Most care givers do not want to leave their loved ones in a nursing home. However, situations may arise that make placing the patient in an institution a necessity and no longer a choice. These include:

At that point, intermediate or skilled nursing-care may be required on a short, medium term or even permanent basis.

It is a difficult decision to make, but often necessary.

Types of Facilities

In Malaysia, there are broadly 3 categories of nursing facilities

These services are provided for by government, non-governmental organisations (NGO) or for profit set-ups. The majority of facilities however are of the long-term or permanent type. Some of the centers are staffed by trained nurses, others by semi or non-medically qualified aids. Occasionally, there may be a visiting doctor or therapist.

There is formal legislation concerning the set up and running of nursing home services in Malaysia. However it is quite common to see a wide degree of difference between the quality of care provided by these set-ups. Therefore, it is prudent to do some research on the centers before deciding the best one for the patient. These include:

Determine the type of care which is needed

Patients who need help for basic activities of daily living (eg. bathing, toileting, eating) would require nursing care (essentially non-medical care and can be administered by aids rather than medical personnel.) These more dependent patients (who are not expected to regain function either because of advanced disease conditions or poor potential) are usually long-term residents. Your doctor would be the best person to tell you whether the patient has good potential or not to regain his/her functions. Therefore, before deciding on the type of nursing home, it is wise to speak to the doctor beforehand for the patients prognosis.

Residents who need rehabilitative therapy and medications in addition to nursing care are candidates for intermediate care. Intermediate care is delivered by licensed therapists and registered or licensed practical nurses. They may be expected to stay for the short to medium-term only and be back to the community once he/she regains function.

Short-term care is needed when a care giver needs a short break from his/her duties either for a rest or maybe a short trip. This is known as respite care. During this time, the care givers duties are taken over by the nursing home staff and the patient goes back home once the care givers return.

Patients, who are living with their care givers but are alone when they are working for example, may benefit from a daycare center. Such centers may even have a day programme for patients focusing on various aspects eg rehabilitation, dementia etc.

Finances

Nursing-care maybe expensive, so the type of facilities and services you choose maybe limited by the funds available. The government homes are subsidized while the NGO-run ones charge a nominal fee. For profit-groups are the most common types in Malaysia. Care givers may apply for some assistance from the Welfare Department or Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat. Religious bodies (eg. the respective state’s Jabatan Agama Islam) or the local Wakil Rakyat’s office may also be sources for possible assistance.

Things to Look Out For

You should look for facilities that offer the type of care needed, are geographically-convenient (so that you can visit the patient often and easily), are within your price range, and most importantly have available beds.

The next step is to arrange a personal inspection visit and enquire about:

Always look at a few set-ups before deciding on your choice and visit the place often to see the patient to ensure that he/she is receiving the best care possible.