https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-borneo-post-sabah/20260705/281689736551325

Beyond hospital walls: Why Sabah needs a community care ecosystem

• The Borneo Post (Sabah)

• 5 Jul 2026

• By Chung Jin Jong

ONE of the greatest healthcare challenges facing Sabah does not begin inside a hospital. It begins when patients return home.

As our population ages and chronic illnesses become increasingly common, more families are finding themselves caring for elderly parents, spouses and loved ones with complex medical needs. For many, discharge from hospital does not mark the end of treatment. Instead, it marks the beginning of caregiving, a responsibility that often arrives without training, guidance or adequate support.

Healthcare extends far beyond hospital walls

The recent discussion surrounding Queen Elizabeth Hospital serves as a timely reminder that healthcare extends far beyond hospital walls. Perennial parking shortages, overcrowded lobbies, and rural caregivers sleeping in corridors reflect the strain on government healthcare facilities.

While much attention has understandably focused on hospital facilities and services, equal attention should be given to what happens after patients leave hospital. Healthcare does not end at the hospital door. For many patients, recovery continues long after discharge, with families and communities playing an equally important role in helping them regain their health and independence.

Healthcare is often associated with doctors, nurses and hospitals. Yet there is another group whose contribution often goes unnoticed, family caregivers. Almost overnight, husbands, wives, sons and daughters become medication supervisors, mobility assistants, companions and emotional anchors. Few have formal training, yet they willingly take on these responsibilities because someone they love depends on them.

In many respects, family caregivers have become Sabah’s largest unpaid care workforce. Their contribution is rarely measured, yet without them our healthcare system would face even greater pressure. Many caregivers juggle employment, financial commitments and their own wellbeing while learning through experience how to care for someone living with limited mobility, chronic illness or age-related frailty. Their resilience deserves recognition, but more importantly, it deserves support.

If Sabah is serious about preparing for an ageing society, we need to broaden our thinking beyond healthcare infrastructure alone. Strong hospitals will always remain essential, but hospitals cannot meet every need on their own. Equally important is building a stronger support system within our communities. This is where Sabah has an opportunity to develop a community care ecosystem, one that connects hospitals, primary healthcare providers, families, community organisations and professional support services into a coordinated network of care.

Such an ecosystem is not about creating another government agency or replacing existing healthcare services. Rather, it is about connecting the strengths that already exist across our society. Hospitals save lives. Primary healthcare manages ongoing health. Home care supports recovery, while communities provide the social support that enables people to continue living with dignity. Together, these elements create a continuum of care that extends well beyond hospital discharge.

Internationally, healthcare systems are increasingly recognising that integrated community care is essential for ageing populations. Transitional care, caregiver education and home-based support have become important strategies for improving patient outcomes while reducing avoidable hospital readmissions. These approaches do not replace hospitals. Instead, they enable hospitals to focus on patients who genuinely require acute care while ensuring others continue recovering safely within their homes and communities.

Sabah already has organisations providing homebased care and caregiver support. Rather than allowing this expertise to remain fragmented, government could strengthen existing capabilities through strategic partnerships, funding support and structured caregiver education programmes delivered through technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, community colleges and local learning centres. Government does not need to provide every service directly. In many instances, its role is to enable, coordinate and support capable community partners that are already making a meaningful contribution.

Government-supported caregiver training could equip family members with practical skills in safe patient handling, medication management, nutrition, wound care, fall prevention and recognising early warning signs. Such programmes would particularly benefit B40 families, rural communities and those caring for elderly or medically fragile relatives. Beyond improving patient care, they would also contribute to workforce development while strengthening Sabah’s emerging care economy.

Alongside formal training, community participation should become another important pillar of the community care ecosystem. Sabah has long been recognised for its strong spirit of volunteerism. Retired healthcare professionals, university students, youth organisations, faith-based groups and community NGOs all represent valuable social capital. With appropriate training and coordination, they could contribute through caregiver support, home visits, health education, respite assistance and social companionship, not as replacements for healthcare professionals, but as valuable partners in supporting patients and families.

Throughout my research and community engagement, one lesson has remained consistent: Lasting solutions rarely come from a single institution. They are built through collaboration, where government provides leadership, communities contribute local capacity, civil society strengthens social support and the private sector brings innovation and expertise. Healthcare should be no exception.

