Dignity for all
The Tobias Foundation was established on the principle of “dignity for all.” In Peter’s opinion everyone is equal, and physical or mental challenges shouldn’t cause people to give up opportunities enjoyed by others, such as exercise and sports.
With the support of the Tainan City Government, the foundation therefore established Taiwan’s first fitness center designed for people with disabilities. Aside from a spacious, accessible exercise space, the center’s exercise equipment is also designed to suit disabled users’ needs. The foundation recruited a team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists to evaluate users and tailor exercise programs to individual needs.
The center offers group classes, including Zumba, Pilates, and Frisbee golf. There are also specialized classes for wheelchair users, and visually impaired people experience the joys of exercise with the help of oral instructions and assistance from volunteers. Aside from experiencing the physical benefits of exercise, formerly bashful and inhibited participants often find themselves smiling freely in the fitness center.
While continuing to look after the participants at the Tobias Foundation, Peter has also been working to provide personalized care, such as bathing at home, to people with severely restricted mobility. Bedridden seniors and people with severe physical disabilities are often limited to being bathed with washcloths due to insufficient facilities in their homes or the inability of a caregiver to physically move them. Getting a good bath therefore ranks high on their wish list.
Peter therefore raised funds for a mobile bathing vehicle that could visit patients at home and purchased a specialized Japanese-made bathtub, water tanks, heaters, and other equipment. A team of three—a nurse and two caregivers—travels to households in need of assistance. Assisted bathing might appear simple, but it requires specialized knowledge. It is physically strenuous work, and the patient’s condition must first be evaluated by the nurse. Wounds have to be covered before bathing, and then the patient must be gently lifted and helped into the tub. During the bathing, the team talks the patient through the process, explaining each step whether the patient fully comprehends or not, to ensure that each person’s dignity is respected.
In many cases people’s bodies tend to stiffen up during initial bathing sessions, but as they become accustomed to being bathed, they are able to relax and enjoy the treatment. Even when the person being bathed can’t verbalize their appreciation, the caregivers see the value of their work reflected in the content expressions of the bathers.
Peter has a special affection for each of the people he cares for, from developmentally delayed children to bedridden seniors. Years ago when designing a logo for St. Raphael’s, he chose an imperfectly formed lotus. “They are all like lotus flowers,” he says. “Even when they are not perfect, they each have their unique beauty.”
Through love, Fr. Hugo Peter ensures the dignity of each life he touches, and the various services of the Tobias Social Welfare Foundation are making Taiwan a more beautiful and compassionate society.
At the Guangming Early Intervention and Education Center, Fr. Peter employs love and patience to help the children grow.
The Tobias Foundation set up a home bathing service with specialized equipment imported from Japan, to allow bedridden seniors to bathe comfortably in the gentle hands of caregivers. (courtesy of the Tobias Foundation)
The Tobias Foundation’s workshop gives special needs students the opportunity to make beautiful works of art.