CHAPTER 3 TYPES OF CARE SERVICES AVAILABLE IN MALAYSIA AND SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS 37. As people live longer, there will be an increase in the number of older persons. The number of older people who are no longer able to look after themselves in developing countries is projected to multiply by 2050. Many require some form of long-term care, which can include home nursing, community care facilities and assisted living, residential care and 42 long stays in hospitals. 38. As a matter of fact, older persons with health issues will need long term care. Long term care is defined as a system of activities undertaken by informal caregivers (family, friends, and/or neighbours) and/or professionals (health, social, and others) to ensure that a person who is not fully capable of self-care can maintain the highest possible quality of life, according to his or her individual preferences, with the greatest possible degree of independence, autonomy, participation, personal fulfilment, and human dignity.43 39. In Malaysia, there are several types of government and private residential/ institutional and non-residential/institutional care services available for older persons. Also, several care services are carried out in collaboration with non-governmental organisations to support and provide assistance to older persons and their caregivers such as home help services and senior citizen care unit. Among the government institutional care services for older persons and destitute persons under the purview of 44 Department of Social Welfare Malaysia are as below: 42 http://www.who.int/ageing/about/facts/en/ 43 Towards an International Consensus on Policy for Long-Term Care of the Ageing. World Health Organization and the Milbank Memorial Fund. 2000. P. 4 44 www.jkm.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=articles&id=65%3Awarga-tua&catid=38%3wargatua&itemid=159&lang=en REPORT ON CARE SERVICES FOR OLDER PERSONS AND SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS 21