Caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: Current perspectives in Malaysia

As dementia has been declared a global health crisis by the World Health Organization, this perspective paper aims to shed light on the current state of dementia care in Malaysia. The paper first outlines several barriers to dementia care in Malaysia. The shortage of geriatric specialists hampers th...

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Main Authors: Ken Joey Loh, Alvin Lai Oon Ng, Yook Chin Chia, Wan Ling Lee, Devi Mohan, Elil Renganathan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia 2024-12-01
Series:Malaysian Family Physician
Subjects:
Online Access:https://e-mfp.org/wp-content/uploads/19.69_27Dec24.pdf
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author Ken Joey Loh
Alvin Lai Oon Ng
Yook Chin Chia
Wan Ling Lee
Devi Mohan
Elil Renganathan
author_facet Ken Joey Loh
Alvin Lai Oon Ng
Yook Chin Chia
Wan Ling Lee
Devi Mohan
Elil Renganathan
author_sort Ken Joey Loh
collection DOAJ
description As dementia has been declared a global health crisis by the World Health Organization, this perspective paper aims to shed light on the current state of dementia care in Malaysia. The paper first outlines several barriers to dementia care in Malaysia. The shortage of geriatric specialists hampers the accessibility of dementia care and resources. There are also systemic barriers that hinder primary care physicians and family physicians from conducting early detection and providing more comprehensive dementia care. The lack of dementia-focused community services and public education further compounds issues for peopleliving with dementia (PLWD) and their informal caregivers (ICs). Consequently, ICs suffer mentally from caregiving demands, yet evidence-based psychosocial services to support them are scarce in Malaysia. This paper wraps up with recommendations aligning with Malaysia’s national plans and policies to prepare the nation for current and future dementia care needs.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1985-2274
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia
record_format Article
series Malaysian Family Physician
spelling doaj-art-7401c441022f4a1696dd895d51e36a182025-01-26T06:52:57ZengAcademy of Family Physicians of MalaysiaMalaysian Family Physician1985-22742024-12-01196910.51866/cm.674Caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: Current perspectives in MalaysiaKen Joey LohAlvin Lai Oon NgYook Chin ChiaWan Ling LeeDevi MohanElil RenganathanAs dementia has been declared a global health crisis by the World Health Organization, this perspective paper aims to shed light on the current state of dementia care in Malaysia. The paper first outlines several barriers to dementia care in Malaysia. The shortage of geriatric specialists hampers the accessibility of dementia care and resources. There are also systemic barriers that hinder primary care physicians and family physicians from conducting early detection and providing more comprehensive dementia care. The lack of dementia-focused community services and public education further compounds issues for peopleliving with dementia (PLWD) and their informal caregivers (ICs). Consequently, ICs suffer mentally from caregiving demands, yet evidence-based psychosocial services to support them are scarce in Malaysia. This paper wraps up with recommendations aligning with Malaysia’s national plans and policies to prepare the nation for current and future dementia care needs.https://e-mfp.org/wp-content/uploads/19.69_27Dec24.pdfdementiacaregiversageingpublic healthmalaysia
spellingShingle Ken Joey Loh
Alvin Lai Oon Ng
Yook Chin Chia
Wan Ling Lee
Devi Mohan
Elil Renganathan
Caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: Current perspectives in Malaysia
Malaysian Family Physician
dementia
caregivers
ageing
public health
malaysia
title Caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: Current perspectives in Malaysia
title_full Caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: Current perspectives in Malaysia
title_fullStr Caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: Current perspectives in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: Current perspectives in Malaysia
title_short Caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: Current perspectives in Malaysia
title_sort caring for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers current perspectives in malaysia
topic dementia
caregivers
ageing
public health
malaysia
url https://e-mfp.org/wp-content/uploads/19.69_27Dec24.pdf
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