At HCA Hospice’s Oasis@Outram Day Hospice, each meal is lovingly made to evoke cherished memories, rekindle joy, and foster a sense of warmth and community for its patients.
In Asian cultures, the question “Have you eaten?” goes beyond a polite greeting — it is an expression of care. This sentiment manifests at HCA Hospice’s (HCA) Oasis@Outram Day Hospice where nourishing meals play a vital role in Creating Good Days for patients.
For patients navigating the challenges of the end stage of life, food transcends being mere sustenance. It can be a gateway to the past of cherished memories, a way to forge bonds in the present, and a reminder of belonging in a community. Whether it is celebrating milestones like birthdays or simply lifting the spirits of a patient, the team at Oasis@Outram takes special care to prepare meaningful dishes. Each plate reflects the attentiveness of staff and volunteers, who carefully take note of patients’ favourite food during their daily interactions.
Food has always been an important part of Mr Lai’s identity. Growing up in a close-knit family, his childhood memories are filled with the aromas of his mother’s cooking and the joy of family meals. He fondly recalls school holiday trips to Malaysia for durian and his family’s humorous attempts at selling homemade durian kaya — a venture that brought laughter, if not profit.
Mr Lai now lives alone, and the richness of family life has faded into memory. His weakened legs limit his ability to venture far for meals. These days, dining alone at home has become the norm. Yet, food remains a source of solace and nostalgia and a connection to the community he once cherished.
Since joining Oasis@Outram two years ago, Mr Lai has rediscovered this sense of community. Lunchtime has become a time to share meals and companionship with newfound friends. Last year, his birthday celebrated not just his life, but also his love for food and company.
Mr Lai’s favourite dish is fish soup, which the day hospice team prepared especially for him. “I told the staff that I like fish soup because it’s soft enough to chew, and they remembered this,” Mr Lai said with gratitude. Beaming with joy, he showed off photos of the sparkly outfit he dressed in for his birthday and recounted how everyone sang him the birthday song. “It reminded me of the kampong spirit I felt during my younger days,” he shared, reflecting on the kinship he thought he had lost.
For other patients like Mr Ho, a thoughtfully prepared meal can celebrate not only their lives but the milestones that come with it. When he casually mentioned to a volunteer that he would be celebrating his 100th lunar birthday alone, the news quickly reached staff at Oasis@Outram.
As a centenarian, Mr Ho has a lifetime of stories and accomplishments to honour. The team rose to the challenge to make the occasion more meaningful.
“It’s not every day that you turn 100, and no one should be commemorating such a significant day alone,” shared HCA Day Hospice Senior Executive Annie Lee. “We wanted to help him reflect on his meaningful life and also pay a tribute to his remarkable journey.”
As a surprise, they cooked mee sua, a traditional Chinese noodle dish that symbolises longevity, complete with two red-dyed eggs to mark a century of life. No birthday is complete without cake, and everyone, including staff, volunteers and fellow patients, sang the birthday song for him. What would have been a quiet day turned into a lively celebration filled with warmth and laughter. “Mr Ho was so excited to eat that day,” Annie recalled. “He even urged us to finish taking photos of him quickly so he could dig in.”
For patients like Mr Lai and Mr Ho with limited social support outside of the day hospice, food becomes a lifeline to moments of happiness and connection. Beyond nourishing the body, their favourite food serves as a reminder that they are still seen, heard and cherished even in their twilight years.
Words and photos: HCA HOSPICE