Kelantan Welfare Dept allocates RM4.5m monthly to help over 9k senior citizens

The Kelantan Social Welfare Department allocates RM4.5 million for the monthly expenses of 9,034 senior citizens aged 60 and above across the state.

Its director Said Sidup said the department also spends more than RM1.3 million a month to help bedridden patients by providing assistance of RM500 monthly through their respective caregivers.

“The list of recipients is updated every year in addition to visits and monitoring to ensure their welfare is well taken care of.

“Apart from that, the department, in collaboration with St John Ambulance and related health agencies, provides courses and training in managing bedridden patients to 274 volunteers,” he told reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the St John Ambulance Home Nursing Care Community Course at the District Education Office Training Centre in Pasir Puteh yesterday.

Said said the 274 volunteers were also responsible for treating more than 3,000 bedridden patients in their respective homes.

“The majority of caregivers lack the expertise to care for stroke patients and those involved in road accidents.

“This training includes the proper method of administering medicine and exercising to ensure that patients recover quickly,” he added.

The department will work with various parties including NGOs and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Kubang Kerian to organise the course in 10 districts in Kelantan, he said.

- Bernama