Budget 2027: ‘NICE’ Integrated Care Centre Brings Hope For A More Meaningful Old Age

By Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Growing old should mean more than having a roof over one’s head and receiving proper care. It should also mean being loved, living independently and continuing to feel valued as part of the community.

For 68-year-old Lawrence Cheng, the hope is that old age will not simply mean depending on others for care, but also having the freedom to stay active, maintain social connections, and lead a meaningful life.

That is why he hopes the National Integrated Care Centre (NICE), proposed in Penang under Budget 2027, will make a real difference to the lives of senior citizens.

“As we grow older, we need more than just a place where we can receive care. We also need spaces where we can stay active, share our experiences, continue learning and contribute to society.

“I hope NICE can become a centre that encourages older people to live meaningful and independent lives,” the retired factory engineer told Bernama recently.

Cheng said NICE’s services should be accessible to all, particularly low-income senior citizens and those living alone, so that no one has to face old age without support.

While tabling Budget 2027, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also Finance Minister, announced plans to develop two NICE centres in Penang and Sarawak to provide training, research and care for older persons as the country prepares for an ageing population.

Emmy Chong, director of VHome Care Centre, an elderly care centre here, said NICE could help expand access to safer, higher-quality and more consistent care, while enabling families to obtain support suited to their needs and financial circumstances.

She said the needs of older persons were becoming increasingly diverse, particularly among those who were bedridden, living with dementia or required long-term care. Meeting these needs required sufficient numbers of trained caregivers who were patient and empathetic.

“We hope NICE can serve as a coordination centre linking training, expertise, resources and support for NGOs and care centre operators.

“It should go beyond training alone and provide practical support that addresses the real challenges faced by care centres, including financial assistance, professional consultancy and care facilities,” she said.

Emmy said staff shortages increased caregivers’ workloads, limiting the time they could spend with each resident, even though caring for older persons required adequate staffing, proper training, patience and empathy.

She said rising costs of food, disposable diapers, medicines, care equipment, utilities, maintenance and staff salaries continued to strain the finances of care centre operators, who had to balance affordability, staff welfare and residents’ safety without compromising basic needs or the quality of care.

She proposed that NICE work with the government to provide targeted operating grants, equipment assistance, placement programmes for trained caregivers, and advisory services on infection control, nutrition, dementia care and palliative care.

Meanwhile, State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said NICE could strengthen expertise in elderly care and help families struggling to manage the daily needs of ageing parents and other family members.

She said nearly 220,000 senior citizens aged 60 and above were registered under the state’s i-Sejahtera programme, although the total number of older persons, including those not registered, remained unknown.

Based on the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s 2026 population estimates, Penang has about 1.81 million residents, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 8.8 per cent, or approximately 159,000 people. This was up from 8.4 per cent in 2025.

“The establishment of the centre is most welcome as Penang faces growing demand for elderly care. This reinforces the need to expand care services and provide an environment where older persons can continue to live independently,” she said.

-- BERNAMA