"... Professor Datuk Norma Mansor, Director of the University of Malaya’s Social Wellbeing Research Centre added that protecting the elderly must be a shared effort across government, private sectors, and communities..." - Focus Malaysia, 28 October 2025
Malaysia's rapidly ageing population is facing a crisis in dementia care, which is largely overlooked and placing an unprecedented burden on families. With an estimated 200,000 to 216,000 older adults currently living with dementia, this figure is projected to reach 668,000 by 2050.
The healthcare infrastructure is critically unprepared, with fewer than 70 geriatricians serving the entire nation, leading to frequent under-diagnosis. Caregivers are experiencing severe burnout as they manage complex, round-the-clock needs with scarce resources and little support. Compounding this, many families only seek help when symptoms become severe.
The economic toll is substantial, costing the country an estimated RM7.9 billion to RM8.5 billion in 2022, nearly 0.5% of GDP, which includes lost productivity and unpaid family caregiving. Experts are urging the government to expedite the Senior Citizens Bill and fully implement the National Dementia Action Plan to invest in trained professionals, accessible community care, and public awareness. They stress that dementia must be seen as a public health emergency, not a private family burden, to withstand the weight of an ageing future.