Ageing Malaysia: Children caring for parents hope Budget 2026 will ease their burden
Families are hoping that eldercare policies, healthcare incentives and financial reliefs will be given more weight to ease their struggles.
SHAH ALAM - Malaysia is on the path to becoming a rapidly ageing nation, with projections indicating that by 2030, 15 per cent of its population will be aged 60 and above.
This demographic shift poses pressing questions on how families, especially adult children, can cope with the demands of caring for ageing parents while juggling careers, financial commitments and personal well-being.
The reality of ageing parents often falls heavily on the shoulders of their children, many of whom face not only financial pressure but also physical and emotional strain in providing round-the-clock care.
As the government will table Budget 2026 next month, families are hoping that eldercare policies, healthcare incentives and financial reliefs will be given more weight to ease their struggles.
For Carolin Liza Cross, 44, an entrepreneur, the responsibility of caring for her elderly parents has meant restructuring her life and finances.
She explained that government support remains minimal, with social welfare assistance far from adequate.
"Taking care of the elderly is not easy. The welfare department only gives three packets of adult diapers a month, which isn’t even enough for a single month.
"On top of that, some parents require dialysis, which means countless hospital trips, ambulance calls and weekly check-ups. If you’re a middle-class family without a car, it’s impossible to keep up with these costs," she told Sinar Daily.
Liza believes the government should adopt a more proactive healthcare monitoring system, such as weekly nurse visits.
“For stroke patients and those on dialysis, there should be a nurse assigned to check on them weekly. Waiting three months for a hospital review can make conditions worse, especially for diabetic wounds.
"I had to withdraw my Employment Provident Fund (EPF) just to bring my mother to a private hospital when government hospitals didn’t provide proper treatment. These are things families shouldn’t have to face alone," she added.
She also highlighted the economic toll on caregivers, noting that many adult children are forced to step back from their careers to care for their aging parents.
"Some children sacrifice their careers to look after their parents full-time. But when we hit our 30s or 40s, most companies don’t want to hire us anymore.
"The government should look into supporting children who become full-time caregivers, because otherwise we risk falling into poverty ourselves," she said.
Beyond medical care, Liza also called for subsidies on elderly nutrition.
"Milk powders for the elderly are very expensive and many families just cannot afford them. It would help tremendously if the government could relook at subsidies for this," she said.
Meanwhile, Nur Suhailah Sharudin, 28, a customer service officer, represents the younger generation of Malaysians who are already juggling the responsibilities of caring for aging parents while establishing their careers.
"What many don’t realise is that young adults like me are not medically trained to handle stroke, dementia or diabetic care at home.
"I hope the government will allocate funds for workshops or short courses to train family caregivers with basic nursing knowledge. It would make a big difference," she said.
Suhailah also stressed the financial pressures faced by working families, noting that sudden illnesses or chronic conditions among elderly parents often lead to mounting hospital expenses
"Whenever parents fall sick, the medical bills can be overwhelming. I think the government should introduce a low-cost insurance or special medical scheme for senior citizens, so children don’t have to bear all the costs out-of-pocket," she said.
She believes Budget 2026 should also prioritise affordable community solutions.
“We need more elderly day-care centres, so children who are working have a safe place to send their parents during the day.
"Employers too should be encouraged to provide flexible hours, remote work options or caregiver leave and the government can incentivise them to do so,” she said.
Tax reliefs remain another major concern for families supporting ageing parents.
"Expanding personal tax reliefs for children caring for their elderly parents would be a big help.
"Many of us are still building our careers but already paying for medical costs and home care, so every bit of relief counts," she added. Suhailah added.
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