by Sonia Ramachandran
New Straits Times, Jan 11, 2009
GOING through a mid-life crisis? Brother, it is nothing compared to what you might go through in your golden years. There are two million senior citizens in Malaysia today, or about seven per cent of the population, and their numbers are steadily increasing. By 2035, Malaysia will become an ageing society whereby 15 per cent of the population are senior citizens. Are we prepared to care for our senior citizens in the coming years, asks SONIA RAMACHANDRAN.
Are we ready to care for the aged?
HAPPILY married and with a daughter, Sharon who is in her mid- 40s is already looking at life some 20 years down the road when she joins the ranks of the senior citizens.
"It has nothing to do with whether I think my child will not look after me," said Sharon.
"I now have four maids looking after two households as I have to take care of both my parents and my in-laws. I have many siblings to share these responsibilities and cost.
"I don't know if my child will be able to afford this in 20 years time and she does not have siblings to share this responsibility."
There are many like-minded Malaysians who have started setting aside money for their golden days.
A popular concept abroad, retirement homes, however, do not figure in Malaysia.
What is common though are public old folks homes and for those who can afford it, private nursing homes, homes that offer assisted living as well as homes that just say "home-care" or even "day- care".
"There are no retirement homes under the government. We do not have a definition or a concept of retirement homes," said Social Welfare Department's senior assistant director for the senior citizen and family division, Mohd Fazari Mohd Salleh
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