Supporting Disabled Individuals in Aging Crisis.

Weiwei (alias) has been living in the home since its establishment, and four years have passed in the blink of an eye. Due to the weakened functionality of his biological family, Weiwei struggled with social interactions and often kept to himself. When conflicts arose between Weiwei and the care staff, he tended to respond negatively. However, through the persistent efforts of the care staff, Weiwei gradually let down his guard and started learning how to express his thoughts. He is now able to attempt communication when feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Weiwei realized that communication could better solve problems, and over time, he progressed from communicating with the care staff to interacting well with other service users.

Weiwei rarely interacts with his family and is not accustomed to greeting others proactively. After returning to the home, he used to silently retreat to his room. But later, he realized that someone was always waiting for him there, and he gradually learned to say, "I'm back!" After showering, he now takes the initiative to assist the care staff in preparing dinner. After four years of learning, Weiwei is proficient in washing rice, cooking meals, and stir-frying dishes. His favorite task is preparing meat, making him a great helper to the care staff! The happiest moments for Weiwei are having dinner together with all the residents when they gather. He enjoys watching the news and chatting with the other service users during meals. Every year on his birthday, Weiwei buys a large cake to share with his peers, celebrating this special day with them. Weiwei enjoys living at the home, where the sense of belonging comes from living together as a family.

Every year on Mother’s Day, people express their heartfelt gratitude to hardworking mothers. However, mothers caring for children with disabilities often cannot enjoy their children's spontaneous expressions of gratitude due to their children's conditions. These mothers don't mind, though, as their greatest wish is simply for their children to be healthy and happy. But we have noticed this small regret.

On the eve of Mother's Day, a group of mothers of children with disabilities gathered together. Today, they set aside the various tasks of daily life to enjoy two hours just for themselves, celebrating Mother's Day with others who share similar backgrounds. Today, they are the protagonists, taking care of their own beauty. We organized a DIY hand cream and lip balm activity for these mothers. Throughout the session, they exhibited great curiosity and anticipation about the ingredients and benefits of their creations, akin to young girls learning to adorn themselves for the first time, asking the instructor many questions. Questions ranged from which essential oils are suitable for different skin types, the benefits of various essential oils, to whether expired essential oils at home could be reused. It turns out these mothers do care about self-care, but they often put their family's and children's needs before their own. After enduring the hardships of caregiving, they become so exhausted that they forget to love themselves. Upon reflection, this is true for both female and male caregivers—they all face the same challenges and hardships. Thank you all for your hard work.

The Happy Angel Foundation provides support services for families of individuals with disabilities, offering various stress-relief and leisure activities, as well as care and support. If you are willing, we welcome you to visit our service centers!