Kuala Lampur, July 10 -- An elderly society is becoming increasingly prevalent in Malaysia at present. It is projected that the percentage of residents aged 65 and above will continue to increase over the coming decades, reaching about 8 per cent in first quarter of 2026, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

This pattern results from two factors that are changing the way society cares for its elderly: increased life expectancy and declining birth rates. Older people in Malaysia have long relied on their families, especially their offspring, for financial and emotional assistance. Yet, due to enormous social and economic shifts, this reliance is progressively eroding.

Family values and the passing of duty from one g...