Prof Dr Azhar Md Zain says the current system prevents geriatricians from prospering
"If they are not given that much emphasis, then it will be very tough."
More old people would land in the old folks homes which are increasing steadily in numbers.
However, he does not blame the children.
"They are sending their parents to homes not because they do not love them.
"But they have to earn a living and it is hard to give their parents the proper care they may need."
Dr Azhar believes a new trend will emerge in the near future when adult children hire people to mind their ageing parents, just as how parents hire maids to look after their children.
He doesn't fear this trend. What he fears is the abandonment of the elderly, as there is no social system in place to handle the growing number of senior citizens.
Dr Azhar says the right professionals have to be trained to care for the elderly.
UPM has made a start.
"We even make it compulsory for our undergraduates doing medicine to be exposed to geriatric care and face the old people at old folks' homes."
He admits, however, that the number of specialists in geriatric medicine is still relatively small.
In 2006, it was reported that Malaysia had only nine geriatric medicine specialists and only five were actually seeing patients regularly.
The country needs 55 geriatricians in the next two years, says the Health Ministry.
Dr Azhar lauds efforts to produce more geriatricians, but says the existing system is hindering these specialists.
"Overseas, they have the best experience and facilities. But when they come back, they find their hands tied. Budget is not there.
"Over there, they even have a team that works between different agencies to assist the geriatricians.
"But, we don't have that here. It is just like a surgeon without trained nurses or anaesthetists."
In this respect, Dr Azhar believes that one way to prepare society for the coming explosion of senior citizens will be to create a society that promotes healthy ageing.
"By doing so, when one becomes old, one is still healthy and does not need to stay in old folks' homes.
"They are independent and able to look after each other, husband and wife, with the children dropping by to see them."
He urges people to plan and save for their old age, adding that one should put aside money not only for children's education, but also to ensure that he or she can afford to keep a modest living in old age.
The Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society is organising training courses for caregivers of the elderly. An advanced course will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 8 and 9.
A basic course will be held in Johor Baru on Sept 26 and 27. [rc]
Copyright © 2007 NST Online
July 8, 2009
MALAYSIA: Taking good care of twilight years
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia / The New Straits Times / July 8, 2009
By Azura Abbas
Without serious efforts to enhance the country's ability to cope with the growing number of senior citizens in the near future, Malaysia will be in real trouble. The Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society says the country is far behind, both medically and socially, in caring for the aged.
There is a lack of sensitivity towards the needs of the ageing society.
Dean of Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Professor Dr Azhar Md Zain, adviser to the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society, points to the mushrooming of old folks' homes as a tell-tale sign, given the current small number of senior citizens of just two million.
Prof Dr Azhar Md Zain says the current system prevents geriatricians from prospering
"If they are not given that much emphasis, then it will be very tough."
More old people would land in the old folks homes which are increasing steadily in numbers.
However, he does not blame the children.
"They are sending their parents to homes not because they do not love them.
"But they have to earn a living and it is hard to give their parents the proper care they may need."
Dr Azhar believes a new trend will emerge in the near future when adult children hire people to mind their ageing parents, just as how parents hire maids to look after their children.
He doesn't fear this trend. What he fears is the abandonment of the elderly, as there is no social system in place to handle the growing number of senior citizens.
Dr Azhar says the right professionals have to be trained to care for the elderly.
UPM has made a start.
"We even make it compulsory for our undergraduates doing medicine to be exposed to geriatric care and face the old people at old folks' homes."
He admits, however, that the number of specialists in geriatric medicine is still relatively small.
In 2006, it was reported that Malaysia had only nine geriatric medicine specialists and only five were actually seeing patients regularly.
The country needs 55 geriatricians in the next two years, says the Health Ministry.
Dr Azhar lauds efforts to produce more geriatricians, but says the existing system is hindering these specialists.
"Overseas, they have the best experience and facilities. But when they come back, they find their hands tied. Budget is not there.
"Over there, they even have a team that works between different agencies to assist the geriatricians.
"But, we don't have that here. It is just like a surgeon without trained nurses or anaesthetists."
In this respect, Dr Azhar believes that one way to prepare society for the coming explosion of senior citizens will be to create a society that promotes healthy ageing.
"By doing so, when one becomes old, one is still healthy and does not need to stay in old folks' homes.
"They are independent and able to look after each other, husband and wife, with the children dropping by to see them."
He urges people to plan and save for their old age, adding that one should put aside money not only for children's education, but also to ensure that he or she can afford to keep a modest living in old age.
The Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society is organising training courses for caregivers of the elderly. An advanced course will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 8 and 9.
A basic course will be held in Johor Baru on Sept 26 and 27. [rc]
Copyright © 2007 NST Online
Prof Dr Azhar Md Zain says the current system prevents geriatricians from prospering
"If they are not given that much emphasis, then it will be very tough."
More old people would land in the old folks homes which are increasing steadily in numbers.
However, he does not blame the children.
"They are sending their parents to homes not because they do not love them.
"But they have to earn a living and it is hard to give their parents the proper care they may need."
Dr Azhar believes a new trend will emerge in the near future when adult children hire people to mind their ageing parents, just as how parents hire maids to look after their children.
He doesn't fear this trend. What he fears is the abandonment of the elderly, as there is no social system in place to handle the growing number of senior citizens.
Dr Azhar says the right professionals have to be trained to care for the elderly.
UPM has made a start.
"We even make it compulsory for our undergraduates doing medicine to be exposed to geriatric care and face the old people at old folks' homes."
He admits, however, that the number of specialists in geriatric medicine is still relatively small.
In 2006, it was reported that Malaysia had only nine geriatric medicine specialists and only five were actually seeing patients regularly.
The country needs 55 geriatricians in the next two years, says the Health Ministry.
Dr Azhar lauds efforts to produce more geriatricians, but says the existing system is hindering these specialists.
"Overseas, they have the best experience and facilities. But when they come back, they find their hands tied. Budget is not there.
"Over there, they even have a team that works between different agencies to assist the geriatricians.
"But, we don't have that here. It is just like a surgeon without trained nurses or anaesthetists."
In this respect, Dr Azhar believes that one way to prepare society for the coming explosion of senior citizens will be to create a society that promotes healthy ageing.
"By doing so, when one becomes old, one is still healthy and does not need to stay in old folks' homes.
"They are independent and able to look after each other, husband and wife, with the children dropping by to see them."
He urges people to plan and save for their old age, adding that one should put aside money not only for children's education, but also to ensure that he or she can afford to keep a modest living in old age.
The Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society is organising training courses for caregivers of the elderly. An advanced course will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 8 and 9.
A basic course will be held in Johor Baru on Sept 26 and 27. [rc]
Copyright © 2007 NST Online
