Getting youth interested and involved in caregiving can be fulfilling in many ways. - Pexels
It is inspiring to see youths making strides, especially in an area as crucial as senior care. As the global population ages, the demand for effective and efficient care has never been greater. And in this landscape, we have Alicia Lee Zhi Jing and Scott Foo Yee Yin, two young trailblazers who have already begun to make an impact in this field.
During the “Ageing Family Members: Care Responsibilities among Family Members” event at New Era University College (NEUC) in Kajang, Selangor recently, the two were awarded the Youth Caregiving Award and Teenager Caregiving Award respectively. This award celebrates young people who actively participate in senior care activities, promote the Teenager’s Caregiving Initiative, and contribute to the development of the senior care industry in multiple fronts.
In this article, we bring an exclusive interview with these two award-winning individuals. We look into their motivations, and their visions for the future of senior care. Through their responses, we gain a deeper understanding of what drives these young leaders and how their contributions are shaping the future of elderly care.
Why did you choose to be in this industry?
Alicia: The opportunity for me to enter the field of senior care came from my university professor, Dr Edward Foo. He knew I was looking for job opportunities, so he introduced me to work with the association Masoc Care. In 2023, Masoc Care, in collaboration with the government of Negeri Sembilan organised multiple awareness events for the public and in high schools within the state. Initially, I was just a facilitator for the events, but gradually, as I witnessed individual lives and families changing for the better, it became more meaningful. I started to enjoy what I was doing.
Scott: It was during Chinese New Year when I went to volunteer at Boonbak Emina Care Centre. Since I was quite free, I thought about the caregivers at the care centre who will still be working through the festivities. I thought I should go help them out and keep the elderly there company. And so, I went, which to my delight, I found myself enjoying the caregiving process and companionship with them.
Alicia (second fr left) and Scott (second from right) with their awards. Also pictured are (from left) Chua Yee Howe, of Masoc Care, Pantai Remis assemblywoman Wong May Ing (middle), and Jeremy Leng Je Ming, General Manager of Masoc Care.
How can Malaysia improve in senior care?
Alicia: Malaysia’s elderly population is continuously growing, and we are gradually becoming an ageing society. Therefore, there is a need to raise public awareness and education of senior care to help everyone understand that learning how to care for the elderly is very necessary.
Currently, there is a lack of professional caregivers in Malaysia. There is a need to focus more on education, encouraging more people to receive training, professionalising themselves and thereby creating more supply for the huge senior care demand in Malaysia.
Scott: I’m thinking more about infrastructure on this topic. To promote elderly independence, the infrastructure of the country should be more accessible to them. What we witness most of the time are beautifully built structures, that unfortunately emphasises form over function.
For example: the lack of wheelchair accessible amenities in our biggest city, to poorly maintained walkways that even I, a youngster, would trip on, what more the elderly?
What would you like to say to youths?
Alicia: Senior care is a field full of meaning; it’s not just a job but also a contribution to society. Be brave and give it a try. Once you immerse yourself in it, you’ll find many opportunities to learn and grow.
Scott: I think youths should not only focus on their academics, but also on the soft skills one can learn via senior care, such as communication and respect. I would encourage youths to talk to the elderly more often, learning their life experiences, and learning to care for a human during their final years, in which such responsibility would befall everyone inevitably.
Both Alicia and Scott share how their participation in senior care has been driven by a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of the elderly. Both highlight the urgent need for improvements in Malaysia’s senior care, particularly in terms of increasing public awareness and enhancing training opportunities for caregivers. By choosing to enter this field, youths can, like them, play a pivotal role in shaping a more compassionate and effective care system for Malaysia’s aging population, ensuring that our elders receive the dignity and respect they deserve.
This article was contributed by The Malaysian Association for Social Care Professionals and Homes (MASOC CARE). For more info regarding the article's Teenager's Caregiving Initiatives, do visit https://www.masoc.care/youthprograms, or contact 011-3301 9681 / info@masoc.care
