Every morning, without fail, Toh Ching Boon wakes up with a mission.
His first task of the day never changes: buying coffee and something warm for breakfast. These aren’t for himself, but for his wife of 40 years, Ang Swee, who now resides at NTUC Health’s nursing home in Jurong.
“I come every day just to see her smile,” said the 75-year-old, his face lighting up as he speaks about his daily visits.
“When she’s at peace, I’m at peace too.”
Their love story began over four decades ago, when they were introduced by Mdm Ang’s sister.
Life wasn’t always easy – he worked as a cleaner, she as a bakery assistant – but they had each other.
Without children, they built a simple life together, finding joy in shared meals and quiet moments.
The challenges of ageing, however, don’t discriminate.
Mdm Ang’s health began deteriorating, with heart complications and mobility issues making daily tasks increasingly difficult. Mr Toh tried his best to care for her at home, but found himself struggling.
“When she became like this, it was a shock. But we have to be mentally prepared. This is the path we must walk as we age,” Mr Toh reflected.
This reality mirrors a larger trend in Singapore.
As life expectancy increases and family sizes shrink, more elderly couples find themselves facing similar challenges, often with limited support systems.
For Mr Toh, the decision to seek professional help wasn’t an easy one.
“In our old age, it gets lonely. We depend on each other – I care for her, she cares for me,” he shared.
However, recognising their need for support, he turned to NTUC Health’s nursing home in Jurong, conveniently located in their neighbourhood.
NTUC Health, one of Singapore’s largest elderly care providers, has been supporting seniors and their families for over 20 years.
With six nursing homes, 26 day centers, and services reaching over 11,000 seniors, their mission extends beyond just providing care – they help preserve the dignity and connections that make life meaningful.
Today, Mr Toh and Mdm Ang’s love story continues, just differently.
Their mornings start with shared breakfast, often featuring her favourites – chwee kueh, chicken rice, and warm coffee.
They spend their days exploring the nursing home’s garden, watching birds, and sometimes making desserts together, a sweet reminder of Mdm Ang’s bakery days.
The staff at NTUC Health have become part of their extended family.
“They understand what we need. When I tell them what I need, they will try their best to help me,” Mr Toh said.
Through NTUC Health’s Health for Life Fund, which aims to make quality care accessible to all, couples like Mr Toh and Mdm Ang can focus on what matters most – their relationship.
“Each time I leave, I promise to return tomorrow,” Mr Toh shared. “If I don't visit, she’ll wait by the door, looking to see if I’ve come.”
In a rapidly ageing Singapore, their story represents more than just a love that endures. It shows how, with the right support, the journey of growing old doesn’t have to mean the end of connection.
Through NTUC Health’s comprehensive network of services – from nursing homes to day centres and rehabilitation facilities – more families can find ways to stay together, even when circumstances change.
As Mr Toh’s daily visits prove, some goodbyes are not the end of a love story. They’re just another way of saying “see you tomorrow.”
Help write the next chapter for seniors like Mr Toh and Mdm Ang by donating to NTUC Health’s Health for Life Fund. Every contribution makes a difference.