As our society continues to age, the question is no longer whether we need stronger hospitals. We certainly do. The question is whether we are equally committed to building stronger communities that can care for people long after they have left hospital.

Healthcare has never been the responsibility of hospitals alone. It has always been a shared responsibility between healthcare professionals, families and communities. As Sabah prepares for an ageing society, strengthening that partnership may become one of our most important investments.

Building more hospitals will always remain necessary. Building stronger communities that are equipped to care may prove equally important. Ultimately, a resilient healthcare system is measured not only by how well it treats illness, but by how well it enables people to recover, age with dignity and continue living meaningful lives within their own communities.

About the Writer

Chung Jin Jong (ASDK) is an Adjunct Professor at North Borneo University College, Sabah. Her work focuses on smart ageing, community capital and caregiver support, with an emphasis on translating research-informed perspectives into practical community solutions. Through academic engagement, advisory roles, journal publications and public commentaries, she advocates collaborative approaches to building a more prepared, inclusive and future-ready Sabah.

Article Name:Beyond hospital walls: Why Sabah needs a community care ecosystem

Publication:The Borneo Post (Sabah)

Section:Home

Author:By Chung Jin Jong

Start Page:6

End Page:6

Borneo Post 7 June 2026, page 5

https://www.pressreader.com/9e80/20260607/281672556623721

Women as community capital for Sabah’s ageing readiness

• The Borneo Post (Sabah)

• 7 Jun 2026

• By Chung Jin Jong

IKSNITA: Sabahan women help create community wealth by pooling resources, knowledge and capital to uplift entire neighborhoods, including the elderly.

IN SABAH, community capital encompasses social networks, financial resources, skills and infrastructure, which drives local economic resilience, empowerment and sustainability. It enables communities to address complex challenges collectively, reduce poverty and adapt to external disruptions. Specifically, community capital is a critical pillar of Malaysia’s ageing readiness. Rather than relying solely on institutions, ageing readiness should leverage local networks, trust and intergenerational bonds. Community programs should focus on grassroots resilience to enable seniors to age-in-place affordably and actively within their own neighborhoods.

There are three key components of community capital in Sabah. The first component consists of social and cohesive networks, which allows indigenous and local communities to rely on communal support and family ties. The second component revolves around intergenerational programs, which bridges youths and seniors to transfer traditional knowledge and reduce social isolation. The third component is voluntary action involving local NGOs and community volunteers who serve as crucial support bridges, assisting the elderly with daily needs, companionship and accessing healthcare.

In Sabah, community capital comprises local trust, mutual support systems, shared knowledge and civic networks, which is critical for ageing readiness. It enables older persons to age in place independently, prevents isolation and alleviates the burden on formal medical systems.

The first type of community capital is social capital, comprising the networks, trust and reciprocity that allow Sabahans to work together, solve problems and mobilize for collective action. The second type is human capital, comprising the education, skills, health and leadership abilities of individual community members. The third type is natural capital, comprising the environmental assets, biodiversity and ecosystems unique to Sabah. The fourth type is financial capital, comprising the collective wealth, investments, savings and access to funding used to support local businesses and development. The fifth type is built capital, comprising the physical infrastructure, (roads, telecommunications, water systems and buildings) that supports daily life and commerce. The sixth type is cultural capital, comprising the shared traditions, heritage, values and ethnic identities that influence how Sabahans perceive the world and interact. The seventh type is political capital, comprising the ability of Sabahans to influence decision-making, access government resources and hold local institutions accountable.

To promote ageing preparedness, the government, individuals and communities should actively address the physical, financial and social realities of an ageing population. As life expectancies increase, Sabah needs to increase its commitment to structured municipal planning to accommodate older populations. First, urban areas and communities should become more age-friendly to foster safe public spaces, mobility and social inclusion. Second, state frameworks should be implemented to enhance outdoor spaces, local transport and community support for the elderly. Third, more senior centres should be set up to encourage productive ageing and community engagement.

Sabah faces a paradox of plenty, whereby abundant natural resources coexist with some of Malaysia’s highest poverty rates and lowest median wages. This systemic wealth deficit inevitably affects its community capital in an adverse manner. Despite producing vast amounts of crude oil, natural gas and palm oil, much of the revenue historically flows out of Sabah, leaving local communities with limited trickle-down benefits. Additionally, eight of the ten poorest districts in Malaysia are in interior Sabah. Rural areas in Sabah suffer from a lack of basic utilities, including clean water and electricity, hindering local community capital development. Besides, the local economy remains heavily dependent on primary commodities and lowpaying informal jobs, compelling many skilled young Sabahans to migrate for better opportunities. Lastly, Sabah’s reliance on foreign workers in the plantation and construction sectors tends to depress local wage growth, which adversely affects community capital.

