8. Further, it is important to establish adequate number of care centres to
ensure proper care for older persons, especially for those with no family
members or whose family members are unable to provide such care for
various reasons. This includes a need to enhance the facilities and services
in those care centres including geriatric services, nursing care and trained
caregivers.
9. Since the issues surrounding older persons are often associated with
families, the responsibility for ageing in Malaysia falls under the purview
of the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia. The Department provides
financial aid to those in need; access to welfare institutions to the poor,
homeless, and sick older persons; and also day care centres for older
persons. Alongside that, non-government organisations, such as
faith-based and non-faith-based charities, also provide welfare services to
older persons. On the other hand, there are also private care centres that
provide care for older persons for a fee.
10. For the future, there is a need to shift the current policies and
programmes, from a welfare approach to developmental one, which
encourages the involvement of older persons in programmes that would
9
improve their standard of living through access to greater social support.
More importantly, there is a need to adopt a human rights approach in
dealing with the issues of older persons in order to ensure that the needs
and dignity of older persons are protected. In summary, an older person is
entitled to the following rights:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
Right to social security and income support;
Right to decent employment if choose to work and right
to choose not to work –to enjoy pension;
Right to decent housing;
Right to health care;
Right to social services;
Right to equal protection under the law;
Right to social and political participation;
Right to be free from discrimination; and
Right to be free from abuse.
9
Social Welfare Policies and Services for the Elderly: A Country Report (Malaysia): for the 5th ASEAN & Japan High
Level Officials Meeting on Caring Societies: Collaboration of Social Welfare and Health Services, and Development
of Human Resources and Community, Community Services for the Elderly, dated 27-30 August 2007, Tokyo, Japan.
p.7.
REPORT ON CARE SERVICES FOR OLDER PERSONS AND SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS
5