MORE elderly folk are being abandoned in the wake of Covid-19, the managers of welfare homes said.

They said they are receiving more calls from hospitals enquiring whether they have space for senior citizens who have been forsaken by their families.

Persatuan Kebajikan Kasha OKU head Jacky Bah said the number of abandoned old people has gone up in the last three years.

“There has been a 50% increase compared to the pre-Covid-19 period,” Bah told The Malaysian Insight.

“The hospitals often call us for help with unclaimed elderly people who were hospitalised.”

Bah’s home houses 15 people and has 20 on the waiting list.

“Because of inflation, our ability to help is limited, but we try our best. Otherwise these senior citizens will end up on the streets.”

Women, Family and Community Development Rina Harun told parliament that 2,144 senior citizens were abandoned at hospitals nationwide from 2018 to 2022. Of this total, 914, comprising 656 men and 258 women, were successfully returned to their families.

Rina said in 2021 alone, 752 senior citizens were abandoned at hospitals by their family members.

They comprised 231 men and 109 women and have been placed at welfare institutions, she added.

“Oftentimes, when their families are contacted, they refuse to take them home, giving excuses such as family problems and sometimes even claiming not to know them.”

While abandonment of the elderly is not new, Bah said the situation is now critical.

“It may be a case of having not enough money, and in turn we see more senior citizens being abandoned.”

Tan Joo Sen, director of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Amal Warga Emas Sejati Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Kepong, said he too receives calls from hospitals on a monthly basis.

“We have taken in 30 people, and the numbers are increasing.”

The home mainly provides free care for senior citizens who are paralysed, suffer from cancer, and those who are no longer able to care for themselves.

“They are referred here by the hospitals, or the family may apply to send them here.”

Tan Hiang Hock, the director of P. Syukur Pulau Pinang, a non-profit home for the elderly, said not having enough money is not a good enough reason to abandon the elderly.

“If the family is poor, they can get free healthcare from government hospitals. They can also apply for cash aid from the welfare department.”

Tan said the home has been operating for 17 years and that there are signs that the number of senior citizens to be abandoned will increase judging by the number of hospitalisations during the pandemic.

Besides being poor, Tan, who has 20 years of experience in elderly care, said families are reluctant to care for their relatives who have diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

“If they have no patience, they will be very stressed handling them. Having said that, there are also many people who are filial,” Tan said.

However, given the current situation, Tan said many children may feel that their elderly parents are nothing but a burden.

Tan said it is important to educate the public.

“We must start with education and instil the right values.

“This must be coupled with policies introduced by the government,” Tan added. – August 4, 2022.