Youth stepping up to provide compassion and support

PETALING JAYA: Caring for the elderly may not appeal to all but some Malaysian youth are rising to the challenge, motivated by empathy and purpose.

Lucia Pier Png Yong Sim, 28, who studied nursing, said she does not mind being a skilled caregiver as it tends to be an undervalued profession.

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“The elderly often have multiple health issues which need coordinated and comprehensive care, especially in the long term.

“Caregiving for the elderly is undervalued in society and at the same time, the elderly do not know where to find support,” said Png, who hails from Perak.

“Currently, there is poor awareness or advocacy about the importance of caring for elderly health, hence more awareness is needed for people to help.

“I believe I can focus my skills on this group to ensure a better quality of care for their well-being.

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“I think RM2,500 to RM3,500 is a fair salary range for us, and more for nurses who have specialisation,” she added.

For 22-year-old medical student Fatin Azurien Zaharudin, growing up with her grandparents in Kedah inspired her interest in elder care.

“Growing up with them taught me how to understand and care for the elderly with patience and respect.

“Because of that, I naturally know how to communicate and interact with them. I also tend to feel extra emotional when it comes to elderly people,” said Fatin.

“I genuinely enjoy helping and spending time with elderly people as it’s a chance to give back and make a difference in their lives, especially when they need support the most.”

She said that the salary for caregivers for the elderly would depend on the working hours, responsibilities and location.

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“A reasonable starting salary for a caregiver position should be around RM2,000 to RM2,800 per month. This would also depend on whether accommodation or meals are provided and whether the care is live-in or shift-based,” added Fatin.

Haarthi Harikrishnan, 24, from Ampang, however prefers to remain a volunteer when it comes to elderly care.

She said being a permanent caregiver for the elderly comes with added responsibilities like carrying them and cleaning them up.

“It could cost you mental, emotional and physical strength to put up with such responsibilities,” she said, adding that she had experience cleaning up after elderly patients in the past.

“Remunerations could start at around RM2,500 depending on the attention required by the elderly,” said Haarthi.

Similarly, Vishnu Jeyaseelan, 24, a medical student from Ampang, said he would not be able to dedicate himself to geriatric care.

“Prolonged attention for the elderly is different compared to other age groups. I won’t be able to commit.

“I want to be a doctor because I know how much it means to save someone when they are ill.

“However, it’s difficult to be a caregiver as you would need to give undivided attention to the elderly ,who could have mood swings,” said Vishnu.

He proposed that basic salary for elder caregivers should start at RM2,000.