Caring for elders should not be considered a burden

MANY Malaysian children today grow up without their grandparents at home. What looks like a small absence leaves a powerful gap. Grandparents embody patience, wisdom, and the lived experience of ageing. Without them, children miss out on learning that growing old is not weakness but a natural stage of life.

Malaysia’s family structure is changing fast. Average household size fell from 4.6 members in 2000 to 3.8 in 2020. Fewer extended families under one roof means less daily contact between young and old, reducing the chances for children to learn love, empathy, and sacrifice across generations.