Chong feeding the home’s oldest resident, 89-year-old Kok Chow Tai. — Courtesy photo
WHILE some seniors are content to enjoy their retirement pottering about their garden or spending morning coffees with friends, David Chong and Ramesh Patel, both 64, still work eight-hour days or more helping those in need.
The two selfless Malaysians have dedicated most of their lives to caring for the less fortunate and show no signs of slowing down.
Chong has been managing Tong Sim Old Folk’s Home in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, since 2004, juggling several jobs to keep the roof over the heads of those in his care.
The home’s 18 residents comprise 12 men and six women aged between 54 and 89.
Two of the residents are wheelchair users while three have been diagnosed with mental health issues.
Despite the challenges that come his way, the jovial father of three said he could not throw in the towel and bail on his senior charges.
An undertaker by profession, Chong started the home after being encouraged by his friends.
“I wanted to give back to society and the opportunity came to operate a senior care home.
“I was all for it, thinking I had support.
“But one by one, my friends left when they realised running a home wasn’t as easy as they had imagined,” he said.
While he gets donations in cash and kind from well-wishers, Chong said he needs to cover most of its operational costs, which average RM8,000 monthly.
The funeral parlour owner uses the earnings from his business to tide the home over.
“When my friends quit, I was left alone with the old folks and had no choice but to do my best to keep the home up and running,” he said.
With no money to hire staff, Chong cooked for the residents and cleaned the home by himself in those early years.
“I would cook for the residents before I left for the funeral parlour. After settling my work, I would rush back to check on the seniors or ferry them to hospital appointments,” he recalled.
“Sometimes I felt like quitting, but where would they have gone if I did?”
Chong is now assisted by the home’s secretary, Jessie Chan, and a staff member who helps look after the residents when he is away.
Like Chong, Ramesh finds it hard to give up on the children and senior citizens he works with. Despite undergoing heart bypass surgery earlier this year, the grandfather of two remains committed to several non-governmental organisations.
In 2006, Ramesh founded Vivekananda Home, a sanctuary for orphans and children from abusive or single-parent families in Rembau, Negri Sembilan.
Since then, over 600 children have passed through the home’s doors.
From an old zinc-roofed wooden building with just one staff member, the new Vivekananda Home has expanded to two concrete blocks and can accommodate up to 80 residents.
Now there are seven employees including a cook, cleaner and office administrator. The children also have tuition, yoga and silambam classes.
In some cases, to prevent children from being separated from their mothers, Ramesh houses the women and finds employment for them too.
While Vivekananda Home holds a special place in his heart, Ramesh balances his responsibilities as appa (father) to the children with other duties.
He is also chairman of Rembau’s in-community rehabilitation centre, a daycare centre for disabled persons; Rumah Sejahtera Rembau, a senior care home; and the local branch of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
While these responsibilities may seem overwhelming to some, they are all in a day’s work for Ramesh, who begins each morning at 5.30am.
The father of three goes for a walk with his wife before heading to the daycare centre for the disabled to ensure the day’s programmes are off to a good start.
Ramesh will then pop into Vivekananda Home and Rumah Sejahtera to check on things and spend time chatting with the residents.
“I have no regrets, especially when I see the children attain success, get married and come back to visit us,” he said.
Ramesh was upfront with his wife when they got married and she had willingly accepted his calling to give back to society.
“Despite the ups and downs, my wife and children have always helped with the chores at Vivekananda Home. It has been a part of their lives too,” he said.
What keeps both men going?
Both credit the satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of others as their sole motivation and reward.
“I just do whatever I can to help. It’s a part of being human,” Ramesh said.
Chong too races between his various businesses and the old folk’s home for one reason – to help a fellow human being.
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