THE elderly in Malaysia are defined as senior citizens aged 60 and above and by 2040, this demographic group in Kuala Lumpur is expected to swell to 17.3 per cent of the population as opposed to 9.2 per cent in 2025.
Thus, the issues surrounding this age group have been outlined in the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040 (KLSP2040) unveiled last week. The demographics state that senior citizens hover around three million nationwide and growing, notwithstanding that the affected people who designed this plan may have their own generation in mind.
A key element of the plan calls for special retirement homes that provide independent living, medical assistance and nursing.
These future retirement homes are to be sold, leased or rented, constructed either in residential or commercial zones, and furnished with appropriate social spaces and public facilities.
The plan's recommendation, while consistent with Malaysia's cradle-to-grave social welfare policy, raises several complexities particularly since details are not yet forthcoming.
First, where are these homes going to be built, seeing that land is scarce and extremely expensive to acquire in Kuala Lumpur.
Unless, of course, if the required land is already owned and earmarked by Kuala Lumpur City Hall. However, if there's little or none, are there altruistic landowners willing to spare the space and allow theirs to be acquired?
It's hard to say, especially after City Hall had been exposed in 2018 for selling parcels of land in dubious deals. So, the question remains, where are the homes going to be constructed, or whether existing buildings ought to be retrofitted? Or will City Hall classify certain areas as "retirement" enclaves, adorned with the necessary zoning permissions?
Second, will funding for this grand gesture, not just from construction costs but also maintenance to cover not only building care but also the elderly who inhabit them, be sliced off from City Hall's substantive annual budget?
As much as many developers would like to claim that they are altruistic, construction of such homes still need millions in funds.
Of course, there's no shortage of developers willing to construct retirement homes, as long as they are provided the land and funding.
It would be ideal if City Hall follows up on this retirement home recommendation as soon as possible because, off-hand, it's difficult to sieve through the complicated nature of this blueprint.
The quickest method to set up retirement homes would be to acquire or assist current establishments, and expand them to cater to the growing number of the elderly by 2040.
Still, proprietors of retirement homes would want to take a peek into the Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2018 on the required conditions before embarking on these projects.
For one, there's a massive heap of red tape: regulations, submission of plans, care models and staff qualifications must be reviewed and approved by various ministries and agencies, followed by consistent enforcement.
We hope that these complexities can be addressed in time for the middle-aged now to enjoy in their golden years.