Ageing readiness should not be approached solely through capital-intensive institutional models, but also through practical community-based pathways that strengthen social participation, caregiver support, local coordination and ageing-in-place capacity. These considerations are increasingly relevant not only for Sabah, but for Malaysia more broadly as demographic transition accelerates nationally.

In this regard, Persatuan Industri Kecil dan Sederhana Wanita Bumiputra Sabah (IKSNITA) can play a meaningful supporting role. As a communitybased organization and women’s platform, IKSNITA possesses strong grassroots reach, trusted relationships and practical understanding of family and social realities. These qualities position IKSNITA as an important partner in supporting community awareness, wellbeing initiatives and longer-term social preparedness.

Women are a vital source of community capital, driving resilience and wellbeing through essential networks, trust and mutual aid. By organizing care systems, local economies and grassroots initiatives, Sabahan women can bridge gaps in public services and lay the foundation for ageing readiness.

Women-led groups, such as savings clubs, religious organizations and neighborhood watch circles, build the structural and relational networks required for promoting ageing readiness. The high level of trust found in women-driven networks allows members to overcome social barriers, support each other through crises and pool resources.

Women in Sabah can shape human capital by investing in the health, wellness education and nutrition of the elderly. Through daily caregiving and community work, they act as active agents of change, passing down skills and knowledge to youths with regard to elderly care.

As local stewards, Sabahan women can lead grassroots initiatives concerning the health management and wellbeing among the elderly. Their involvement in civic action ensures that local policies and development projects for the elderly are more inclusive and community-focused.

In Sabah, it is important to emphasize ground engagement and direct exposure to healthcare realities across different regions, including rural hospital visits and community-level interaction. Such engagement reflects an understanding that healthcare and wellbeing are shaped not only at the policy level, but also through the lived realities of communities, caregivers, families and local support systems.

As Sabah moves towards an ageing society, preventive health, caregiver readiness, early intervention and communitylevel support systems will become increasingly important components of long-term social resilience and public wellbeing. Community capital for ageing readiness in Sabah should leverage social networks, volunteer participation, informal caregiving arrangements, community coordination and locally embedded support systems, which can strengthen ageing readiness in geographically dispersed and resourceconstrained settings.

Chung Jin Jong (ASDK) is Adjunct Professor at North Borneo University, Sabah. Her current direction focuses on strengthening public understanding of smart ageing, community capital and caregiver support in Sabah. Through academic engagement, advisory roles, journal publications and published public commentaries, she continues to connect researchbased perspectives with practical community needs. Her work supports the advancement of a more prepared, inclusive and future-ready Sabah through smart ageing advocacy, communitybased development, public writing, research-informed perspectives and institutional collaboration.

Article Name:Women as community capital for Sabah’s ageing readiness

Publication:The Borneo Post (Sabah)

Section:Home

Author:By Chung Jin Jong

Start Page:5

End Page:5

Borneo Post 24 May 2026, Page 5

https://www.pressreader.com/9e80/20260524/281672556595218

Smart ageing as a crucial part of Sabah’s future readiness

• The Borneo Post (Sabah)

• 24 May 2026

• By Chung Jin Jong

CHUNG JIN JONG

MALAYSIA is expected to reach ageing nation status by 2030, when people aged 60 and above are projected to make up about 15 percent of the population. This demographic shift requires the country to move beyond conventional approaches to elderly care and consider smart ageing as part of a wider national and state development agenda.

Smart ageing refers to an integrated approach that combines technology, innovation, community support, age-friendly planning and social participation to improve the quality of life, autonomy and wellbeing of older persons. It includes digital health solutions, assistive tools, smart home systems, preventive care, community-based support and practical systems that allow older adults to live independently, safely and with dignity.

In Malaysia, smart ageing should not be viewed only as a welfare or healthcare issue. It should be positioned as a long-term development agenda involving families, caregivers, communities, public institutions, infrastructure, technology, youth training and social participation. For Sabah, this is particularly important because ageing readiness must be addressed alongside rural-urban gaps, infrastructure limitations, caregiver shortages and community-based support needs.

