06/07/2025

ON SUNDAY JULY 6, 2025 theSunday Special III

Faezah with the residents that she calls nenek .

“These mental health issues are usually caused by unfortunate life events such as loss of loved ones, financial problems and abandonment. These women have gone through a lot of trauma. Some are well-educated, have great careers and have blossomed wealth, but they reside here now due to unfortunate downturns. We try to get them back on their feet and rise above their problems,” said Faezah. Taking care of mentally ill older adults is not easy. It takes a lot of time, patience and self-learning. Nothing can prepare you for what’s to come because these older adults are unpredictable. Some people might hesitate at the thought of placing a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility, believing it’s better to keep them at home or with family. However, it can benefit everyone when care is available

around the clock from trained profession als whose full-time role is to provide the support and attention the elderly need. At Mesra Home, Faezah has three other caregivers working around the clock, handling the daily operation, while another two part-timers are in charge of administration and communication. The food is freshly prepared in the kitchen. The home is not luxurious, but comfortable with individual beds, good air ventilation and clean bathrooms. Faezah created a very basic yet friendly environment for the home’s residents. There are always smiles and laughter despite the circumstances. “I love to sing, so I entertain the resi dents by singing with them on my karaoke machine. To nourish their souls, there must be a healthy balance between spiritu ality and entertainment. We also exercise

Older people deserve the best quality of life, especially in their later years.

together to encourage them to stay active. Occasionally, we go on field trips, though they require a lot of planning and effort. I make it a point to talk to each and every one of them, even when they don’t always make sense. Our job is to ensure they don’t slip back into depression and always feel at ease. They deserve the best quality of life, especially in their later years. At Mesra Home, we’re all about TLC – tender loving care,” Faezah said with a smile. Ageing without a safety net A stark reality is at the core of the current situation for these older adults. There are more older adults than there are places they can go or people they can turn to. Some are financially stable but lack mean ingful relationships or family support. Others have strong family ties but struggle financially. Then there are those who are unfortunate in both aspects. These are the people who are now living here under Faezah’s care. It is unfair to blame the offspring for their reluctance to care for their parents and older relatives. Again, taking care of older people is not an easy task. Getting professional help and placing them in a home is the most selfless act of love and kindness. For the elderly with mental health issues, they are best taken care of by the experts who know how to handle them, offer them the proper treatment and give them a sense of community in stead of being left alone because everyone has a full-time job. In Malaysia, we do have policies in place, but when it comes to caring for older adults with mental health issues, there is still a long way to go. The National Policy for Older Persons was introduced in 2011 to help improve the lives of older adults, but its reach is limited, especially when it comes to mental health. The

Mental Health Act 2001 does not focus specifically on older people either. What we need are better laws, more funding and stronger support systems to make sure older adults with mental illnesses are not left behind. Care should be accessible, affordable and tailored to their needs, especially in community care centres where they can feel safe, connected and treated with dignity. “Education is very important. It’s en couraging to see that people are becoming more aware of mental illness, but there’s still a lack of understanding when it comes to mental health issues among the elderly. This is an area that needs more attention. I hope to organise talks and workshops on the subject, where caretakers, family members and others can share knowledge and experiences. “Of course, education alone isn’t enough. Funding is another crucial chal lenge. It has been a struggle from day one. I’m grateful that, in addition to con tributions from family members, we also receive donations and support from kind individuals who step forward to help,” said Faezah with quiet determination. Caring for older adults, particularly those struggling with mental illness, is not something we can keep brushing aside. With more Malaysians living longer, it is time to start having serious conversations about how to support them. Centres like Mesra Home show us what’s possible when care is driven by love and patience. Access to this kind of care shouldn’t be the exception but the norm. We need more homes like Mesra, more dedicated hearts like Faezah’s and a deeper under standing that ageing isn’t just physical – it’s emotional too. With compassion, awareness and action, we can ensure they live their final chapters with the dignity, joy and connection they truly deserve.

Enjoying a good day outdoors, despite all odds.