SIBU, Dec 16: The implementation of the Care Centres Act 1993 (amended 2006) is a welcome move as it helps to regulate establishments such as homes for the aged.
The act came into effect in West Malaysia about three years ago but will only take effect in Sarawak next year.
All care centres will have to register with the Welfare Department before they are allowed to operate.
Sibu Benevolent Society vice-chairman Robert Chew said today that once the act is enforced here, all care centres in the state will be run in a more orderly and proper manner.
“The act was enforced in West Malaysia three years ago but it will be extended to the state next year. Without the act, anybody can just set up a care centre such as for senior citizens. With one act to govern all the elderly care centres and nursing homes, there will be better adherence to regulations and a rise in standard of living in such homes,” said Chew.
In West Malaysia, he added, most homes for the aged operate on a commercial basis. Previously, some had only few workers.
According to him, the act “should be good” as it regulates the operation of these establishments in a proper manner, such as requiring those with residents with special needs to employ nurses to tend to their needs.
As for Sibu Benevolent Society, he said they had completed a self-evaluation about two weeks ago.
“We self-evaluated ourselves and will submit our first report to the Welfare Department before the end of this month. They will do the marking online. If they feel that we are weak in certain areas, we will have to rectify them,” he said.
Chew revealed that his care centre which currently looks after 31 residents, would not be turned into a commercial entity.
“If we commercialise our centre, we would have nurses and medical personnel like doctors,” he said. — DayakDaily
