Challenges In Managing Elderly Care Centre In Malaysia

The graying of the baby boom generation, lower birth rates and increases in life expectancy due to proper nutrition and healthy living have led to a rise in number of aging population. The concern over aging is not just about the size of the old age population but, more importantly the health, the welfare and care, the living arrangements, the infrastructure, housing, income and economic growth. This has called for the establishment of the elderly institutions or centres, which are mushrooming, to provide care and services to fulfil their varied needs. This paper attempts to discuss the types of services offered and the challenges faced in providing such services especially taking into account of the multi-cultural background of the people in the country. The study also examines to what extent the care centres have played their roles well enough to address the needs of the elderly people. This study uses in-depth interviews to the principals and supervisors of the centres, observation and documentation interpretation and the qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings show that the types of services offered are more or less similar in every centre including health services, social and recreational activities, education and training programs and religious guides. Not all programs can be carried out effectively. Challenges faced include financial, infrastructure, professionalism, collaboration and supports, living arrangements, different socio-cultural background and emotional and psychological needs of the elderly people. Further research is expected to design a model of the best provider of services to the elderly people at the care centres.