KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — This Chinese New Year, as we visit our elderly loved ones, we may notice signs of them slowing down.
From taking a little more time to walk to the dinner table, talking a little louder, or needing help to walk up the stairs or to navigate longer distances, the tell-tale signs of ageing are inevitable.
Whether it be because of a medical condition that has lessened mobility or the need for constant supervision, the topic of special care required is unavoidable
Conversations surrounding retirement homes however can be a difficult topic to discuss due to age-old stigmas of poor living conditions, lack of freedom, no social activities or the conventional take of filial piety is the norm in Asian society.
Fortunately, there are centres that have been launched in recent years that offer the elderly a chance to spend their evergreen years well and in a fulfilling way.
Malay Mail recently spoke to three eldercare services dispelling negative connotations and ensuring nothing but the best for seniors.
Sunway Sanctuary for one offers expert medical care with premium facilities located right in the heart of Sunway City in Subang Jaya.
The facility offers a variety of living spaces from studios and one-bedroom to two-bedroom suites alongside amenities like a heated salt-water pool, a small movie theatre, and a karaoke room.
Care Concierge was a startup founded in 2017 by co-founders Martin Yap and Justin Yap to fulfil a need in the market for quality eldercare services at a reasonable price.
Today, the startup has seven centres in the Klang Valley and two in Penang which offer a wide range of services from at-home care, daycare, to assisted living.
The Mansion Ritchie living centre in Ampang is Yap's to create a retirement home close to nature, that is open, community-driven, located in the heart of the city.
Formerly an art space, the home was converted in 2020 into a living sanctuary that houses 47 beds offering a space for learning, recreation, and medical supervision.
Woodrose Residences in Shah Alam and Ampang meanwhile offers a Muslim-friendly environment for seniors that is Syariah-compliant for those who require Islamic-based services.
An in-house Ustaz plays an important role in setting Syariah requirements from food to cleanliness to daily activities to spiritual guidance.
Filial Piety
One of the biggest reasons why the topic of old folks homes are shunned upon in Asian families is the culture of filial piety.
Many Asians are raised in households where caring for their parents is the only option as elderly homes are seen as abandoning the elderly.
“Asian cultures tend to prioritise family values more prominently,” said Sunway Sanctuary General Manager Leonard Theng.
“Some families are better off in sending their loved ones to a facility like this, yet because of that culture they try to hold on as much as they can.”
Some seniors may believe that retirement homes cannot offer the best service and a premium living space.
This is the belief that Sunway Sanctuary is determined to change with a centre that delivers the best of what life can offer.
Theng said that he has seen the minds of seniors change during tours of the centre.
“At the ground floor, there is a prevalent sentiment among seniors characterised by scepticism and occasional moodiness regarding the prospect of their children placing them in a care facility.” he said.
"But the moment they reach the 15th floor and look at the showrooms, that's when I see perceptions change and them saying ‘this one can try lah’.”
When asked about bringing up the conversation of assisted care to one's parents, Care Concierge Chief Executive Officer Martin Yap said it's important to start it early through ‘future-planning’.
“It’s alway best to start these conversations early and prepare them for what is to come, of course speaking to them patiently and kindly.
“Another way to approach this topic is actually to bring them over and take a tour of our place for themselves.
“We often invite people over for talks related to medical wellbeing and that is where the seniors get to experience the space for themselves and understand what we are trying to do.”
Awareness on assisted living
Another reason why some may not consider eldercare services is that they are not aware of the many services assisted living can offer.
Sunway Sanctuary Health and Wellness Advisor Dr Ericson Chia said that the concept of assisted living is a relatively new one and is still one that is unfamiliar to many seniors.
“People normally confuse a nursing home with assisted living and think they are the same thing.
“A nursing home provides a person, who may not necessarily be an elderly with 24/7 monitoring and a higher level of care whereas assisted living facilities support the elderly who are generally independent but may require some assistance with their activities of daily living.”
Sunway Sanctuary is located directly next to Sunway Medical Centre, which makes the treatment of any emergency almost immediate and makes regular appointments more convenient.
“Of course there have been people saying that it's not good to be living next to a hospital out of superstition, but we tell them that the short distance between our centre and the hospital can be life saving."
Yap said that the range of services Care Concierge offer correspond with the varying needs and conditions of seniors.
“Our residents often suffer from conditions like dementia, strokes, or musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), each of these need a completely different set of skills to handle.
“And we are also aware that the seniors and their families have different living arrangements and preferences, so we try our best to cater to their needs.
“The challenge is to spread awareness and education out there so that people know that eldercare isn’t just a home, it can include a whole range of services.”
Accessibility and affordability
Another reason some may hesitate to send their elders to a home is that it can be expensive.
This is why some may turn to hiring helpers or taking care of them themselves, which though more affordable can sometimes be a more complicated process.
Woodrose Residences Vice Chairman Abdul Rashid Bernard Lawrence said that cost is always a major consideration in whether seniors end up in homes.
“We strive to keep our pricing mid-tier, while punching above our weight in terms of the comfort levels of our homes as well as the quality of care that we provide.
“It is quite common that because the children feel bad about the idea or concept of admitting their parents into an Assisted Living Facility, they would rather keep them at home even when it is not in the best interest of their parents," he said.
“They may have a maid to look after their parents but even a well meaning and competent maid cannot compare to the benefits of a well-run assisted living facility.
“We believe that the quality of life of our residents results from personalised care within the environment that we have carefully crafted, and the social and religious activities that are an inherent part of our programmes, make it a far better environment for one’s parents as compared to being cared for by a maid at home.”
He also stressed the importance of Syariah compliance in reaching to the Muslim-Malay elderly, incorporating it into their SOP and services.
“We have one full time in-house Ustaz and two part time Ustaz. Our in-house Ustaz has been with us from day one and is an integral part of developing our SOPs, ensuring that Woodrose Senior Residences is fully Syariah compliant,” Abdul Rashid added.
“From food to cleanliness to daily activities to spiritual guidance, our in-house Ustaz plays a vital role and provides oversight into our SOPs in so far as our Syariah compliance and the religious needs of our Residents are concerned.”
Woodrose Residences packages for independent living start at RM3800 per month and assisted living for RM4500 per month. Click here for more information.
Care Concierge offers Assisted Living Residences in Klang Valley and Penang, with monthly packages starting from RM4800 for private rooms and RM3000 for shared rooms.
Monthly rates for private rooms at The Mansion Ritchie start from RM6000. More information is available here.
Sunway Sanctuary’s independent living and assisted living packages start from RM8,050 per month and RM8,850 per month respectively. For more information click here.
