Playgrounds should have equipment catering to the elderly. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
FACED with the prospect of having to address the growing needs of its ageing population, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is taking a positive step by coming up with a Senior Citizen Action Plan 2030.
The local council is one of three in Selangor (the others being Sabak Bernam District Council and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council) which have the highest number of senior citizens, said Lembah Jaya assemblyman Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Al-Hadad during a recent state assembly sitting.
He was quoting a paper on “Exploring Ageing Population Trends in Local Council: The Case of Selangor” in the Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Selangor is among the Malaysian states confronting the challenges posed by an ageing society, alongside Perak, Kedah, Sarawak and Perlis, according to the Malaysia Population and Housing Census 2020.
(An aged society is defined as one where over 14% of its population is elderly.)
Currently, 8.1% of Selangor’s population is aged 65 and above, but it has the highest number of seniors due to its population size of 7.6 million.
Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said that 107,317 people, or 13% of its residents, were over 60.
The city has the highest number of seniors in the country and is the first to develop a plan for the elderly, he said.
The plan, which will be reviewed within the next two years, covers five main areas: health, economy, social and safety, education and environment.
“We are creating this plan to ensure their well-being and needs are met,” said Mohamad Zahri during the launch this year.
The plan aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) and the First Selangor Plan 1 (RS-1).
It allows stakeholders such as government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and academics to provide input on these focus areas as part of an action plan committee.
“Ultimately, seniors should be able to live independently, enjoy dignified ageing, optimise their self-potential with healthy ageing and have a conducive living environment,” said the mayor.
MBPJ Development Planning Department director Lee Lih Shyan noted that Malaysians’ life expectancy in 2020 was 75.6 years, up from 63.6 in 1970.
Lee says the action plan will have senior economic empowerment programmes.
Selangor is projected to become a super-aged society by 2040, with 20% of its population aged 65 and above.
“Just based on this, we can predict that life expectancy will increase further, and we must be prepared to face an ageing population by 2030,” said Lee.
Issues and goals
The five areas (see chart) identified by MBPJ include healthcare issues such as lack of healthcare facilities and lack of self-care planning.
In terms of economy, there is insufficient planning for seniors’ economic resources.
The plan also aims to address the lack of senior leadership in the urban farming sector, which has economic potential.
Lee said that under the social and security area, seniors heavily rely on their children, leading to a financial burden for both generations.
“Seniors are also more prone to falling for scams, especially if they feel neglected by their families,” he told StarMetro.
Education-wise, the plan highlights the need for more awareness of lifelong learning to improve digital literacy among seniors.
The elderly also face difficulties accessing places offering learning programmes.
The lack of recreational facilities and accessibility also needs to be addressed.
Lee said the plan’s objective was to create a space conducive for seniors’ mental and physical health, ensuring their social well-being and security.
It also aimed to provide lifelong learning opportunities for them.
“In addition, there will be senior economic empowerment programmes to eradicate poverty and create a conducive environment for all,” he said, adding that some measures are already underway.
Lee also said the committee working on the Senior Citizen Action Plan 2030 would be meeting this month to review some of the feedback from stakeholders and to discuss ideas.
(From left) Association for Aged Care Operators Of Malaysia president Delren Terrence Douglas, Mohamad Zahri and Soon at the launch of the Senior Citizen Action Plan 2030. — Filepic
Stakeholders’ views
A significant concern for many is the cost associated with old folks homes and affordable housing.
According to National Council Of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia (Nascom) president Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh, private facilities could cost over RM5,000 monthly.
Many seniors lack the means to live in such homes, he added.
“Our current cost of living is high. With an average household income of RM5,000, children cannot send their parents to a decent home for the elderly.
“Intervention is required by various parties as there needs to be more affordable senior homes that provide care for those in need.
“Moreover, most senior homes are not providing good care, so the government should intervene to ensure that seniors, especially the poor, are cared for,” said Soon when met at the launch.
He also said MBPJ should promote more financial literacy and cybersecurity talks.
“Many do not have much in their retirement fund, so my advice to them is to manage their resources well and to prevent being scammed,”
Several other areas Soon touched on included the need for better infrastructure to help the elderly travel easily, and promoting better health awareness.
“Good health also starts from young. We need a health- conscious society that will reduce the burden on the healthcare system,” he added.
Similarly, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam College of Built Environment senior lecturer Dr Hafiszah Ismail emphasised the importance of an inclusive environment for the elderly.
She commended MBPJ for its focus on improving the elderly’s quality of life.
“In China, there are playgrounds with amenities such as exercise equipment for the elderly.
“Some of the equipment is also meant to help stroke patients with their recovery,” she said.
Hafiszah added that malls should cater to the elderly with railings and seats, as seniors might need to rest while walking.
“Buses must be senior-friendly to encourage them to use public transport and move about more,” she said.
Buses must be senior-friendly to encourage the elderly to use public transport. — Filepic
Active ageing, referring to a healthy ageing process, is what MBPJ aims to achieve with its city planning, said Hafiszah.
She noted that Taman Aman and Taman Jaya parks were good examples of playgrounds with areas for seniors to exercise.
“In Taman Aman park, the exercise equipment is all in a row and close to residences, providing easy access for seniors to find the equipment they want to use quickly.
“These are the types of infrastructure that can be incorporated into the plan,” she said.
Hafiszah added that job opportunities could also be provided to the elderly based on ability.
“I have seen seniors who are still fit working as guards in Menara MBPJ.
“This is a good move by the city council instead of relying on foreigners,” she said.
With many seniors having trouble using technology, improving their digital literacy would enable them to tap into new opportunities. — Filepic
Petaling Jaya resident Eileen Thong said a major challenge for senior citizens was adapting to the rapidly changing technological landscape.
“Everything is digital now, including making hospital appointments.
“Many of these digital platforms are not user-friendly and confusing for seniors like me.
“Even welfare aid applications need to be done online and since we are not tech-savvy with no one to guide us, we miss out on many opportunities,” she said.
