My Journey as a Senior Engagement Officer at RDI Home - Poh Lin

In the world of healthcare and technology, there are those who work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our senior citizens. These unsung heroes often go unnoticed, yet their contributions are nothing short of remarkable. Today, RDI Home is featuring our Senior Engagement Lead Officer, Poh Lin.

In this interview, she will share her day-to-day responsibilities, the heartwarming interactions she has had with seniors, and the profound lessons that she learned along the way.

What does a Senior Engagement Officer do?

My role as a Senior Engagement Lead Officer is multifaceted. I play a pivotal role in ensuring that seniors referred to us by Service Providers have a seamless transition into our services. This involves conducting onboarding sessions, visiting seniors' homes, teaching them and their families how to use our notification system, and conducting well-being checks. Moreover, I investigate environmental hazards, validate data from our radar system, and assess seniors' health using various metrics, all with the aim of ensuring seniors' safety and well-being.

How do you establish a genuine connection with the seniors you work with, and what makes these interactions meaningful to you?

I take the time to understand their individual stories, needs, and preferences. These interactions become meaningful to me when I see a senior's face light up with relief or happiness, knowing that they are not alone in their journey and that they have someone who genuinely cares about their health and well-being. Building trust and giving encouragements along the way make connections genuine and sincere.

Interactions with seniors through regular home visits become even more meaningful when seniors make behavioural changes towards taking charge of their own health and taking steps towards better health and wellbeing. It leads to empowering seniors to age in place with confidence and security.

Can you describe a particularly heartwarming or inspiring interaction you've had with a senior while assisting them?

One memorable interaction was with a senior named Mdm Sharifah, who is a person with poor vision. Due to her concern about privacy and also fear of falling, she was initially hesitant about using the RS System. I spent extra time explaining the non-intrusive design of the devices and addressing her fears so that she has a peace of mind and an acceptance of the system.

A month later, a fall alert was triggered. It led to a swift response from her sister through our notification system. Mdm Sharifah, then realised that in the event of an unfortunate and serious fall, early detection can prevent further injuries or other medical conditions, Her relieved voice was truly heartwarming and reaffirmed the importance of what I do.

How do you handle situations where seniors may express frustration or hesitation towards technology? Can you share a successful approach you have used to address such concerns?

When they express frustrations that include struggles with memory, difficulty with touch screens and slowed thinking, I approach it with patience and understanding. I often share stories of other seniors who initially had similar concerns. For 89 year old Mdm Lim, even though it may seem daunting and difficult at first to learn how to use her mobile handphone during our notification training, providing ongoing support eventually paid off. Due to a condition called leathery fingers, increasing text size and enlarging the keyboard for readability helped Md Lim overcome her struggles with touch screens.

In your opinion, what is the most important takeaway or lesson you have learnt from your interactions with seniors while working with RDI HOME's sensors? How has it shaped your perspective on aging and technology?

The most crucial lesson I have learnt is that aging is a deeply personal journey, and technology should be a tool to enhance, not replace, human connection and care.

The most important takeaway for me personally is the joy and satisfaction that stems from the potential to improve seniors’ safety, independence and quality of life while easing concerns of both seniors and their loved ones. It has shaped my perspective by reinforcing the idea that seniors deserve dignity, respect, and choices in how they age. It has made me an advocate for inclusive and user-friendly technology solutions that empower seniors to live independently and with dignity while staying connected to their communities and loved ones.

At RDI HOME, we are proud to have dedicated individuals like Poh Lin working tirelessly to ensure our seniors age in place with confidence and security, knowing that they are not alone.

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