THE Government cannot face the challenges of an ageing nation alone, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun says.
The problem requires a joint effort involving the Government, local councils, developers, insurance companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals, she says.
“Everybody must be responsible and do their part,” she insists.
Giving an example, she says developers should plan townships for senior citizens to grow old within the community “like one big family”.
She says local councils also play a very important role in ensuring that the roads and buildings are accessible to the elderly.
To encourage collaborations between the NGOs, the Government gives incentives to corporations to run corporate social responsibility projects, she says.
She says individuals have to plan for old age by keeping healthy and active and saving for their future needs.
On plans to build more homes to accommodate the growing number of seniors, she says the ministry hopes to de-institutionalise homes because a family environment is always better.
However, legislation forcing grown children to care for their parents, is “not the way”, she stressed.
She says cultivating values like filial piety by stressing on the importance of family bonds through education, is preferable.
“We have nine (registered) old folks homes nationwide with a total of 1,590 residents.
“And, there are an additional two homes housing more than 200 bedridden residents, 70% of whom are above age 60.
“If we accept residents too easily, some will just send them to us because it’s convenient,” she says, adding that five activity centres for seniors will be built in addition to the existing 45 nationwide. The number will be increased steadily.
She says ‘caring complexes’ housing both seniors and orphans are in the pipeline.
“The idea is for kids to cheer up the seniors while learning from their elders,” she says.
She says better health services have led to Malaysians living longer with couples now having to care for their children, parents and grandparents.
Acknowledging that it’s a huge financial burden, she says the ministry is trying to educate young couples on how to better plan for their family.
Explaining that family planning isn’t just about birth control, she says it entails managing family finances.
“We’re not asking couples to give birth blindly but if you can afford to, you should have more children,” she says.
On June 14, Sunday Star front paged how urban parents can expect to pay as much as the combined price of a luxury car and a semi-detached house to raise a child up to degree level. The report followed a remark by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim urging Malaysians to have more kids to address the projected shrinking population.
National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia president Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh is “very disappointed” that the country’s seniors were left out of both the 10th and 11th Malaysia Plan, lamenting that the elderly are a neglected lot.
“There is no social security for the old,” he points out.
Calling for a national forum to be held fast, he cautions that the country may reach aged nation status even before 2030.
“Everyone will grow old. The only question is when.
“We must tackle these challenges together but the Government has to spearhead the solution with a detailed development plan.”
While supportive of the Government’s call for couples to have more kids, he feels that it won’t solve the problem.
Suggesting a private pension fund be set up, he says it will ease the financial burden on families caring for their old parents while giving the seniors a sense of independence.
Seniors who are poor and without family must be cared for by the Government, he insists.
“There aren’t enough government old folk homes nationwide,” he says.
“We need at least 90 but we don’t even have one per state.”
Those who can afford private nursing homes are also suffering, he says.
He estimates there are some 4,000 private centres nationwide but only slightly more than 200 are regulated.
“Some pay between RM500 and RM600 to live in very poor conditions where seniors are hosed down instead of getting a proper bath.
“These unlicensed homes are stinky and the living conditions very undignified,” he says.
He feels that country’s healthcare system also needs to be improved.
“The waiting time is too long and there are not many geriatric doctors.
“The seniors will be dead by the time they get treatment,” he says, only half-in-jest.
But, he stresses, the seniors themselves must grow old with dignity by keeping active.
Soon’s deputy, Susan Suah, says there’s a need for aged-friendly housing.
The interior designer is working to come up with building guidelines. Some problems in current housing include the lack of bathrooms on the ground floor, switches that are too high up and poor lighting, she says.
“We have rooms for maids but not for old parents?,”she says adding that aged-friendly homes must be made mandatory.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (School of Social Sciences) associate professor Dr Saidatulakmal Mohd notes that while some supermarkets and shopping centres have started becoming aged-friendly, none of the new housing developments are.It’s worse when residential houses are converted into nursing homes for the elderly as it has been proven to be non-conducive to their wellbeing.
“We don’t need to wait until Malaysia becomes an aged society. Many of the elderly are already being abandoned and abused, she says.
“While it’s easy to point to the Government for a solution, it’s important to note that welfare aid for seniors has risen over the years.”
To cover rising public healthcare costs, she anticipates higher taxes for the future generation.
But unlike their parents, youngsters today don’t expect their children to care for them in their old age.
“This is because they are facing financial hardship providing for their family while supporting their aged parents and don’t want their children to go through the same thing,” she explains.
She calls on the Ministry of Women, Family and Community to bring back the ‘elderly in the community’ initiative to promote active ageing.
To be a developed nation by 2020, we need active seniors who can contribute to the nation but this is only possible if aged-friendly infrastructure is ready and the elderly are financially supported.
“In the UK, I saw seniors shopping for groceries, paying their own bills and eating out - which is rare here.
“In Malaysia, seniors are seen as ‘abandoned’ if they do these things themselves.
“The perception needs to change.” - The Star/Asian News Network
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