Damien Ooi heads centre management and runs the operations at SASCO Home, a community programme of the co-operative Singapore Amalgamated Services Co-operative Organisation (SASCO) Ltd, where he has championed a mission-driven philosophy of care rooted in person-centredness, holistic care, and improving quality of life.

His journey into the “do good” space began in 2010, sparked by a renewed sense of purpose and direction. “Our purpose in life is not just for ourselves, but also to serve others,” Damien reflects. That beliefled him to leave his corporate life where he headed the IT team and subsequently, went into corporate planning, for the social sector, eventually finding his place at SASCO Home.

Damien shared that he was only familiar with the co-operative NTUC FairPrice in the past, but it was only when he joined SASCO in 2020 that he really discovered the breadth of the Singapore Co-operative Movement. “I never knew there were so many co-operatives here,” he confesses. At the time of this writing, Singapore boasts 75 co-operatives, each of which operates on the principles of self-help and mutual assistance. These co-operative values, he says, resonate closely with him.

One of the key programmes Damien and his team champion at SASCO Home is dementia care. They do so through the “Butterfly Approach”, a person-centred care model developed by UK-based Meaningful Care Matters. Moving away from regimented routines, this model focuses on creating environments where seniors can truly flourish. Staff shed uniforms to remove barriers, step into the role of extended friends or family, and engage seniors through understanding personal and family histories and triggers for each client. “Many behavioural issues in dementia come from needs not being understood or met,” Damien says. SASCO Home is the first in Singapore to have received accreditation for the Butterfly Approach. 

SASCO Home also looks beyond seniors to support their caregivers. Families and helpers receive training on home care, while support groups (even for domestic helpers) create networks where caregivers can lean on each other. Occasionally, SASCO Home arranges outings for the domestic helpers to give them respite, recognising that caring for caregivers is part of holistic care.

Damien oversees four senior care centres, three active ageing centres, a sheltered home for seniors facing social issues, volunteer management and many more under centre operations. For him, eldercare goes beyond offering acts of service but reshaping how society views ageing.

By 2026, at least 21 per cent of the Singapore population will be aged 65 and above making Singapore a “super-aged” society and in 2035, the figure is projected to rise to over 25%. Damien stresses that seniors must be seen as contributors, not burdens. “They can impart wisdom, guide the young, and continue to contribute meaningfully,” he says. Even those with limited mobility can still share knowledge, mentorship, and support.

Looking ahead, SASCO is amplifying its impact through upcoming initiatives such as providing Home Therapy services under the Ministry of Health’s Integrated Community Care Provider framework. With operations in six sub-regions — and serving as the coordinating member in one of Sengkang’s —in which SASCO will partner with other providers to assess seniors’ needs and connect them to the right services, from dementia care to rehabilitation.

Drawing on his IT expertise from both his education and corporate career, Damien now hopes to harness technology, including Artificial Intelligence solutions, to create more meaningful and effective ways of engaging seniors in the near future.

For Damien, the co-operative ethos is not abstract, he says: “We need to ensure that seniors remain part of and supported by the community, not isolated or institutionalised, where they can contribute meaningfully as well.”

Every day, he is motivated by mission and purpose, as well as living his simple but profound motto of “to live is to serve others”. Simply put, Damien is a co-operator who walks the talk, embodying how co-operatives turn values into action.

By Mary Njo, edited by Sng Ler Jun

If you’re interested in volunteering with SASCO Senior Citizens’ Home, visit sasco.org.sg/be-our-volunteer.

Faces of Co-operator is a seasonal column featuring the stories behind co-operative employees and members. Here, we featured Damien Ooi, Head of Centre Management at SASCO Home, a community programme of SASCO Ltd.