Old folks home now and it’s future

Many of Malaysian nowadays have the bad impression towards the person who sent their parents or relatives to the old folks home. They’re not to be blamed actually because the mass media such as television, radio, newspaper or even magazines always illustrating the old folks home as the ‘dumping’ site for the old ones by their children. I believe the mass media fails to cover the bright side of sending the veterans to the old folks home.
In the present time, our society is generally pessimistic and think negatively towards the issue of sending the elder to the old folks home. As the results, all person who sends their parent there will be the victim of a blind prejudice. This prejudice does not only stem from the mass media, but the old folks home itself. The old folks home, especially the one which is managed by the government, lack in many aspect; whether from the facilities aspect or the managing system.
As mentioned above, some old folks homes are only slightly above when compared to the prison or the school dorm. Different person there has a different problem and need different approach as well as different facilities to manage them but sadly, some facilities is missing. For example, the person who suffered muscle dystrophy needs a constant care from a physiotherapist and need to work out with a special set of equipments but these might be expansive to provide.
From the managing aspect, two weak points have been identified which are inefficiency, and not enough care towards the old folks. The inefficiency starts from the process of registration in which there is no strict requirement needed to send someone into the place. In addition, there is nothing has be done to make the person who sent the old one to the place, to have a visit there regularly. As the result, the old folks often feel lonely and neglected.
Now, we have to makes the people understand why there are people who sends their parents to the old folks home. To change all of the negative perspective from the people’s mind, several approach must be taken seriously to assure it’s success. First, we must instill a stricter term to send someone into the old folks home. The terms are; the old folks must be at least 58 years old and will be at risk if left alone at home, the person who send the old one must live within 30 km radius from the old folks home, and the sender must sign an agreement to have a visit a least once a week to the place.
We can also improve the living quality of the old folks there by taking a few steps. Initially, we must improve the facilities at the old folks home. Why don’t we let them feel as if they’re at their own home or maybe better. We must provide televisions, swimming pool, gymnasium, library, a large and beautiful garden, a multipurpose hall and a worship place for every religion. The dorm must be renovate into rooms and all the old fans, lamps and others facilities must be replaced with a new one.
Other than that, we can introduce buddy system. A buddy is the senior person, who enters there earlier than the newcomers. In buddy system, the newcomers will be given a buddy or several buddies for them to adapt to the new life there, share their problem with, enjoy the same hobbies and help them to know the others. We can also arranged many programs for them and celebrate every festivals in order to prevent them from getting bored. Lastly, we must try to make the idea of opening the day-care center for the old folks as the alternative for the old folks home comes true because some individual are willing to take care of their parent if they are not on their working hours. If all of the approach above can be achieved, I think Malaysia will be the best country for the old folks to live in.

published by: Hazwan & Thilages