An 82-year-old Singaporean woman moves to Australia to be with her daughter, only to find herself abandoned after her husband’s death
An 82-year-old woman from Singapore is speaking out about her heartbreaking experience after relocating to Australia in 2018 to reunite with her daughter. Initially invited to move by her daughter, the elderly woman claims that her daughter refused to care for her after the death of her husband in 2021, leaving her to return to Singapore alone and unsupported.
The woman, surnamed Zhang, moved to Melbourne from Singapore with her husband after her daughter, aged 56, suggested they relocate to Australia. In order to facilitate the move, Zhang and her husband sold their four-room flat in Singapore, using their savings to settle in Australia. However, things began to take a turn when Zhang’s husband, who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, passed away in March 2021.
Zhang alleges that after her husband’s passing, her relationship with her daughter soured. She claims that her daughter did not care for her as promised and even withheld information about her late husband’s investments. In one incident, Zhang said her son-in-law physically pulled her out of her daughter’s house, leading to an injury and the involvement of the police.
In March 2022, Zhang returned to Singapore with the help of her nephew, who had flown to Australia to bring her back. She has not been in touch with her daughter since early 2022 and currently resides in a local hotel, as she no longer has a permanent home in Singapore. While Zhang has some relatives in Singapore, she does not wish to burden them, as they too have their own responsibilities.
Now, Zhang’s primary goal is to find a new place to live and secure assistance for her daily care. Her nephew emphasised the importance of thinking carefully before making significant moves, especially in later years, as not all elderly people are suited to retiring abroad.
