TERENGGANU’s sole welfare home for the elderly, Rumah Sejahtera in Bukit Payung, has been left in the lurch after the state government cut its monthly funding, the home’s deputy superintendent Shukri Mohammad said.

As a result, seven caregivers at the home have not been paid for three months.

The home, which began operations in 1961, has been funded by the state Social Welfare Department (JKM), the State Secretary’s office (SUK) and the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Maidam). It is managed by the Terengganu branch of the Semalaysia Welfare Centre Council.

JKM channels RM50,200 every year, which is allocated for food and to run and maintain the home for its 15 residents, Shukri said.

“These funds cover the water bill, building maintenance, electricity and also the salaries for our employees.

“We also have allocations from the SUK Terengganu and Maidam.”

Maidam reduced its allocation last year to RM14,000, from RM34,000 annually, Shukri said, while the SUK gave RM15,000 last year.

Shukri said he has asked the state government for an explanation but none has been given.

“We have sent a letter. We were not informed about the cuts beforehand nor the reason why.

“And despite our queries, the Terengganu exco for welfare has not even come here to check,” he said.

Rumah Sejahtera is in the Alor Limbat state seat, and its assemblyman Ariffin Deraman only came last year during the fasting month to donate food and some money, Shukri said.

The home’s caregivers feel neglected and worried as they do not know how long they can survive without any pay, Shukri added.

Their duties include helping the home’s elderly residents cook, wash and fold laundry. The caregivers also bathe some of the residents who cannot care for themselves.

Shukri clarified that the cut in funding impacts the payment of salaries the most, as food and other necessities can still be obtained with the funds from JKM.

The deputy superintendent who has managed the home for over 20 years said not all the home’s residents are abandoned elderly folk.

Among them are those who refuse to live with their children or other family members and who opt to come to the home voluntarily.

Shukri said he has seen the worst of people’s attitudes towards their elderly parents, such as children or heirs who come to visit only because they want to claim their parent’s pension money or property.

“We have a safeguard for that, we require the senior citizens who reside in the home to sign certain documents that protect their rights to their assets so that they cannot be taken, whether by force or unknowingly. The heirs can contest it in court,” he said.

The home’s criteria for residents are those above age 60, are not bedridden, who cannot take care of themselves, and who do not have infectious diseases.

It can accommodate up to 50 residents but have not been accepting new applications because of the Covid-19 pandemic and strict rules imposed by JKM, such as a separate quarantine room for isolation of new residents.

“Ensuring elderly folk adhere to this is difficult, so the home decided to wait and postpone the entry of new residents. We will wait until there is further relaxation of the SOP,” he said.

Patience is required when caring for the elderly, he added.

“Some behaviours are difficult to control, for example, ensuring their nutrition and eating habits especially for those with diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

“We ban them from eating sweets, but they quietly eat them behind our backs. Then the doctor gets upset during check ups when their blood pressure and glucose readings are high.”

The home ensures that residents receive a health check once a month, and physiotherapy and dental treatment once every three months.

The eldest resident in the home currently is 99 years old.

For Hari Raya this year, staff at the home will celebrate with residents by enjoying the food donations that well-wishers send over, even if their unpaid salaries remain at the back of their minds. – May 3, 2022.