24 September 2024, Kuala Lumpur -The Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing®), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) presented a paper on older persons and long-term care at the 2-day conference on 'Growing the Economy and Meeting the Care Needs of the Malaysian Society' at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. Led by ISIS Senior Visiting Fellow Prof. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria from the APPGM-SDG, the conference explored the situation of care provision in Malaysia and discussed the need for a shift in paradigm to reframe care as an investment for national development and an engine of future economic growth.

 

 

A. P. Dr. Rahimah Ibrahim emphasized a need for integrated health and social care for older persons and urged all stakeholders to work together in making a positive difference towards formal and informal care in Malaysia. We cannot afford to maintain a 'business as usual' mindset and expect improvements while operational silos continue to impede progress, leading to inefficiencies as well as uncertainties in the regulation, financing, and development of the aged care industry. Traditional family caregiving is evolving with growing commodification and marketization of aged care, driven by shrinking family sizes and increasing female labor force participation. The session was moderated by Dr. Hjh. Diana Katiman, IKRAM who is also a palliative care physician from Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah, UiTM, with two (2) discussants - Prof. Dr. Tan Maw Pin, President, the Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine (MSGM) and geriatrician at UMMC, University of Malaya. and Mr. Jeffrey Phang, Adjunct Professor, UNITAR and Governance Lead, Malaysian CSO-SDG Alliance.

A draft manuscript for a book chapter has been submitted for publication by the organizers and it is expected to be ready in early 2025.

          

 

Reported by :

Chai Sen Tyng
Senior Research Officer
Tel: +603 - 9769 2740
Fax: +603 - 9769 2744
E-mail:chai@upm.edu.my