Universities urged to train more elderly care workers for ageing nation

With Malaysia's demographic profile shifting towards an older population, educational institutions are facing pressure to develop more accessible training pathways for those seeking to enter the elderly care sector. Certified short-course programmes, offered by universities and vocational training centres, could provide families with practical skills to care for ageing parents while simultaneously creating viable part-time employment opportunities.

The proposed approach addresses a dual challenge: the immediate caregiving needs of Malaysian households and the broader shortage of trained personnel in long-term care services. By partnering with universities, such programmes could standardise training quality and enhance the professional credentials of care workers across the country.

Family-based caregiving remains the predominant model in Malaysia, with many adult children balancing employment and parental care responsibilities. Structured, accredited training courses would enable these individuals to provide more effective care while potentially generating supplementary income through formal caregiving roles.

Educational institutions offering such programmes could position themselves as key contributors to Malaysia's social infrastructure, particularly as healthcare systems grapple with rising demand from an expanding elderly population. Industry analysts suggest that investing in elder care training now could prevent future gaps in the nation's social care capacity.