A New Chapter for Aging in Penang: Building Stronger Communities Through Integrated Community Care (ICC)

Not long ago, I found myself saying—half joking, half serious—“If I don’t use my overseas experience and strong community-healthcare networks now, nothing will change by the time I’m 60. And by then, I may no longer have the drive.”

That moment sparked the creation of SITI Network, and with it, our mission to shift how we care for our aging population—starting with community.

Malaysia, like many other countries, is facing the sharp rise of an aging population. For the sandwich generation (like myself), balancing young children and elderly parents is becoming increasingly complex. When aging parents need care, the options often fall short:

Give up your job to be the caregiver,
Hire a foreign helper with little formal training,
Or place them in a costly nursing home that may not guarantee quality care.

But what if we didn’t have to choose between work and family?

What if everyday people could be empowered to provide better care—for themselves, their parents, and their communities?

This is the heart of Integrated Community Care (ICC).

🌱 What Is ICC?

Integrated Community Care (ICC) is a global movement that reimagines care as a community responsibility. It invites citizens, health professionals, NGOs, governments, and private sectors to co-produce care and wellbeing—locally, inclusively, and sustainably.

Unlike traditional systems where healthcare is siloed and top-down, ICC calls for:

Micro-level change: Individuals are empowered to set their health goals and contribute to their care.
Meso-level support: Communities and neighborhoods build support systems, networks, and trust.
Macro-level transformation: Policies shift from centralized control to distributed, place-based governance.

In short, ICC means: Care is everyone’s business.

About ICC:

💡 Why Penang Needs This Now

The current system puts a heavy load on families. We see:

Caregiver burnout rising.
Gaps in nursing home capacity and affordability.
Foreign helpers without adequate elder care skills.
A growing sense of helplessness as parents age.

At the same time, our Asian values of filial piety still matter deeply. Many want to age at home, surrounded by family—not institutional walls. But to do that, we need skills, support, and systems in place. ICC offers a roadmap for that future.

🧓 Introducing the ElderSitter Workshop: Our First Step

To spark this change, SITI Network—together with community partners—has launched Penang’s first ElderSitter Workshop. It's a one-day introduction to essential elder care skills for families, retirees, volunteers, and anyone passionate about aging well.

💚 But it’s not just a training session. It’s a movement starter.

We are:

Educating citizens about elder care basics (mobility, communication, medication, hygiene).
Celebrating role models of active aging who inspire and lead.
Creating space for dialogue among NGOs, medical professionals, and the public.
Empowering community members to consider elder care as a personal and professional path.

As we say in SITI Network: “Care with Heart, Support with Skills.”

🌏 The ICC Vision: What We’re Building

Inspired by global ICC practices—such as Foundry Canada, Mirafiori Sud in Italy, and the First Nations Health Authority in BC—we believe:

Everyone has something to offer, even if not formally trained.
Communities thrive when everyone feels they belong.
Health isn’t just medical—it’s social, emotional, cultural, and economic.

Through small, grassroots steps, we can:

Build dementia-friendly neighborhoods
Create networks of trained elder sitters
Engage retirees as community caregivers
Use participatory models of learning and community currencies for sustainability

🙌 What You Can Do

Join our Elder Sitter Workshop (limited seats!): Sign up here
Read our story: Coming Together for a Better Aging Society in Penang
Start a conversation with your family, workplace, or neighborhood about elder care

🧭 The Path Ahead

This isn’t a one-day solution. The workshop is just the first brick in a foundation of lifelong learning. We’re planning follow-up training modules, support networks, and policy dialogues.

But most of all, we’re inviting you to join us in shaping a new future for aging in Penang. One that’s inclusive, connected, and compassionate.

Because aging is inevitable.

But how we age—together—can be our greatest triumph. Read more: https://www.sitinetwork.net/post/coming-together-for-a-better-aging-society-in-penang

SITI Network 09/04.2025