Sibu: The five-week Elderly Care Assistant Training Programme held at Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI) here recently has been hailed as very beneficial for the participants to not only serve and contribute to the community but their family elderly members.
in an interview with the New Sarawak Tribune, one of the 12 participants, Moh Su Hung, 49, shared that she joined the programme because from time to time, she would hear relatives and friends around her detailing their exhaustion, helplessness, anxiety, and even injuries while taking care of elderly family members.
Stating that Malaysia’s elderly population was increasing each year, she admitted there were elderly members in her own family as well and if she had to take care of them one day, she had to equip herself with the skills to do so effectively, ensuring their well-being and safeguarding her own.
On the course’s important lessons, Moh said she came to understand the various biological changes that came with ageing, including mobility issues, hearing decline, various illnesses and this helped her to develop patience, loving and compassion when living with elderly individuals.
She said recognising these changes enabled her to consider their biologicial and psychological needs, employ learned skills and engage in effective communication.
“The peak of this course involved supervised practical training in an elderly care centre, where we applied theoretical knowledge to tasks such as bed bathing, wheelchair bathing, wound dressing, tube feeding, basic physiotherapy and daily health monitoring procedures.
This hands-on experience boosts our confidence in caring for the elderly in the future.
“Majority of the households have elderly individuals and enrolling in elderly care courses equips us with the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes for effective caregiving,” she said.
Thus, she encouraged each family to have at least one member undergo such training as it would not only uphold the dignity of the elderly but also improve their overall quality of life.Caregivers, armed with the correct skills, could safeguard themselves, minimise the risk of injury, and foster a harmonious family environment, Moh said, adding the training programme had benefitted and changed her.
Another participant, Liew Kim Piew, 63, who attended the elder care course said, “i am a retired person. of late, i have seen myself and my relatives and friends around me getting older day by day
“Many people are also beginning to face some conditions of the elderly, such as weak legs, back pain, poor vision, etc. i began to face a lot of inconveniences in my daily life and needed help from others too.
“but the children are busy with their own affairs. they have their own families to take care of, and they have to work hard for their careers and there aren’t much time to take care of their elderly parents. it’s not easy for everyone.
“Because of this, i decided to take the elderly caregiver course in order to not make my children suffer too much in the future,” he said.
Liew pointed out that in Malaysia, as the population was gradually ageing, there would be more and more nursing homes, institutions similar to nursing homes for the elderly, or hospice care centres in the future.
“Naturally, more caretakers for the elderly are also needed. I think if I can do some volunteer or semi-retirement work within my ability and I can have goals and live a more meaningful life, why don’t I do it?
“The knowledge and skills i learned from the course enabled me to take care of myself and those around me, killing two birds with one stone.”of course, after taking this course, i have gai
ned a little more knowledge and skills in elder care. this also helps me to share them with relatives, friends or people in need. at the same time, i also let them know that MPI offers such courses.
“Through this course, besides having the knowledge and correct skills of elder care, i have also gained a deeper understanding of elder care and professional respect for caregivers.”
Meanwhile, Ling Chung Jiew, 22, who also attended the training programme, said her purpose was to learn more about nursing.
through the course, she said, she learned that caregivers needed to be equipped to ensure the safety and comfort of both the caregiver and the person being cared for.
She highlighted that in view of the ageing society, learning correct elderly care skills was important.
“This course helped me to have more contacts and understanding of the elderly group, and cultivated in me more care and respect for the elderly,” Ling added.
