Long-term Healthcare for Aged

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MALAYSIANS are living longer going by figures from the department of statistics. The population is expected to live up to an average of 74.8 years this year compared to 74.3 years in 2011.

To top that, life expectancy is also increasing, where men and women are expected to live another 15.0 and 17.1 years respectively. It is also estimated that the ageing population will increase to 7.2% by the year 2020 and 14.5% 2040.

Malaysia’s growing ageing population also means there is an urgency to address the need for long-term care, especially for those who, in the august of their lives, are affected by illness and become infirmed or disabled.

Long-term care or chronic care refers to a continuum of medical and social services that support the needs of patients living with chronic medical conditions or severe disabilities that affect their ability to go through their daily routines without physical help and support from others.

This refers to a person’s basic daily self-care activities such as toilet hygiene, continence, mobility, dressing, bathing and eating.

It also includes continuous medical monitoring and timely intervention when medical complications are detected early.

Apart from medical services, long-term care also requires skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.

Generally, it can be broadly categorised into:

• Institutionalised care which includes:
  a) inpatient admission to hospitals which provides skilled nursing care (also known as skilled nursing facility); and
  b) nursing homes;
• Community care. This includes:
  a) adult daycare centres; and
  b) hospices; and
• Informal care, defined as home care by family and friends, with the support of visiting nurses, visiting physical therapists and visiting doctors. In severe cases, full-time nursing services and domestic workers are employed to help out with home care. This option is gaining popularity as patient care is carried out within the setting of the patient’s home.