Today’s launch of Investing in Malaysia’s Care Future at ISIS Malaysia felt like more than a book launch; it felt like a turning point. For decades, many of us working with older adults have spoken about the urgent need to expand, professionalize, and humanize Malaysia’s care ecosystem. Now, with the 13th Malaysia Plan officially recognizing the care economy as a driver of national progress, Malaysia is finally giving care the status it deserves: not as invisible domestic labour, but as essential national infrastructure.

The panel discussion reflected a rare sense of alignment among policymakers, academics, civil society, and caregivers around one core truth: care is everyone’s responsibility. When a society values care, it values people. And when a nation invests in care, it invests in its own future.

A Roadmap for a Caring Nation

The publication outlines the foundations of a truly inclusive care system. It examines the needs of older persons, children, and persons with disabilities, and it sheds light on often-overlooked aspects such as:

• pathways to professionalize social care work
• collaboration across government and community sectors
• standards that ensure dignity, respect, and compassion in every care setting

These conversations are long overdue. For too long, families, especially women, have shouldered the burden of care quietly, often without training, support, or respite. The shift in policy signals a recognition that care is not a private struggle but a shared societal commitment.

Pictured from the right: Delren Terrence, Agecope National President, Lily Fu, Seniors Aloud, Olivia Quah, Agecope Deputy Secretary General, and Fong Muntoh, Agecope National Secretary General

https://agecope.org.my/

https://www.facebook.com/SeniorsAloud/

A Personal Reflection: Prevention Is Still Better Than Cure

While long-term care systems are vital, one chapter in particular spoke deeply to me, Chapter 5 on Long-Term Care in an Ageing Society, written by Prof. Rahimah Ibrahim and Dr. Chai Sen Tyng. Their focus on balancing fiscal responsibility with intergenerational fairness is crucial. But even more important is how we, as families and communities, can contribute to healthier ageing long before long-term care becomes necessary.

And this is where I hold a simple belief:
If we want our elders to age well, we must start with prevention.

One of the most practical, yet often overlooked, strategies is fall prevention.

A fall may seem trivial, but for an older adult, it can lead to complications that affect mobility, independence, and overall wellbeing. Falls are one of the leading reasons older adults end up in hospitals or long-term care facilities, often unexpectedly.

But many falls are preventable.

Home Hazard Assessments: Small Steps, Big Difference

We cannot stop ageing, but we can make homes safer. Conducting a simple home hazard assessment is one of the most loving and powerful gifts we can offer our parents and grandparents. This includes looking out for:

• uneven floors and slippery tiles
• cluttered walkways
• poor lighting
• loose rugs and cords
• unstable furniture
• lack of handrails or grab bars

It is astonishing how a few modifications, non-slip mats, night lights, rearranged furniture, and secure handrails can empower an older adult to continue living in the place they cherish most: their own home.

Home modifications are not luxuries. They are necessities. They are preventive care at its most basic and humane level.

Ageing in Place: A Vision Worth Fighting For

Malaysia is ageing, but ageing is not a crisis; it is a natural part of life. What turns ageing into a crisis is the lack of preparation, awareness, and structural support. The care economy, as envisioned in this new publication, gives us hope that older persons will not be left behind or expected to “manage on their own.”

Still, a care system is only as strong as the community supporting it.

If we want to build a Malaysia where people can age with dignity, we must champion safe homes, preventive practices, and environments that respect the autonomy of older adults. Ageing in place should not be a privilege; it should be an option available to every Malaysian.

A Nation That Cares

The momentum created by today’s launch is encouraging. Malaysia is finally acknowledging that care is not a cost but an investment, an investment in families, in social wellbeing, and in national prosperity. Let us continue to amplify these conversations, ensuring they reach not only policymakers and institutions but also ordinary Malaysians caring for ageing parents every day.

Because at the heart of this transformation is something beautifully simple:

When we care for our elders, we care for our future.