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CPS2157 Ezatul Nisha Abdul Rahman et al.
dementia care, implementing Pilot Scheme on Residential Care Service
Voucher for Elderly, implementing the Opportunities for the Elderly Project
(OEP) and Elder Academy (EA) Scheme, implementing the Government Public
Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with
Disabilities and many more are introduced.
4.4 Malaysia Initiative and Practices on Healthcare
The aging population is inevitable as it experiencing a demographic and
epidemiologic transition among the elderly. Hence, there is a need for health
policy on ageing elderly (Rose Jacobs, 2016). In Malaysia, the Ministry of
Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) developed two policy
focusing on older persons in Malaysia; The National Policy for Older Persons
and Plan of Action for Older Persons which approved by the Government on
2011. These policies are proof of the government's commitment to producing
older persons who are independent, honourable and respected by optimising
self-potential through healthy ageing, positive, active, productive and
supportive according to the national development.
The National Policy for Older Persons aimed to provide effective and
efficient services for the individuals, family and society to assure that older
persons receive facilitative environment while Health National Policy for Elder
Persons helps the initiative to be more effective, coordinate and
comprehensive health care. Furthermore, under the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016
- 2020), the government has announced the initiatives for elderly, Strategic B5;
to improve the environment of senior citizens. Under this initiative, NGO's will
establish cooperation with elderly care centre and social protection for poor
elderly will be coordinated and integrated to assure a better quality of life.
Apart from that, the awareness programs on senior care also will be
strengthened to make senior citizens practice an active and healthy lifestyle.
5. Recommendation and Conclusion
The current initiative can be further be improved by the government for
the preparation on facing the population ageing in Malaysia. Creating a less
physically demanding job and such as promoting job in the consulting level
could encourage the aged population to work even after the age of retirement.
In terms of healthcare, first, while sustainably growing towards a greater
light, the elderly population should be prioritized on the elderly to ensure the
elderly lives a healthy and fulfilling life. Second, the policies for elderly should
be improved in terms of short-term and long-term healthcare and
infrastructure for elderly with the consideration of the population dynamics in
terms of size, distribution and location, especially in rural areas. Other than
that, development programs on the elderly can be done by focusing on
monitoring specific needs of the age especially for citizens aged 60 years and
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