Our Advocacy
Members of the Coalition, through their commitment and expertise have been working together and collectively, have come out with some salient recommendations that they believe would change the landscape of aged care and the benefits to senior citizens of Malaysia for the better. Collectively, they urge the relevant authority and government to consider the following main issues to be addressed as a matter of priority. The main issues to be addressed includes:
Stronger Coordination of Government Resource for Elderly Malaysians
- We advocate that our Government establish a separate Ministry solely to uphold the needs of the elderly Malaysians and facilitate integrated provision of service for senior citizens.
- We currently have multiple Ministries and Agencies (which includes housing, transport, heath, education and others) providing service to the elderly Malaysian. A dedicated ministry is much needed for better delivery of service.
- Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has an agency known as the Social Welfare Department (JKM). The Minister of KPWKM has too many responsibilities as he/she has to look into the affairs of not only the elderly but also the women, children and the disabled (OKU). As a result, many urgent requirements of the senior community are not adequately addressed.
Social security and Benefits
- We advocate for a pension / living allowance of RM600 per person to be granted to the B40 aged citizens.
- Senior citizens attaining to 65 years old should be entitled to more discounts of public transport, medical bills etc. We advocate to the private sectors to also provide such discounts on groceries, books and other items of daily living. We urge the government to provide tax incentives and non-tax incentives for the private sector to provide such discounts.
- We urge the Government to provide free regular transportation to hospital, pharmacy, supermarket and library for senior citizens who live independently.
- We urge the Government to provide free computer devices or discount vouchers for purchase of computers and free internet services to senior citizens who are pursuing online learning courses. Continuing lifelong learning among senior citizens would improve their mental wellbeing, strengthen physical health and help them forge new social connections.
Inclusiveness of Senior Citizens In Society
We wish to raise the awareness of Ageism in our society to encourage employers to consciously provide equal opportunities of employment to our elderly Malaysians who are still able to contribute. We urge the government to deliver effective public education programs against ageism.
Infrastructures of Public Places
- We wish to raise awareness to the public and private bodies to incorporate Universal Design features to all public and private spaces. Such Universal Design features will help to create an inclusive community that welcomes people of all generations and abilities, which includes our elderly Malaysians. Examples of universal design features are wheel-chair friendly toilets in public space, ramps etc.The local bus company should also introduce more low-floor buses for ease of accessibility.
- We ask that local councils continue to play their active role in upgrading streetscape to be accessible for all.
- We ask that the facilities for Persons with Disabilities be extended to Senior Citizens. For example, designated parking spaces be made available for seniors too.
- We invite local councils and real estate developers to consider design features that are friendly to users with dementia.
Aged Care Facilities and Services
- We advocate for standardization for the licensing requirements for all aged care facilities across all local councils and all states. This standardization should be led by the KPWKM.
- The regulations for the new Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act (Act 802) should be gazetted as soon as possible to facilitate the planning and investments into the much needed premises for Aged Care.
- Government should provide more funding / subsidy for some of the charity run aged care facilities to provide services to the destitute elderly Malaysians.
- We ask that our Government prioritizes Vaccination for the vulnerable elderly living in Aged Care Facilities.
Training for Aged Care Personnel
- We urge the government to develop a clear human capital strategy for the care economy for senior citizens. This strategy must estimate the number of carers needed, their skills mix, the qualifications, training curriculum and appropriate financial incentives for their work.
- We should encourage our local Malaysians to embark on the career of being a caregiver so that our operators become less dependent on foreign workers for staffing.
- We ask that our Government recognize the profession of caregivers with proper training and certification.
- A standardised national caregiver training syllabus will provide qualifications and skills needed for aged care. We ask that our Government allocate resources to subsidize this training to elevate the standard of caregiving nationwide.
Residence and Community suitable for Seniors Living
- We appeal to PLAN Malaysia (Town and Country Planning Department, Ministry of Housing and Local Government) to review their “Garis Panduan Perancangan Fizikal bagi Warga Emas” immediately.
- The said planning guidelines are applicable and vital to the development of suitable aged care facilities and seniors that are living in residential facilities such as Retirement Villages. Some of the current conditions stipulated within the guideline makes it extremely difficult for such developments to be financially and operationally viable.
Health Care Services
We ask that our Government allocate healthcare resources to attend to the inevitable growth of the elder population. That includes access to geriatric specialists, home-based assistance, rehabilitation services, assisted living and skilled nursing centers (often referred to as nursing homes), hospice care and community-wide support.
Healthy & Active Ageing
- We urge the government to embed concepts and principles of healthy & active ageing in all government agencies.
By working with our stakeholders, we organize and support activities that promote healthy ageing. These include:
- Campaigns on good habits for a healthy lifestyle e.g. Stop Smoking; Fight Obesity.
- Community activities e.g. communal gardens, daily exercises, celebration of festivals, gotong-royong, sports.
- Talks by specialists on nutrition, mental health, disease prevention.
- Workshops on skills such as cooking, DIY repair, handicrafts.
- Volunteering for community service and projects.
- Intergenerational activities – university students teaching seniors how to use apps and digital devices; the seniors providing tuition classes for the children. The two generations can work on projects together.
