Public spaces also being fitted with more senior-friendly features such as barrier-free pathways, special toilets and rest areas
Johor is strengthening efforts to safeguard the well-being of senior citizens through a wide range of initiatives.
State women, family and community development committee chairman Khairin Nisa Ismail said these included expanding community care centres and improving age-friendly infrastructure, implemented through the Welfare Department (JKM) in collaboration with multiple agencies.
“Among key measures is the expansion of Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE), which will increase from 22 centres currently to 27 by this year, with five more planned next year.
“PAWE centres are also being developed into one-stop centres to provide the elderly with easier access to information on various government assistance and services,” she said during the state assembly sitting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar.
She said this in reply to Mohd Yusla Ismail (BN-Senggarang) and Nazri Abdul Rahman (PH-Simpang Jeram) who asked about joint efforts in strengthening elderly care in Johor.
Khairin Nisa said the state was also upgrading public infrastructure, including transport hubs, hospitals, community halls and parks, with features such as barrier-free pathways, rest areas, special toilets and clearer signage to be more senior-friendly.
She said digital literacy programmes were being introduced for the elderly as well, under initiatives such as Desa@Digital and community Internet centres to help them adapt to an increasingly digital environment.
“Entrepreneurship programmes are being rolled out to support active senior citizens, including training in urban farming, handicrafts, food processing, and online business.
“Micro grants and special incentives are also available through agencies such as Tekun and SME Corp to help senior citizens generate income,” she said.
Khairin Nisa said community and volunteerism programmes were being encouraged too, with the elderly taking on roles as mentors, trainers or volunteers in schools, libraries and community centres.
She said healthcare services for senior citizens had been enhanced through initiatives by Health Ministry, including mobile clinics and community-based health screenings for those with limited mobility.
“Elderly residents in institutions and care centres also receive regular medical check-ups, vaccinations, dental care and nutritional support, including specialised diets and high-nutrient milk.”
She said the Labour Department was safeguarding the welfare of elderly workers by enforcing labour laws and ensuring compliance among employers.
The Social Institute of Malaysia was also offering caregiver training programmes to improve the quality of care for the elderly.
“A dedicated elderly care module is currently being developed by Johor JKM in collaboration with various agencies to further enhance services for senior citizens,” said Khairin Nisa.
“All these efforts reflect the state government’s commitment to ensuring that senior citizens continue to live with dignity, security and support within the community,” she added.
