In many countries, better healthcare and access to information on healthier living has led to longer life expectancy – leading to a rising number of elderly people. Similarly, Malaysia is expected to achieve aged nation status in 2030, with the number of people aged 60 and above to grow to 15.3%.
As the country is only a few years shy of officially becoming an aged nation, defined by the United Nations when 14% of the population is aged 65 and above, there will be an increasing need for senior care services such as private nursing, recovery monitoring and assisted living.
Access To Elderly Care Services In Malaysia
In Malaysia, seniors can access elderly care services at private care centres that provide a wide range of treatments and services including home nursing, physiotherapy, medical escort and assisted living.
The costs of these services vary depending on the care centre and type of services. The following are some of the common elderly care services offered in Malaysia.
Assisted Living
As we age, our bodies experience changes and will have different requirements including dietary needs, more attentive care, social interactions and activities to keep us healthy.
There has been a rise in assisted living facilities, which is a typically premium accommodation that provides elderlies with independent living while still be a part of a community that engage in social activities together.
Assisted living facilities are personalised for elderlies with modern facilities like elevators, wheelchair-friendly ramps and safety features. There are also a range of services including housekeeping, meal preparations, daily social activities, round-the clock medical aid and check-ups.
For example, an elderly care centre, Care Concierge provides assisted living units at its luxury facility, The Mansion from RM4,000/month. Resembling a resort living environment, The Mansion is surrounded by parks and greeneries.
Meanwhile, Sunway Sanctuary has luxury assisted living units priced from RM9,600/month. Residents can access daily meals, laundry services, recreational activities, 24/7 nursing aid and emergency response care.
Day Care
Day care provides a middle ground between full-day assisted living and home care. If you need assistance in caring for your elderly family members between certain hours in the day for, you can consider day care.
Elderlies will be able to participate in social activities with their peers and access medical supervision and services during the day. At the end of the day, family members can take their elderly loved ones back home to spend time with them and take over the caring for them.
Care Concierge provides day care services at its premium location, The Mansion at RM2,500 from 8am to 6pm for six days a week. At another location Komune Care, elderlies can access clubhouse facilities from RM125/day from 8am to 6pm.
Home Care
Home care is when a care professional comes to a home to assist elderlies in their daily activities including giving medication, inserting catheter, conducting physiotherapy, preparing meals and grooming.
Suitable for elderlies who have disabilities and chronic illnesses that require continuous support, the advantage of home-based care is that seniors don’t have to undergo the hassle of traveling to a hospital and are able to receive treatment in the comforts of their home. The downside of home care is a lack of interaction with peers.
The costs of home care vary depending on the duration and type of services. Home care provider, Homage charges as low as RM30/hour for daily-living care. If nursing services are required, Homage offers nursing care from RM36/hour and physiotherapy from RM135/hour.
Care Concierge provides the options of day care from RM270/day and live-in home care from RM235/day. Sunway Home Healthcare also provides nursing care packages including private nursing care at RM600 for 12 hours.
Medical Escort
Many times, elderlies require long-term care and are required to make regular visits to facilities whether it’s for a check-up, treatment or therapy. Medical escort services assist elderlies in getting to their medical appointments in a safe manner including mediating communication with a doctor, collecting medicine and helping elderly to the toilet.
Homage provides medical escort services with round trips costing as low as RM28/hour and one-way trips at RM45/hour.
Read Also: Which States In Malaysia Are The Most Affordable To Live In As A Retiree?
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