IPOH: Crushed by the burden of caregiving, 83-year-old mother Foo Saw Yong and her three immobile children are crying out for a lifeline.
Highlighted by Perak MCA public services and complaints bureau chief Charles Yuen, the plight of the family from Taman Ampang here reveals a household trapped by illness and total physical exhaustion.
He said Foo’s youngest son, Ng Chee Leong, 46, was diagnosed with brain atrophy about 20 years ago and his condition has worsened over time.
“Chee Leong has been bedridden since 2017 and is fully dependent on others for daily care. His sister Yeat Phing, 55, underwent brain surgery in 2020 and requires ongoing physiotherapy and is registered as a person with disabilities,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Yuen said their elder sister Yeat Sim, 63, was mobility-impaired, adding that their father died several years ago in a road accident.
He said the family relied solely on monthly welfare aid for survival.
“The mother gets RM600, and RM300 each for Yeat Phing and Chee Leong, totalling RM1,200. This amount barely covers their basic living expenses,” he said.
Yuen said Chee Leong needed continuous home-based physiotherapy, costing between RM800 and RM1,000 per month for three to four sessions per week, adding that this placed a heavy financial strain on the family.
He said he contacted several nursing homes and disability care centres and found the costs to be high and unaffordable.
“This is a typical case of a vulnerable family, where multiple members are facing both health and financial challenges simultaneously.
“I appeal to the public, corporate sector and charitable organisations to extend their support, including financial assistance for medical and physiotherapy expenses, daily necessities support and long-term care or placement assistance,” he said.
Yuen said those wishing to provide financial or material assistance can contact him at 017-589 3328.
