Whenever I see the word ‘poverty’, I tend to relate the word with the shortage of money or material possession. Is poverty just about the lack of money?
No, it is possible to experience emotional poverty as well. Emotional poverty happens when a person lacks of social participation, where it is an important part of the standard of living. It means to have family or friends for support in times of crises.
Mr Ong Hock Soon is a living example of how social participation is important for us. Despite losing contact with his children for many years, he always looks forward to attend the Senior Activity Centre, where he has friends to interact with. Having someone to be there to share your thoughts and feelings could possibly lighten the burden …show more content…
It is very disheartening to hear from some of them who are living alone, stating that they are waiting for their time to come as they see no purpose in life. I was shocked to find out that my field work findings are aligned with the rising number of elder suicide cases in Singapore, where the number raised from 23 percent in 2000 to 30 percent in 2014. It is also mentioned in the same article that loneliness increases the risk of mortality by 34 per cent over a four-year period, compared to the people who do not experience loneliness. While social isolation does not simply mean loneliness, loneliness is a factor within social isolation that may cause signs of depression and suicidal thoughts, which is why it is important to attend …show more content…
This means that both types of poverty can happen at the same time. Mdm Fernandez, a 78 year old widow living in a one room flat, used to call the police frequently just to find someone to converse with. Being unemployed, she relies on the monthly financial assistance from the Social Service Office for a living. However, she is unable to manage her finances well as no one is there to help her. This is an example of how a Singaporean elderly member is experiencing both monetary poverty and emotional poverty simultaneously. Studies published in Singapore Management University Change Lab Report have also shown that elderly members have a greater negative impact on their mental wellness when they feel that they have no one to rely on during financial difficulties. Hence, it is possible for emotional poverty to happen alongside with monetary
No, it is possible to experience emotional poverty as well. Emotional poverty happens when a person lacks of social participation, where it is an important part of the standard of living. It means to have family or friends for support in times of crises.
Mr Ong Hock Soon is a living example of how social participation is important for us. Despite losing contact with his children for many years, he always looks forward to attend the Senior Activity Centre, where he has friends to interact with. Having someone to be there to share your thoughts and feelings could possibly lighten the burden …show more content…
It is very disheartening to hear from some of them who are living alone, stating that they are waiting for their time to come as they see no purpose in life. I was shocked to find out that my field work findings are aligned with the rising number of elder suicide cases in Singapore, where the number raised from 23 percent in 2000 to 30 percent in 2014. It is also mentioned in the same article that loneliness increases the risk of mortality by 34 per cent over a four-year period, compared to the people who do not experience loneliness. While social isolation does not simply mean loneliness, loneliness is a factor within social isolation that may cause signs of depression and suicidal thoughts, which is why it is important to attend …show more content…
This means that both types of poverty can happen at the same time. Mdm Fernandez, a 78 year old widow living in a one room flat, used to call the police frequently just to find someone to converse with. Being unemployed, she relies on the monthly financial assistance from the Social Service Office for a living. However, she is unable to manage her finances well as no one is there to help her. This is an example of how a Singaporean elderly member is experiencing both monetary poverty and emotional poverty simultaneously. Studies published in Singapore Management University Change Lab Report have also shown that elderly members have a greater negative impact on their mental wellness when they feel that they have no one to rely on during financial difficulties. Hence, it is possible for emotional poverty to happen alongside with monetary