Stay Fit, Not Still!

Read how top gym performer, Mr Teo Teck Seng, keeps his body, mind and soul fit and healthy.

One afternoon at Harmony Wellness Centre, AHL’s in-house gym, Mr Teo Teck Seng is lifting 40 kilograms of weights for leg presses as part of his twice-weekly gym routine. Under the supervision of Exercise Therapists (ET) Jacob and Hanif, Mr Teo has pushed his limits to achieve the best results in the gym among all residents at the Lodge. His grit and determination have influenced fellow residents to join him in the gym.

“I don’t like to exercise, but I know that going to the gym helps me achieve a stronger body and mind,” Mr Teo quips. “So, when I see the ETs walk by, I will ask them for my gym schedule.”

On days when he is not working out in the gym, he busies himself with “work” in the home. Starting from early in the morning, Mr Teo helps outs with preparation of breakfast for the rest of his fellow residents – making coffee and milo, and spreading jams onto the bread. He sees his breakfast duties through by also serving the food to other residents, before he rests to take his.

Being task-focused and work-oriented, Mr Teo is involved in other work-related activities including maintenance of the gardens through sweeping leaves, watering plants and harvesting vegetables. In the afternoons, he is always laser-focused on his seeding task, sitting upright at his work station with fingers carefully handling the seeds. These activities have been integrated into his daily routine, becoming a form of naturalised therapy for Mr Teo. Work has enabled him to remain cognitively and physically active, thereby slowing down the deterioration of his dementia.

 “I like to keep myself occupied. The work here is not hard and helps me to focus. It takes my mind off stressful things,” shares Mr Teo. A simple man, Mr Teo does not ask for much in return for his efforts, and yet does his best in all that he undertakes. His sense of responsibility and ownership is echoed by ET Jacob. “Since Mr Teo came to the Lodge, he has been very receptive to the activities offered here. Once he starts on a task, he will never leave it until he completes it.”

Mr Teo’s consistency in seeing things through is evident, even in Harmony Wellness Centre. He ensures that he cools down properly, with the guidance of the ETs, so that his body recovers quickly. On this afternoon, Mr Teo is observed taking deep breaths as he stretches to relax his whole body.

When asked if he would come to the gym again, he banters, “Of course! I can't change my age, but I can change the way I age.”

For more inspiring stories at the Lodge, go to: http://www.apexharmony.org.sg/about/news-happening