HOW AGE-FRIENDLY IS OUR CITY?

View of the city from the sky bridge at the Twin Towers

Sometimes one can't help but wonder whether our city fathers and policy-makers consider the special needs of older people when they make decisions on improving the city's infrastructure and public facilities. Do they study the demographics when they brainstorm at meetings?

Admittedly there have been some improvement over the past few years, but there is still much more that City Hall can do to make Kuala Lumpur an age-friendly city.

Here are some suggestions on how City Hall as well as the private sector (and also city dwellers in general) can make it easier for older people to move around in the city, and enjoy a day out on their own or with friends.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Thank goodness the days of the pink mini-buses and their wannabe F1 drivers are gone. It took years but public transport has improved tremendously with the introduction of air-conditioned buses and trains that run on schedule most of the time. There are now free shuttle buses serving Kuala Lumpur city centre and Petaling Jaya township. Senior citizens aged 60 and above enjoy 50% off all fares. Kudos to SPAD for these improvements. When we make enough noise, they listen. (Click here to read some of our previous complaints).

Not a single piece of information on bus routes and bus schedules at these bus-stops. 

All kinds of notices and advertisements, but no information on bus routes

However, information about bus routes is not easily available. Many senior commuters have no clue what buses to take to reach their destinations. They are not internet-savvy, so we can't expect them to go online to check for information. The design of buses leave much to be desired for the elderly who find the steps too high for them to board easily. Only a handful of buses offer wheelchair access. No wonder we hardly see any OKU out on their own in the city.

Facilities at LRT and monorail stations have improved, but stairs like the above can be challenging for the elderly. Not all stations have escalators and lifts, and not all are always in working condition.

Just looking at the stairs is exhausting to an elderly. But how
else to cross the busy road if not by this overhead bridge?

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AND KERBS

A challenge for the elderly to cross busy Jalan Ampang at KLCC. KL drivers are not known for their patience.

The timing device at pedestrian crossings covering more than three lanes should be calibrated to give enough time for the elderly to make it safely across. An example is the Jalan Ampang crossing for KLCC/AvenueK. There used to be a 23-second time gap for pedestrians to make it across the road. The elderly and parents with young children would barely have enough time to reach the opposite side safely. Now that the timed crossing has been replaced with ordinary lights, there is no knowing when the green light will turn amber then red. The elderly will have to cross busy roads at their own risk.

Evidence of poor planning and poor maintenance. No need to say more.

PUBLIC RESTROOMS 

Only squat toilets at this premier department store, and no grab bars. A challenge for older women with knee problems to use these restrooms.

Incontinence is a common problem for most senior citizens. Is it any wonder that they prefer to stay at home than go out to crowded places where the public toilets are either in short supply or in a filthy state? There is also the problem of long lines at the ladies restrooms. There is no priority queuing for elderly ladies. And while on the subject of public loos, how is it possible that one of the biggest departmental stores in the country does NOT have seated toilets in their restrooms? Don't they know that the elderly can't squat because of knee problems?

SHOPPING MALLS

Taking mom out to the mall can be a daunting experience for both of us. Not a single bench to rest weary feet.

Seniors enjoy walking around in shopping malls. The sights and sounds are a source of wonder and amazement to them, especially if they are visiting from the smaller towns. Unfortunately, the lack of facilities for wheelchair access, long lines at washrooms, and few rest areas make an outing to the mall an ordeal for the less abled elderly.

For those interested in knowing what constitutes an age-friendly city, here is WHO's checklist of what an age-friendly city should be and should have. How does Kuala Lumpur fare? To download the checklist, go to
http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Age_friendly_cities_checklist.pdf

KUAN AI NURSING HOME FOR THE ELDERLY

With the rapid rise in the number of older persons looking for assisted living facilities, it is always heartening to hear about the opening of a new nursing home or a retirement home. Last Saturday (1 Nov, 2014) SeniorsAloud was invited to attend the opening of the Kuan Ai Nursing Home in Serdang Jaya, Seri Kembangan, Kuala Lumpur.

Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, was the guest-of-honour. In her speech, she spoke about the urgent need for more nursing homes as Malaysia is fast moving towards becoming an ageing nation by the year 2030. Socio-economic changes have resulted in an increase in the number of elderly people living alone. They often feel lonely and depressed. Perhaps, more importantly, who is there to help should anything happen to them?

Open concept of the office, and (right) nurse manager Ms Angela Lee.

Adult children who are unable to look after their elderly parents for one reaon or another should not feel guilty about putting their loved one in a home, provided it is a home that is well managed and run by qualified staff who are dedicated and committed to providing the best care. The traditional view of filial piety needs to be revamped in keeping with the changing times.

The Kuan Ai Nursing Home is fully licensed with eight qualified and experienced staff members, led by nurse manager Angela Lee, who has an Honours degree in Nursing Science. It was started by a small group of businessmen and academicians who saw the urgent need for a homecare establishment with full facilities for the elderly. Do visit the home and check out the facilities yourself before you decide if you would recommend it to anyone.

(Above): Rooms are bright and well-ventilated. Clients have a choice of 2-bed, 3-bed and 5-bed rooms. Current rates are RM2500, RM2000 and RM1600 respectively. All 21 beds are fully occupied at the moment. There are plans to open the adjacent wing soon to take in more clients.

(Top): The airy and spacious dining area with seats at the side for visitors. (Above): The kitchen. All meals are halal and menus are planned with the nutritional needs of the elderly in mind. Laundry is taken care of and there are weekly visits by a doctor.

(Above): Hand rails and grip bars are installed in all the bathrooms and toilets, as well as along corridors. What is also needed are non-slip tiles and mats, which will probably be added later on.

(Above): Reclining chairs where the elderly can rest or catch a nap during the day. Note the purple curtains which can be drawn to provide some privacy or to convert space into wards. The home is fully air-conditioned for the comfort of the clients.

(Above): An outdoor wash area. A cascading fountain and hanging flower pots. Little touches like these add to the pleasant surroundings of the home. There is a children's playground and garden adjacent to the home where the elderly can enjoy morning strolls.

(Above): The home has a schedule of daily activities for the clients. There are plans to hold celebrations for birthdays, festivals and Parents Day. The home encourages visits by NGOs and private companies.

(Above): Group photo with the Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (in red). Seated: Board of Directors; Back row: Staff nurses with nurse manager Angela Lee (centre).

The oldest client is Mr Teo Kim Ser, a super centenarian. I had the privilege of chatting with him over lunch. Apart from being a little hard of hearing, he could converse easily in English and had clear memories of his early days attending school at St Paul's Institution in his hometown of Seremban. He told me with much pride that he was born in 1913, and worked with OCBC before he retired. One thing I have learned about the elderly is they love to chat. They also enjoy physical contact like hugging and holding hands.

To attend the open day, I took the KTM commuter train to Serdang, and from the station it was a short taxi ride to the nursing home. If you are driving, the home is easy to locate as it is situated in a quiet residential area close to the township of Serdang Jaya.

Opening hours are from 10.00am to 8.00pm daily. Give Angela a call before you drop by. She will be happy to show you around the premises.