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Kota Kinabalu: An effort to bring rural youth into the caregiving industry is now underway, aiming to turn them into skilled workers who can help address Malaysia’s aging population.At present, very few young people are entering this field, leaving a critical gap in trained carers. 

By equipping rural communities with the right skills and knowledge, initiatives like CarersPlus hope to prepare the next generation to meet the growing demand for elderly care.

CarersPlus, founded by Maria Kinson and her husband Greg King, is leading the way. Their goal is to ensure that young people are ready to look after the elderly with compassion, skill and respect.

To meet this challenge, they have extended their outreach into remote villages such as Kg Terian and Kg Longkogungan in Penampang. Their mission is to give youth in these isolated communities the chance to be trained as carers, opening pathways to meaningful careers in a field that will be increasingly important in the years ahead.

“This is one of the ways we believe it is possible to address the challenges of an aging society. By giving opportunities to these isolated communities, especially the youth who are the driving force of the future and equipping them with the right skills and knowledge, we can narrow the gap in caring for the elderly,” Greg said.

The centre currently operates in Bundusan, which is still being improved and developed. It has already prepared SKM Level 2 and Level 3 accreditation, working closely with government agencies to ensure the training meets national standards. The modules were designed by Maria herself, drawing on her experience as a former staff nurse.

So far, 16 trainees have graduated and eight of them have been recruited into premium aged care centres in Kuala Lumpur for job placements.

Greg stressed the urgency of the issue, saying: 

“At present, when the elderly fall sick, they are admitted to hospitals. But there is little support for those who are not ill yet still need daily assistance due to age-related physical decline. Without proper systems in place, families and institutions will struggle to cope with the growing demand for care.”

“CarersPlus is showing one way forward. By preparing youth to step into caregiving roles, Sabah can begin to build the support structures needed for its aging population. Addressing the silver-head tsunami will require more initiatives like this, combining government support, community involvement and professional training to ensure that the elderly are cared for with dignity and that society is ready for the changes ahead,” he added.

He noted there was a study that Malaysia is ageing fast. By 2030, 14 per cent of the population will be over 60 where three in every 20 Malaysians. By 2045, that figure will rise to 20 per cent, or one in every five. Within that wave is a sharper surge: those over 80, as the post-war baby boomers enter their most vulnerable years.

What fills the gap today is largely invisible: undocumented foreign domestic workers, uncertified and untrained, caring for Malaysia’s elderly in homes and facilities. 

It is a system built on low-cost and low accountability, with consequences falling on the most vulnerable people in society.

He said the “silver-head tsunami,” a wave of elderly citizens who will require care and support, is looming, yet many Malaysians remain unaware of the impact this demographic shift will have on families, healthcare and society.

Maria and Greg are also planning to expand into other districts, including Ranau, to raise awareness and encourage more young people to see caregiving as a viable career path. 

By reaching out to rural communities, CarersPlus hopes to create interest in the industry among younger generations and highlight the growing need for trained carers in Malaysia’s aging society.

For more information, members of the public can enquire via 088-715885 or 011-10593389.