Sumini Bte Songab
Senior Programme Coordinator

(Joined 2019)

Having spent many years in the corporate sector, switching to the social service sector was a significant adjustment for me.  However, I believe that my experience as a caregiver to my late father, who was living with dementia, has positively impacted my career at Dementia Singapore. I gained a clearer understanding of dementia after joining Dementia Singapore than I did as a caregiver. Drawing from my experience as a caregiver and the dementia-related knowledge I acquired at Dementia Singapore, I was able to share tips and strategies with other caregivers and help them find appropriate training to equip them with the skills needed to manage their stress and cope with their loved ones living with dementia.

I joined Dementia Singapore in 2019 as an Admin Assistant, co-managing the Family Caregiver Training Programmes, and was subsequently promoted to Programme Coordinator. In 2020, the General Public courses came under my portfolio, and I was promoted to Senior Programme Coordinator in 2023.

In addition to my role in Training, I was honoured to be given editorial, media, and outreach exposure to raise awareness of dementia and promote training programmes and services provided by Dementia Singapore.

In addition, my caregiving experience has inspired me to help the larger community, especially caregivers struggling to care for their loved ones with dementia. I feel that my job provides a good platform to achieve this goal.

As a Dementia Singapore staff and an ex-caregiver, I feel socially responsible to raise dementia awareness in the community and to help reduce the stigma of dementia. I also appreciate the flexible work arrangement, as working from home allows me to achieve a better work-life balance. Colleagues at Dementia Singapore are pleasant and helpful, and the staff benefits are good as well.

To sum up, I enjoy my work and the contributions I am making to the dementia community. I hope to do even more beyond what my job requires. Thankfully, Dementia Singapore is always supportive of its staff’s growth, offering opportunities to upgrade and improve for the betterment of their careers. For that, I am truly grateful.

“As a Dementia Singapore staff and an ex-caregiver, I feel socially responsible to raise dementia awareness in the community and to help reduce the stigma of dementia. I also appreciate the flexible work arrangement, as working from home allows me to achieve a better work-life balance. Colleagues at Dementia Singapore are pleasant and helpful, and the staff benefits are good as well.”