THE PLIGHT of old folks living alone grabbed the limelight when an 86-year-old woman was forcibly removed from her home due to the mounting level of trash.
The woman's family sought help, citing that the woman was unwell but it was difficult to relocate her due to the amount of rubbish in the way.
This resulted in the state civil defence personnel being ordered to act on the matter.
They entered the elderly woman's premises yesterday along Jalan Mano in Pulau Tikus and carried her out on a stretcher with the help of four personnel.
Penang Civil Defence Corps northeast district officer Muhammad Aizat Abdul Ghani said the woman was unable to walk and had difficulty leaving the double-storey house due to the large amounts of rubbish that she had amassed over the years.
"The woman wants to live in a nearby aged nursing home. However, due to her poor health and difficulty navigating around the heaps of rubbish, her family sought help."
It is believed that the woman was temporarily placed in a homeless care shelter, pending discussions between her family and the authorities.
The woman was believed to be suffering from diabetes, hypertension, hearing problems and was physically frail.
According to the New Straits Times, she was believed to have started amassing junk and recyclables years ago.
"Her family claimed that she was prone to falls and would call them in the middle of the night for help," said Aizat.
Checks showed that the hoarded materials were not just limited to indoors but also in the compound.
Piles of junk were also seen strewn all over the porch area, which also housed three cars.
Attempts made to contact state exco member Lim Siew Khim have been unsuccessful.
Earlier, Lim's predecessor Datuk Seri Phee Boon Poh had called for society to drop its apathy toward old folks by becoming proactive.
if they come across those living alone, especially if they are bedridden.
Phee said that the policy for senior citizens can be effective if there is a buy-in from all levels of society. - October 14, 2024.
