Regulations for older people in Malaysia

Care for older persons in Malaysia
The care and protection for older persons through institutional services includes health care, guidance, counselling, recreation, and religious teachings. Additionally, other programmes have been established to ensure the well-being of older persons. They include:

• Financial assistance
• Day care centres for older persons
• Homes for older persons without next of kin
• Programs and activities undertaken by non-governmental organizations
• National Celebration Day for older persons
• The national policy for older persons

1. The rapidly changing socio-economic environment
This environment achieved a shift in the emphasis of policies and programs from a welfare approach to a development approach that makes the elderly active participants in programmes to help them live less poverty-stricken, healthier, and more socially connected lives. Thus, in October 1995 the National Policy for Older Persons was approved by the government. Malaysia is one of the earliest countries in the Asia Pacific region to have its own policy for older persons.

2. The Policy
Older persons are defined as persons aged 60 years and above. This definition is in line with the World Assembly on Ageing in 1982 in Vienna. The policy statement is: “To ensure the social status, dignity and well being of older persons as members of the family, society and nation by enabling them to optimise their self potential, have access to all opportunities and have provision for care and protection.”

3. Objectives

• To establish and develop the dignity and respect for the elderly in the family, community, and country.
• To develop the potential among the elderly to maintain their activeness and productivity in the process of developing the country.
• To encourage the creation of facilities to ensure care and protection for the elderly.

4. The Strategies
a) Respect and Dignity

• Enable older persons to live with respect and self-worth, safe and free from exploitation and abuse.
• Ensure older persons are given fair and equal treatment irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability or their ability to contribute.
• Enable older persons to optimize their potential.
• Enable older persons to have access to educational, cultural, spiritual, and recreational resources in society.

b) Self Reliance

• Ensure that older persons are able to fulfil their basic needs through income sources, family, societal support,   and self-effort.

• Enable older persons to have access to opportunities to continue to serve and contribute.

• Enable older persons to enjoy an environment that is safe and conducive to their needs and changin  capacities.

• Enable older persons to reside within their community without having to resort to institutional care.

• Enable older persons to make early preparations to plan their continuous contributions towards national development based on their expertise and capability.

5. Participation

• Enable older persons to play a role in society and be actively involved in the formulation and implementation of policies relating to their well being and to pass on their knowledge and skills to younger generations.

• Provide opportunities to older persons to voluntarily contribute to society in accordance with their abilities and interests.

• Encourage older persons to establish associations and organisations that conduct activities for their own well being.

6. Care and Protection.

• Establish facilities for care and protection within the family and society in line with the local socio-cultural systems.

• Enable older persons to have access to health care to enable them to maintain or restore their optimum  physical, mental, and emotional health and for the prevention of ailment.

• Enable older persons to have access to the services of institutions that provide care, protection, and social and mental stimulation in a safe and comfortable environment.

• Enable older persons to have access to social and legal services towards the advancement of their  individual rights, protection, and care.

• Ensure that older persons enjoy the basic rights of an individual while in care and under treatment by taking into consideration their self-respect, beliefs, and needs.

• Establish a comprehensive Social Security System to ensure the financial security and welfare of older persons.

7. Research and Development.

• Encourage research on older persons for the purpose of compiling information for use in planning  programmes for their development.
• Establish a National Advisory and Consultative Council for Older Persons to identify and coordinate the programmes and activities for older persons.

Source:

Community Services for the Elderly; Social welfare policies and services fort he elderly: A country report (Malaysia). 2007. Tokyo, Japan