NILAI – The Program of Courteous Conduct organized by the Strategic Media and Communication Club (Stracomm Clique) was successfully conducted with the participation of 38 students. This program aims to strengthen the relationship between students and the elderly people and to increase awareness about the importance of caring for them in our society.
The program was held at Nur Hasanah Care Centre, Beranang, Selangor, this program involved 20 male elderly in the care centre on January 18, 2024 recently. The main activities consisted of cleaning and beautifying the prayer rooms as well as the physiotherapy rooms. Additionally, the students also interacted pleasantly with the elderly through lots of enjoyable activities.
Nurun Nafeesah Roslan, 22, from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences as the Program Leader said that the activities carried out were brisk walking, playing the game called “Imitate, Charades,” and a story sharing session in the program “Halaqah Ukhuwah: Tell Me Your Story”. “These activities aim to relieve boredom and bring joy to the elderly. Their smiles and laughter melted the students’ hearts, having the warmth of affection that was established throughout this program,” she said.
She further emphasized that the program had a significant impact on the students, as they had the opportunity to listen to the life experiences of the elderly. The sad and joyful stories told have taught them valuable lessons, especially about appreciating the relationship with our parents.
The warmth and connection developed during these interactions demonstrate the importance of respecting, caring for, and spending time with seniors, who often yearn for companionship as much as they do for care. Programs like these reinforce the values of compassion and empathy, while also teaching students to see aging not as a burden, but as a stage of life filled with stories worth listening to and people deserving of dignity.
At the same time, ensuring the well-being of seniors also requires practical measures that safeguard their independence and safety on a daily basis. In addition to companionship, solutions that support their health and security become essential, particularly as mobility and health concerns increase with age.
This is where innovations such as medical alert systems play an important role, providing seniors and their loved ones with reassurance that help is available at the touch of a button. Beyond fostering emotional connections, the integration of such tools represents a thoughtful step toward creating a safer environment for the elderly, blending compassion with proactive care so they can continue to live with both dignity and peace of mind.
A meaningful advice was given by one of the elderly there to the participants, “As long as your parents are still alive, be kind to them. No matter how occupied we are, always remember to visit them.” This was a message to remind the participants of the importance of holding a relationship and being mindful with every speech so as not to hurt our parents’ feelings.
The elderly at the care centre also expressed their gratitude to the students for their visit. One of them said, “Even our own relatives rarely come to visit, thank you all for spending time with us.” These words were meant that all the care and affection given to them were indescribable.
The program was concluded with an emotional atmosphere when the students had to bade the elderly farewell. The tears shed became a symbol of affection and unforgettable memories that were made throughout several hours with them. It is hoped that programs such as this can be constantly repeated so that respect and understanding towards elderly people are emphasised and to make sure that they are acknowledged by every part of society.
Written by: Nurul Fathihah Shaipol Azman
Translated by: Muhammad Nasrullah Syahmi Badrul Sham