In Search for a Sustainable and Equitable Long-Term Care for Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Like many other countries across the globe, Malaysia is rapidly graying. It is projected that older adults will comprise 10–15% of the country’s total population in the next decade. Despite the surge in chronic diseases and a rise in dependency in daily living activities among Malaysian elders, formal support and long-term care services (LTC) have not been adequately developed. The existing tax-funded health care system – currently under huge financial strain – has no systematic or comprehensive LTC provision in place. This paper highlights the need for sustainable and equitable LTC services in Malaysia while drawing insight from existing LTC provision and financing arrangements in neighboring countries. It offers several recommendations to move forward in LTC planning using an approach that is unique to the Malaysian context.

Key points:

• The rapid demographic transition in Malaysia is not matched by its existing LTC provision.

• Malaysia can draw lessons and insight on LTC services and arrangements from neighboring countries.

• Strategies in developing LTC in Malaysia should align with societal values, make use of existing local resources and take into account issues of sustainability and equity.

KEYWORDS:

• Long-term care
• older adults
• long-term care financing
• dependency in old age
• Malaysia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.