‘Ageing population requires better support system’
KUALA LUMPUR: In a decade, the country will become an ageing nation where seven per cent of its population are 65 years old and older, said social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He said with this in mind, the government should review its policies and prepare for this transition, which included providing a better social support system for the ageing population.
“An ageing-friendly healthcare system that focuses on prevention and affordable hospital care should be in place.”
He said Malaysians enjoyed low charges for outpatient and inpatient treatments at government hospitals.
“Private hospitals must also help by providing affordable services for senior citizens,” he told the New Straits Times.
He said there was one geriatrician for every 100,000 older persons. “Apart from building and improving hospitals and clinics, more geriatricians should be trained.
“At the same time, the Health Ministry must integrate primary care and geriatric care, while improving such coordination by having a sufficient number of professionals or family caregivers, since the elderly with chronic diseases normally require long-term care.”
He said problems that senior citizens faced included deteriorating health, malnutrition, lack of shelter, fear, depression, senility, isolation, boredom, nonproductivity and financial incapacity.
Lee said it was crucial to find ways to tackle the abandonment of senior citizens.
“Elder abandonment happens when children are working and such a situation could affect their parents’ emotional wellbeing, causing depression, which will trigger senility or dementia.”
Other matters that needed to be addressed included establishing a social security programme since studies showed that the retirement income for most older people was inadequate.
“The life expectancy of Malaysians is at an average of 75 years. Therefore, a person needs his savings to last between 15 and 20 years.
“Since the cost of living is expected to increase, it is important to provide a social safety net, including allowing healthy and experienced senior citizens to work.”