On 22 August 2025, students from the IMU School of Medicine visited Rumah Charis Old Folks Home in Bukit Jalil. Guided by their project advisors, Dr Ravindran A/L M Vythilingam and Dr Liew Yun Khoon, the students thoughtfully planned and carried out the visit, reflecting their strong commitment to community engagement.

The School of Medicine students’ visit to the Rumah Charis Old Folks Home was more than just an occasion, it was a sign of their deep drive and sense of purpose. Motivated by a shared dedication to community service, the students embarked on the visit with the admirable goal of enriching the lives of senior citizens. Driven by compassion and a desire to make a meaningful impact beyond the classroom, they sought to bring joy and companionship to the elderly. More than a requirement of the MPU module, this initiative demonstrated the transformative power of student-led efforts in fostering a culture of caring and solidarity and showing their commitment to living up to the values of compassion and social responsibility.

The students left IMU University at around 1:15pm and arrived at Rumah Charis at 1:30pm. As the programme was scheduled from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, the team moved quickly upon arrival to ensure the activities proceeded smoothly. The students were accompanied by Dr Ravindran, who provided guidance throughout the session.

The main objective of the event was to raise awareness among the elderly about common age-related illnesses, particularly heart attacks and strokes. Any questions beyond the students’ scope of expertise were addressed by Dr Ravindran.

Upon arrival, the students observed more than 20 elderly residents seated around a long table. Due to time constraints, the team promptly distributed a pre-event survey related to the topics to be covered during the session, with the aim of assessing the residents’ baseline knowledge.

Communication presented a slight challenge, as most of the residents were Chinese speakers. As a result, Chinese-speaking group members took the lead in engaging with the residents, while the remaining students supported the session behind the scenes to ensure the activities ran smoothly.

Following the pre-survey, the group speakers gathered the attention of the elderly to ensure they could clearly hear and engage with the health talk prepared by the students. The session focused on the signs and symptoms of heart attacks and strokes, as well as the appropriate actions to take should such emergencies occur. In addition, the students delivered a brief but meaningful talk on mental health, recognising its significant impact on the well-being of the elderly. Preventive measures, along with practical dietary recommendations, were also shared.

The elderly residents were actively engaged throughout the session, asking numerous questions and exchanging light-hearted jokes with the students, creating a warm and lively atmosphere. Several questions were addressed with the support of Dr Ravindran, ensuring accurate and comprehensive responses.

After the health talk, the students organised an origami activity to foster interaction and build rapport with the residents in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. This was followed by a short dance performance for the elderly to watch and enjoy. Unexpectedly, a classical Chinese song was played on the piano, energising the room and prompting everyone to sing along, further enhancing the joyful ambience.

As a token of care, the students presented vitamin C supplements to the elderly. In return, the residents warmly shared fruits with the students as a gesture of appreciation. A post-event survey was then conducted to assess the knowledge gained from the session.

Before departing, the students and residents gathered for a group photograph at the entrance of Rumah Charis Old Folks Home, marking a memorable and meaningful day. Through impactful health talks and engaging activities, the students demonstrated exceptional care and compassion. The gratitude expressed by the elderly and their caretaker reflected the positive impact of the visit. Beyond bringing joy to the residents, the experience also enriched the students by nurturing empathy, social responsibility, and a deeper understanding of community care within the School of Medicine.