be hired on a continuous basis.
When a family needs an Eldersitter, they can do an online reservation or they can call an administrator. Based on the information you provided us, we will contact the eldersitter via SMS. Return the call, and we will advise the nature of the client’s request. You can then talk with the client, and decide if you will take the job.
Initially, only those with experience in handling elderlies will be assigned. All assignment will be made by SilverHairs Enterprise Pte Ltd.
The $20 per hour is competitive, based on market information.
We have many members who have signed up as Eldersitters. You may also have read that we will attempt to go into other areas eg nanny services, confinement lady services, company stand-ins, etc.
I hope that these services will benefit retirees and seniors who wish to do some part-time work.
For a start, I would like to ask if we can have two volunteer administrators from among this group to:
1. Manage the database of eldersitters and other service providers. you have to manage this task from home, have internet access and be fluent with email and simple microsoft work. You can work from anywhere if working with a smartphone.
2. You may receive calls from clients, emails or sms. You would also have to look at the database for eligible Eldersitters to contact, until a person is found for the client.
3. For the calls, SMS and emails, a $50 per month allowance will be provided. The two administrators will also be able to provide Eldersitter services, and be paid the full $20 per hour rate.
4. Confidentiality of database is absolutely important.
5. The two administrators share the workload, and would have their hours shared, during 9 to 5 pm, 3 days a week. Sunday is leisure time.
Do let me know if you are interested. This position close once the two persons have been selected.
6. All administrators take direct instructions from myself for the time being.
Should anyone have any questions, plse feel free to ask. With the support of participants, I am determined to make this project work. If you see you can contribute to seniors who needs a part-time job, please feel free to drop a note here or you can write to me.
Terence Seah
I am likely to appoint two persons to take up the role of the SilverHairs Enterprise Administrators. Their key functions would be to manage our database of retirees or members who are available for part-time work.
They would also provide liason work between clients and members.
From now onwards, there will be no job placements Posts, allowed on this forum by individuals. However, corporate members can continue to offer work opportunities on this forum.
Terence Seah
As an update, SilverHairs Enterprise has accepted two SHC members as volunteer administrators of our part-time jobs project. They are Jenny Lee and Vivian Lai. They are currently doing their training with our service bookings system; and we expect to have this operational by mid July.
Members who are keen to join as Eldersitters and other part time jobs, as mentioned in this Post, can write to SHE@SilverhairsClub.com.
Once operational, service bookings will be accepted from Monday to Sat, 9-5pm.
Please be informed that Eldersitters and other part-time jobs are offered to SHC members only.
Terence Seah
Besides nannies, confinement ladies, errand runners and office stand-ins, SilverHairs Enterprise is looking at other part-time job opportunities for SHC members.
While we have discussed this at some time in the past, and of course, we did not get very far, we are now more confident to offer part-time Chinese tuition to foreign students/adults overseas.
There is a high demand for Chinese tuition, especially basic day to day conversation and business/office conversation.
We will be accepting members who have the following criteria to join as an online Chinese tution teacher. The requirements are:
1. Has Chinese tuition experience, preferably with own materials.
2. Very conversant with the use of SKYPE.
3. Has own internet access and own PC, complete with microphone and speakers.
4. Has a good voice over the internet, is patient and has the qualities of a teacher.
All bookings for Chinese tuition will be done online via the SilverHairs Enterprise services booking system. The exact payment rate has not been determined, but this will be discussed among members with this tuition interest. Teaching hours are planned to be between 1 to 2 hours per session; and booking sessions will depend on the Client’s request.
Our plan is to target clients in the US (mainly at night), Europe (mainly in the late afternoon) and Australia (close to our time zone).
As usual, this is still a dream project, and only those with the interest, can help to make it a reality.
Hi Daniel, please keep in touch with this topic.
So, if you are keen to be a Chinese tuition teacher for overseas adults and children, please email information on name, SHC registered email address, your Chinese tuition experience, materials, date and time availability, and expected remuneration in $xx/hour. Please email to SHE@SilverHairsClub.com.
I shall also be appointing a member who has responded to run this part of the project.
Thank you.
Terence Seah
Sometimes back a Medical practitioner wrote a letter of appreciation for the attention he received after being hospitalised (i cannot recall the date) and he was “very” appreciate and “toched” by the caring he experienced….
It’s not sometheing that we get to experience (touch wood, choy, choy ..) but if anything should happen then one can really feel helpless.
I’ve gone thru it all being cared and render care over the years.
Just a sample of what I meant …
I went thru 3 Total Knee replacements (TKR) since 2007 till now. My left TKR was done on 15/5 2007. My Right TKR was done twice in Aug 2008 and Jan 2011! It’s really no joke, the pain and suffering …, that I can assure you. Those who have experienced can vouch for what I wrote. Fortunately I had caring friends who lived in to take care of me (buying food and not forgetting too the clearing of urinals … to assistance such as putting on pants!
On the converse, I am still offering care … and one of these is cooking for two old folks since last Nov. Try imagining cooking soft diet for two 80+ with no teeth with variations of the right meals with nutritional values day in and day out for the last 7 months now. There’s really no secret as these days if U bother to goggle and do a search U can practically get anything from the internet (i.e. if U know how).
Anyway “DO” reemember to keep fit thru daily exercises. As the saying goes “Health is Wealth”. Just remember we can only be happy when we are well.
Cheers!
Benson
Hi Terence #11
This online Ch1nese tuition is so high tech – like video conferencing :)
Will you be extending it to English tuition, targeting China and SEA countries?
Hi Jassmine #13,
Realtime one to one learning is an ideal p/t work for retirees. I haven’t thought of it, because of our limited resources.
Online chat with video, used for teaching and learning, is a common and popular mode of communication today. Might sound high tech, but really it’s the way today.
Terence Seah
Hi Jsssmine #13 and members who have an interest in Online tuition,
Please feel free to jump into skype, look for user swift_squirrel which is me, and get to talk with me online. If you see me online, just let’s have a short chat.
Terence Seah
Hi Boss Terence,
I salute you for your very very enterprising mind. First eldersitter now nannies, confinement ladies, errand runners etc and now even going into internet marketing – Chinese tuition to foreigners in overseas. It’s a very competitive market (promotion wise) you are going into.
You do not use free tools like skype to make money. It’s just not robust enough for long usage – drop line, poor audio etc. I have a poor experience with skype when we are using video chat/conferencing with my contemporaries overseas – have to switch to another media half-way through.
It will be very frustrating for someone who pay a fee and expect excellent video and audio communication. Use gotomeeting dot com and it’s cost less than US$50 a month – it’s must have tool for internet marketers who use webinar to market online learning and sharing.
Dear Terence and all,
May I add 1 more part-time job to your List? That’s Dance Instructor or DI for short, for hire.
They used to charge ( 6 to 8 years ago) $200 to $250 an evening dancing with the unaccompanied lady or ladies. if the ladies team up to hire one for an evening of Dinner/dance.
Who buys the drinks for DI? Maybe he buys his own drinks cos it is a paid job.
I see there are many good Dancers in SHC who enjoy dancing very much. Just Dance with clients, get paid and then good-nite. Done very professionally.
How about this kind of part-time job, Terence?
Geok Suan.