Our Advocacy
Members of the Coalition, through their commitment and expertise have been working together and collectively, have come out with some salient recommendations that they believe would change the landscape of aged care and the benefits to senior citizens of Malaysia for the better. Collectively, they urge the relevant authority and government to consider the following main issues to be addressed as a matter of priority. The main issues to be addressed includes:
Stronger Coordination of Government Resource for Elderly Malaysians
- We advocate that our Government establish a separate Ministry solely to uphold the needs of the elderly Malaysians and facilitate integrated provision of service for senior citizens.
- We currently have multiple Ministries and Agencies (which includes housing, transport, heath, education and others) providing service to the elderly Malaysian. A dedicated ministry is much needed for better delivery of service.
- Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has an agency known as the Social Welfare Department (JKM). The Minister of KPWKM has too many responsibilities as he/she has to look into the affairs of not only the elderly but also the women, children and the disabled (OKU). As a result, many urgent requirements of the senior community are not adequately addressed.
Social security and Benefits
- We advocate for a pension / living allowance of RM600 per person to be granted to the B40 aged citizens.
- Senior citizens attaining to 65 years old should be entitled to more discounts of public transport, medical bills etc. We advocate to the private sectors to also provide such discounts on groceries, books and other items of daily living. We urge the government to provide tax incentives and non-tax incentives for the private sector to provide such discounts.
- We urge the Government to provide free regular transportation to hospital, pharmacy, supermarket and library for senior citizens who live independently.
- We urge the Government to provide free computer devices or discount vouchers for purchase of computers and free internet services to senior citizens who are pursuing online learning courses. Continuing lifelong learning among senior citizens would improve their mental wellbeing, strengthen physical health and help them forge new social connections.
Inclusiveness of Senior Citizens In Society
We wish to raise the awareness of Ageism in our society to encourage employers to consciously provide equal opportunities of employment to our elderly Malaysians who are still able to contribute. We urge the government to deliver effective public education programs against ageism.
Infrastructures of Public Places
- We wish to raise awareness to the public and private bodies to incorporate Universal Design features to all public and private spaces. Such Universal Design features will help to create an inclusive community that welcomes people of all generations and abilities, which includes our elderly Malaysians. Examples of universal design features are wheel-chair friendly toilets in public space, ramps etc.The local bus company should also introduce more low-floor buses for ease of accessibility.
- We ask that local councils continue to play their active role in upgrading streetscape to be accessible for all.
- We ask that the facilities for Persons with Disabilities be extended to Senior Citizens. For example, designated parking spaces be made available for seniors too.
- We invite local councils and real estate developers to consider design features that are friendly to users with dementia.
Aged Care Facilities and Services
- We advocate for standardization for the licensing requirements for all aged care facilities across all local councils and all states. This standardization should be led by the KPWKM.
- The regulations for the new Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act (Act 802) should be gazetted as soon as possible to facilitate the planning and investments into the much needed premises for Aged Care.
- Government should provide more funding / subsidy for some of the charity run aged care facilities to provide services to the destitute elderly Malaysians.
- We ask that our Government prioritizes Vaccination for the vulnerable elderly living in Aged Care Facilities.
Training for Aged Care Personnel
- We urge the government to develop a clear human capital strategy for the care economy for senior citizens. This strategy must estimate the number of carers needed, their skills mix, the qualifications, training curriculum and appropriate financial incentives for their work.
- We should encourage our local Malaysians to embark on the career of being a caregiver so that our operators become less dependent on foreign workers for staffing.
- We ask that our Government recognize the profession of caregivers with proper training and certification.
- A standardised national caregiver training syllabus will provide qualifications and skills needed for aged care. We ask that our Government allocate resources to subsidize this training to elevate the standard of caregiving nationwide.
Residence and Community suitable for Seniors Living
- We appeal to PLAN Malaysia (Town and Country Planning Department, Ministry of Housing and Local Government) to review their “Garis Panduan Perancangan Fizikal bagi Warga Emas” immediately.
- The said planning guidelines are applicable and vital to the development of suitable aged care facilities and seniors that are living in residential facilities such as Retirement Villages. Some of the current conditions stipulated within the guideline makes it extremely difficult for such developments to be financially and operationally viable.
Health Care Services
We ask that our Government allocate healthcare resources to attend to the inevitable growth of the elder population. That includes access to geriatric specialists, home-based assistance, rehabilitation services, assisted living and skilled nursing centers (often referred to as nursing homes), hospice care and community-wide support.
Healthy & Active Ageing
- We urge the government to embed concepts and principles of healthy & active ageing in all government agencies.
By working with our stakeholders, we organize and support activities that promote healthy ageing. These include:
- Campaigns on good habits for a healthy lifestyle e.g. Stop Smoking; Fight Obesity.
- Community activities e.g. communal gardens, daily exercises, celebration of festivals, gotong-royong, sports.
- Talks by specialists on nutrition, mental health, disease prevention.
- Workshops on skills such as cooking, DIY repair, handicrafts.
- Volunteering for community service and projects.
- Intergenerational activities – university students teaching seniors how to use apps and digital devices; the seniors providing tuition classes for the children. The two generations can work on projects together.