Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Aged Care Providers Association (SACPA) has been established to strengthen collaboration within the aged care sector and address the growing needs of Sabah’s ageing population.
The decision to form the association was made during its second meeting, attended by representatives from residential aged care facilities, faith-based care organisations, caregiver training providers and academia.
SACPA aims to serve as a platform to a workforce development, healthy ageing, ageing-in-place initiatives, community-based care and long-term care services across Sabah.
A pro-tem committee has been elected to oversee the preparation of the association’s constitution, recruit founding members and facilitate registration with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
Pro-Tem President Kent Chau Tak Bin said Sabah is facing increasing demand for caregivers, home care services, senior day care programmes and long-term care support as its population continues to age.
“The purpose of forming the association is not only to provide a collective voice for the sector, but also to strengthen collaboration, share best practices and support the development of a sustainable caregiver workforce for Sabah,” he said.
Chau noted that many families are facing increasing challenges in caring for their elderly relatives, particularly when younger family members are working and unable to provide full-time care at home.
“As Sabah’s population ages, there is a growing need for trained caregivers, home care services, day care programmes for senior citizens and long-term care facilities to support both older persons and their families,” he said.
SACPA members led by Pro Tem President Kent Chau.Chau said the association also hopes to work closely with government agencies, educational institutions, non-governmental organisations and community groups to advance healthy ageing and long-term care initiatives.
Among the immediate priorities identified by the pro-tem committee are finalising the association’s constitution, recruiting founding members, completing ROS registration and engaging stakeholders to support sector development.
Once officially registered, SACPA aims to become a representative body for aged care providers and related stakeholders while promoting quality care and sustainable long-term care services for older persons in Sabah.
