DALAT: Sarawak is strengthening its pool of skilled elderly caregivers through the Training for Elderly Caregivers (TREC) certificate programme at the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) Dalat Campus, as the state prepares for its expected transition into an ageing state by 2028.
Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the increasing elderly population would lead to greater demand for care services, healthcare support and social facilities.
She said addressing the needs of senior citizens required collective efforts involving families, communities, the government, training institutions, service providers and trained caregivers.
“Elderly care can no longer be viewed as solely the responsibility of families. It requires the involvement of the entire community to ensure the wellbeing of senior citizens continues to be safeguarded,” she said during a sharing and discussion session on elderly and palliative care at the campus here recently.
Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman, said the eight-month TREC programme combines theoretical learning, practical training and exposure to real-life elderly and palliative care situations.
The programme, jointly certified by CENTEXS and MissiCare, focuses on developing participants’ skills, confidence, discipline, work attitude and humanitarian values.
Fatimah said elderly care could also develop into a growing employment and service sector, particularly through home-based care and care centres.
Meanwhile, CENTEXS is working to strengthen career pathways for caregivers through skills recognition, including opportunities to pursue the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3 in Elderly Care Centre Operations.
The initiative is expected to help ensure Sarawak has a trained workforce capable of meeting the growing demand for elderly care while supporting the development of a more age-friendly society.
