Cover image via Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
Individuals working in elderly care services can earn up to RM15,000 a month, said Perak Women, Family, Social Welfare, Entrepreneur, and Cooperatives Development Committee chairperson Datuk Salbiah Mohamed
According to Bernama, the state's technical and vocational education and training (TVET) elderly care programme, introduced in 2023, is projected to generate RM1.75 million in cumulative income for its practitioners.
Salbiah said 66% of graduates from the Professional Certification Elderly Care Course under the Santunan Kasih initiative reported higher monthly incomes as of December, while 25% had doubled their earnings.
Since the programme was implemented three years ago, it has produced 356 graduates. It was conducted in collaboration with strategic partners, including UniKL Royal College of Medicine Perak (RCMP), Sunshine Qualicare Sdn Bhd, Retirement and Recreation Management Sdn Bhd, and the Malaysian Association of Social Care and Care Home Professionals (MASOC Care).
"Currently, we can only provide certificates of completion as there is no formal accreditation body for this field, even at the federal level.
"However, the skills acquired have enabled participants to offer elderly care services, with some earning between RM7,000 and RM15,000 a month," she told reporters on Tuesday, 7 July.
The state executive councillor added that 66% of the programme's graduates are now directly involved in providing elderly care services, while the rest are applying their skills to care for their own family members
Salbiah said some have even turned their expertise into social enterprises by establishing businesses in the elderly care sector.
She said the state is looking for ways to support these entrepreneurs, adding that she hopes the federal government will establish a formal accreditation system or recognised body for elderly care services to ensure caregivers' skills are officially recognised.
She said such efforts would strengthen the industry as Malaysia moves towards becoming an ageing nation.
