KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) — The trend among some next of kin who do not continue being financially responsible for their aging parents at care centres is now seen as turning welfare institutions into ‘dumping grounds’ for the elderly.
Persatuan Kebajikan Rumah Victory Malaysia general affairs officer Loo Choon Teong said the trend of ‘passing the buck’ among next of kin is now at a concerning level, affecting the operations of care centres.
He said the management cost of each resident at the centre can reach RM1,000 monthly, however, out of 81 residents, only 40 next of kin contribute around RM200 to RM300 per month.
“To cover the financial gap, we have to rely on assistance from other associations as well as our own fundraising initiatives such as organising bazaars and selling festive cookies during the holiday seasons,” he told Bernama.
Loo also shared a heartbreaking story about an elderly man who contacted the care centre himself to seek placement after being asked to leave home by his child, who claimed to have been taking care of the father for ‘too long.’
In this regard, he said that a law requiring children to support their elderly parents should be introduced as a measure to raise public awareness in preserving the welfare of this group.
“For children who still have parents, never drive them away even if they have hurt us before,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Social Care Professionals and Nursing Homes (MASOC CARE) secretary-general Dr. Melody Ang Xing Yuen said that the situation of ‘neglect’ often stems from the lack of mental preparation and skills among families in managing long-term care.
She explained that when parents suddenly experience a health crisis such as a stroke or dementia, families tend to panic because they lack formal training and are also burdened by the economic pressure of a dual-income household.
“Many adult children nowadays need to balance their careers, taking care of their own children, and at the same time, taking care of their elderly parents. Without good support, they eventually make decisions that are not ideal for everyone,” she said.
Ang said MASOC CARE also receives feedback from many families who are having difficulty finding trusted professional caregivers due to the limited availability of such services in the country.
According to her, families who initially try to care for their parents on their own, however, feel burdened and end up hiring foreign maids without specific training, and some even place their parents in care centres that rely on unprofessional staff.
In line with that, Pusat Jagaan Orang Tua Cahaya Maju founder Dr. R. Saravanan said about 90 per cent of the 32 residents in his centre no longer receive financial support from their next of kin.
This trend forces operators to struggle with operational costs ranging from RM400 to RM500 for each elderly person, covering expenses such as treatment, rent, utilities, employee salaries, and daily necessities like disposable diapers and food.
“In fact, there are irresponsible actions by a handful of next of kin who are found to receive financial assistance on behalf of the elderly involved, but do not channel it to the care centre,” Saravanan said, adding that economic constraints and work commitments are often used as excuses.
Following that, Saravanan also said that a law should be enacted to require children to support their elderly parents in order to raise public awareness about the welfare of this group.
In November last year, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) at that time, Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) was reviewing the Islamic Family Law 1984 to detail the provisions for parental maintenance to be more responsive to current realities.
— BERNAMA