A medical emergency button offers older people who live alone a direct way to call for help, adding a layer of reassurance while supporting independent living. (Envato Elements pic)IPOH: For many older Malaysians, staying in their own home is an important part of retaining independence. But as more senior citizens begin living alone, a more uncomfortable question is emerging - who notices when something goes wrong?
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2025, 18.8% of Malaysians aged 60 and above - about 770,800 people - now live alone, up from 6.3% in 2018.
At the same time, only about 600,000 of the country’s 4.2 million senior citizens meet the health ministry’s criteria for “healthy ageing”, which include being able to live independently, having strong social support and keeping chronic illnesses under control.
