Bearing weight of the old

Heavy responsibility: The reliance on women is due to many families being unable to afford the services of private senior care. — ONG SOON HIN/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Women will have to bear most of the burden as Malaysia becomes an aging society, say social care experts.

They said the country would also have to prepare itself for the economic impact, especially among the B40.“In an ageing society, women will have to sacrifice themselves to provide informal care to the family, the elderly and their own children,” said Universiti Sains Malaysia family sociologist Dr Boo Harn Shian.