What We're Building Together
Most people think about elderly and disability care as something transactional. Someone needs help, someone provides it. But that's not really how life works, is it?
We started Festinellia because we saw something different happening in Singapore's communities. People weren't just looking for services – they were looking for relationships that felt human. Families wanted to know their loved ones would be treated with dignity, not just efficiency.
And honestly? That's harder to build than most people realize. It takes time. It takes listening. It takes being willing to change how you've always done things when you learn something new.
Hendrik Voss
Community Care DirectorWhy This Matters More Than Process
I've spent fifteen years working with elderly and disabled communities across Singapore. Started in social work, moved into care coordination, eventually found myself here at Festinellia trying to figure out what actually makes a difference.
Here's what I've learned: technology helps, training matters, systems are important. But none of that means anything if you don't understand what someone's really asking for when they reach out.
The Conversations That Changed Everything
Back in 2019, I was working with a family in Ang Mo Kio. Their father had mobility issues and was becoming increasingly isolated. They'd tried three different care services before reaching out to us.
What they told me stuck with me:
"Everyone asks what he needs help with. Nobody asks what he misses doing."
That distinction? That's everything. Because needs are about survival. Misses are about living. And if you're only addressing one, you're not really seeing the whole person.
What We Actually Focus On
- Building relationships before implementing solutions, because trust takes time and can't be rushed or manufactured
- Training our team to recognize emotional patterns alongside physical needs, since isolation often hurts more than physical limitations
- Creating flexibility in how we provide support rather than forcing everyone into standardized care packages
- Staying connected with families throughout the process, not just during initial setup and periodic reviews
Where We're Heading
The next few years are going to challenge everything we think we know about elderly and disability support. Singapore's population is aging faster than most places. Technology is changing what's possible. Expectations are shifting.
We're not trying to be the biggest care provider in Singapore. That's not the goal. We're trying to be the team that families trust when they need someone who'll actually listen.
What that looks like practically:
We're expanding our community programs but keeping team sizes small enough that relationships don't get lost. We're investing in training that focuses on emotional intelligence alongside technical skills. And we're building partnerships with neighborhoods rather than just operating within them.
Some days it feels slow. Some weeks we wonder if we're doing enough. But then we get a message from a family member saying their dad smiled more last month than he had all year. Or we see someone who'd stopped leaving their home start attending community events again.
The Real Measure
Success in this work isn't about metrics or growth charts. It's about whether someone feels seen. Whether they feel safe. Whether they feel like their life still has possibility in it.
That's what we're building at Festinellia. Not a service. Not a platform. A community where people matter more than processes.