THE Social Welfare Department (JKM) channelled its allocation of RM347.54 million under the Assistance Scheme For Older Persons (BOT) to some 131,571 recipients nationwide last year.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said that assistance was to help meet basic needs of the elderly citizens so that they could continue to live with their families in the community.
“The department also set up institutions such as Rumah Seri Kenangan and Rumah Ehsan in providing care and protection to the elderly living in poverty,” she said in a written reply to a question by Datuk Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) who wanted to know the list of available facilities for the elderly and the number of beneficiaries.
Rohani said there were nine Rumah Seri Kenangan in Peninsular Malaysia with a total number of 1,590 occupants while in the two Rumah Ehsan, of the 216 inmates, 145 of them were senior citizens.
She said the allowances for elderly residents in JKM institutions had been increased from RM10 to RM30 a month, beginning May last year. In line with the ministry’s objective to enable the elderly to continue living in the community rather than in homes for the elderly, several programmes were implemented including the set up of Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE), Home Help Service and Senior Citizens Care Unit (UPWE).
“In addition, the Lifelong Learning Programme and fee reduction scheme for postgraduate senior citizen students were also made available at Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Malaya to encourage senior citizens to continue their studies to higher levels. — Bernama