Changing environment shifting the public’s perceptions
Contributed by Sulaiman Saheh
Although the concept of senior homes or elderly centres in Malaysia is not a new thing, it still brings much stigma and is perceived as a not-so-desirable option among society at large, particularly elderly parents and their adult children. Should the elderly be sent to live in a senior home, people often judge the children to be ungrateful and irresponsible towards their parents who had sacrificed almost their entire life to raise them.
But the reality of modern life has slowly changed that perspective as people no longer have the privilege to take care of their elderly constantly due to work and family commitments. More so if the said elderly require close to full-time attention and care for medical or physical reasons.
This is where the senior homes of today come into the picture, not as a place of abandonment but as safe, well-assisted homes that provide the elderly with a suitable lifestyle to live a healthy and enriching life. Being more than just a dorm-like setting with some staff on board to monitor the senior residents, the senior home centres of today are well-designed to create a thriving community of senior citizens with daily recreational activities planned out, common lounges for interactions, and customised medical assistance to each individual, on top of a safe living space.
