The Malaysian government is promoting 'ageing in place' to offer better quality of life for seniors who remain in their homes and communities but require support.
PETALING JAYA: Old folks homes can be a pain for seniors. Some are restrictive, and it may feel like being in a hospital or, worse, being in detention.
To offer a better quality of life for such seniors, the government is encouraging “ageing in place” – where older persons remain in their homes and communities but still get access to the support they need. The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is promoting ageing in place, supported by initiatives that foster a community-integrated system instead of a hospital-centric model.
“The Social Welfare Department has set up Home Help Services throughout the country through smart partnerships with NGOs to provide care for older persons living alone,” the ministry said. “DSW provides financial assistance of RM600 per month for older persons to help them remain with their families or communities. ” Among the home help services provided are transporting the bedridden to hospitals or clinics for health treatment and assisting the older persons in personal hygiene.
As of December 2025, a total of 6,530 older persons have received this service offered by 2,152 volunteers nationwide. Recently, the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2025 showed that a rising number of seniors were living alone – from 6.3% in 2018 to 18.8% last year.
Nevertheless, 61.3% of those living alone reported high social support, which refers to help, care and connections they received from family, friends and the community. Universiti Malaya demographer Dr Tey Nai Peng said Malaysia can draw lessons from countries with larger older populations while also reflecting on its own successful initiatives. He said we can learn from Australia’s “ageing in place” policies, by strengthening our home-care and volunteer systems to support independence.
“This includes expanding telehealth, monitoring with artificial intelligence, and smart home solutions to help seniors live independently, with family support,” Tey added. On the coming Senior Citizens Bill, the ministry said it is now in the stage of gathering and refining input from various stakeholders to ensure the proposed law meets the diverse needs and interests of older Malaysians.
Asked if the Bill will mandate adult children to provide for their aged parents’ financial and physical needs as in countries like China and Singapore, the ministry said this is a subject of active debate among stakeholders.
“While mandating adult children’s responsibility for elderly parents may seem ideal, we must also consider challenges such as the sandwich generation’s burden, children’s socio-economic conditions, and cases of past abuse. Bukit Aman, Sabah vet dept seize fighting cocks worth RM530,000 in Sandakan
Ageing In Place Support Home Help Services Finances Assistance Volunteers Seniors Personal Hygiene Transporting Hospitals Clinics Independent Living Family Support Australia Universiti Malaya
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jemaah Haji Malaysia Diharapkan Waspada Propaganda Ziarah Luar Mekah Sebelum Hari Wuquf, Enggan Lagi Masa, BHTerdapat pihak tertentu dikesan menawarkan program aktiviti ziarah luar Mekah kepada jemaah haji Malaysia sebelum Hari Wuquf.
Read more »
Kenali Dr Raja Akif, Saintis Muda Malaysia Terajui Kajian Pesawat Masa Depan NASADr. Raja Akif buktikan kepakaran aeroangkasa anak watan di peringkat global.
Read more »
Agong Terima Aurus Senat, Simbol Akrab MalaysiaJarang dilihat di luar Rusia dan Aurus Senat dan sering digunakan oleh Vladimir Putin.
Read more »
Delays in Malaysia's Carbon Pricing Could Weakend CompetitivenessSlow implementation of carbon pricing in Malaysia could hinder the country's ability to compete internationally and remain competitive in low-carbon product markets. Failing to implement a comprehensive national carbon tax, carbon tax with a clear price pathway and revenue allocation could result in weakened competitiveness in the long term.
Read more »