A BLUEPRINT to govern the care and welfare of senior citizens nationwide and how to ensure they remain active and contribute to society and the economy is being drawn up by Putrajaya.
Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Taib said the federal government is already making plans to look into the needs of elderly folks above 60 years old who will make up at least 15 percent of Malaysia's population by 2030.
"We are drawing up a blueprint to look into the care of our senior citizens.
"Their population is growing fast throughout the country as the natural process of ageing takes place.
"We want to find ways to continue to include them in society, to allow them to continue to remain active and contribute towards the socio-economic developments in the places they live," she said when attending a nursing home event in Kuching.
Hanifah said various state governments have also expressed concerns about the growing population of aged folks in their respective states, including Sarawak.
The relevant federal and state ministries can liaise with each other to draw up policies towards caring for these elderly, she stressed.
On Nov 24, it was reported that there is a sizable population of elderly people in Malaysia who are suffering from mental health challenges in one form or another and the situation is projected to escalate by the year.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said there are urgent needs to plan for more support facilities to care for elderly people throughout the country.
"Some six million people or 14.5 per cent of the total population of Malaysia will be 65 years old by the year 2040, according to data from the National Statistics Department.
"Some 29 per cent of those aged 60 years and above now are experiencing some form of mental health challenges, according to the National Health and Morbidity survey (by Health Ministry),” he said. - December 2, 2024
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