07/01/2026
The struggles faced by many caregivers in Malaysia – juggling medical appointments, home care, and emotional support while managing their own lives – are not isolated stories.
Their experiences highlight a deeper, systemic problem: the country’s eldercare infrastructure is fragmented, under-resourced, and still largely reliant on families to shoulder the burden.
As the nation’s population ages, the question becomes not just how seniors are cared for, but how the system supports those who care for them.
Over a span of three years, Hospital Kuala Lumpur reported a 50% increase in patient abandonment, with cases rising from 239 in 2020 to 358 in 2023, especially during festive seasons.
Nearly half of those left behind were seniors aged 60 and above.
The statistics department, meanwhile, projects that the percentage of citizens aged 65 and above will rise from 8.1% in 2024 to 14.5% by 2040.
The Sudden Cook
(Envato Elements pic)
