Kuala Lumpur:The Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, has launched the Elderly Caregiver Education Standards and Qualifications Framework. This initiative aims to enhance professionalism among elderly caregivers in Malaysia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the book was launched at the T.J. Danaraj Medical Library, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (UM), on October 30. It introduces an eight-level educational qualifications framework that provides clearer career pathways in the country's care sector.
The framework was jointly developed by UM's Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Nursing in collaboration with the National Council of Women's Organisations Malaysia (NCWO). It is based on the principles of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) and provides a structured approach to caregiver education, ranging from basic training to higher education.
The book serves as a guide for higher education institutions, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers, industry players, and relevant agencies to develop structured, competency-based education programs. It aims to create clearer career progression opportunities for caregivers.
The initiative is significant given Malaysia's changing demographics, with 8.0 percent of the population expected to be aged 65 and above by 2025, increasing the demand for trained and competent caregivers. It also supports the Malaysia Care Strategic Framework and Action Plan 2026-2030, particularly Strategic Thrust 2 Competency and Career Pathways, led by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM).
NCWO president Prof Emerita Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin highlighted the importance of developing a skilled caregiving workforce to ensure quality care and encourage greater participation of women in the workforce. She noted that caregiving responsibilities often fall on women, forcing some to leave their jobs to care for family members. Trained and professional caregivers can ease this burden and create more job opportunities in the care sector.
Sharifah Hapsah also stressed the importance of caregiver welfare, including mental health support and adequate skills training, to reduce the risk of burnout. She emphasized that improving the quality of life for older persons requires collective efforts from the government, families, non-governmental organizations, industry players, and academic institutions to build a more sustainable care ecosystem.