When it comes to careers that pay well, elderly care may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
However, a training initiative in Perak is showing that the field has the potential to become a professional and high-income career path, with some participants reportedly earning between RM7,000 and RM15,000 a month.
Some trainees earn up to RM15,000 monthly
Perak Women, Family, Social Welfare, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman Datuk Salbiah Mohamed said the achievement proves that elderly care has strong potential as a professional field.
She added that it can also help improve the economic status of those who take part in such training programmes, reported Kosmo!.
“So far, we only provide certificates of completion. There is still no proper accreditation because there is no body that can officially recognise it, including at the federal level.”
“But with this certificate, we can see that they are able to offer services at a rate that even surprised me, with some participants earning RM7,000 to RM15,000 a month,” she said.
356 individuals trained since 2023
According to Salbiah, a total of 356 individuals have been trained under the initiative since 2023.
The training was carried out through the TVET Kursus Kaigo Lite: The Essence of Caregiving programme and the Professional Certification Elderly Care Course.
The programmes aim to equip participants with proper caregiving skills, especially as demand for elderly care services continues to grow.
Perak wants to retain trained caregivers
At the same time, Salbiah said the state government is looking into ways to retain trained caregivers in Perak.
This comes as many participants choose to work in other states despite the rising demand for elderly caregivers within Perak itself.
She said the state is currently refining efforts to ensure more trained workers remain in Perak to meet local needs.
The development also highlights how elderly care, which is often seen as a support-based role, can be turned into a sustainable and professional career with the right training and recognition.