Malaysia faces several significant challenges in achieving smart ageing readiness by 2030. These challenges are not only demographic, but also social, technological, financial and institutional.

First, the digital divide remains a major barrier. Many older Malaysians still face difficulty using smartphones, digital applications, online services and health-related technology. In rural and semi-rural areas of Sabah, this challenge can be more pronounced, particularly where digital literacy, device access and internet connectivity remain uneven.

Second, infrastructure and regional disparities affect the practical implementation of digital health and ageing support systems. In rural Sabah, uneven broadband coverage, connectivity gaps, terrain-related access issues and infrastructure limitations can restrict the effective use of telemedicine, remote monitoring and digital health services.

Third, healthcare and social care gaps remain a concern, especially between urban and rural areas. Sabah continues to face gaps in geriatric care capacity, trained caregivers and specialist support, particularly outside major urban centres. This has implications for older persons, families and communities that may already be managing care responsibilities with limited formal support.

Fourth, the rising disease burden among older adults is highly concerning. Non-communicable diseases, mobility limitations, cognitive decline and mental health concerns can place increasing pressure on medical, social and family-based care systems.

Fifth, financial insecurity among older persons remains an important issue. Many older Malaysians may not have sufficient retirement savings to support long-term care needs, assistive devices, home modifications, healthcare costs or paid caregiving support.

Sixth, policy integration and implementation remain uneven. While national policies on ageing exist, effective ageing readiness requires more coordinated implementation across federal, state and local levels. Sabah also needs stronger planning around older workers, caregiver support, age-friendly infrastructure, community-based services and training pathways for future care needs.

The core pillars of smart ageing include technological integration, age-friendly environments, caregiver support, social sustainability, community participation, preventive health and the silver economy.

Technological integration may include teleconsultation, remote health monitoring, wearable devices, emergency response systems, digital platforms and smart home features. These tools can reduce unnecessary hospital visits, support early intervention and help older persons remain connected to care providers and family members.

Age-friendly urban and community planning is equally important. Smart ageing requires physical environments that are accessible, safe and inclusive. This includes barrier-free public spaces, suitable housing, reliable transport, walkable neighbourhoods, accessible healthcare facilities and community spaces that support social participation.

Social sustainability is another essential pillar. Ageing well is not only about physical health, but also about emotional connection, belonging, dignity and continued participation in community life. Loneliness, isolation and lack of support can affect older persons as seriously as physical illness.

The silver economy should also be viewed strategically. Older persons should not be seen only as dependents or beneficiaries of care. Many older citizens continue to possess experience, skills, wisdom and social value. With suitable support, flexible work arrangements and community engagement opportunities, they can continue contributing to society.

Smart ageing should therefore be grounded in the belief that ageing cannot be treated as an isolated social concern. It should be integrated into wider planning for urban development, community services, housing, transport, workforce training, digital access, healthcare coordination and family support.

This perspective allows smart ageing to become part of Sabah’s long-term development conversation. It also creates opportunities for collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, educational institutions, private operators, media platforms and community leaders.

A key component of smart ageing is caregiver support. Caregivers are often the invisible backbone of ageing societies. Many families depend on unpaid or under-supported caregivers who manage daily care responsibilities while balancing work, household obligations and emotional pressure.

Strengthening caregiver support is therefore essential for sustainable ageing readiness. This includes caregiver training, respite support, community awareness, emotional support, practical guidance and stronger recognition of the caregiving role.

In Sabah, there is a need for practical support systems, community awareness and future-oriented planning. This includes training youth from outskirt areas to participate in care-related pathways, developing community-based support models and encouraging cross-sector participation in ageing-related initiatives.

Ageing readiness should also be connected with human capital development. Smart ageing requires people, not only policies. Sabah will need trained caregivers, informed families, responsive communities, service providers, volunteers, educators and institutions that understand the changing needs of an ageing society.

Youth participation is especially important. Training younger generations in basic care awareness, communication skills, digital support, community service and ageing-related pathways can create long-term value. It can support older persons while also opening meaningful skill-building and livelihood opportunities for young people.

Community capital is central to Sabah’s smart ageing future. It refers to the relationships, trust, local knowledge, social networks, shared responsibility and institutional connections that allow communities to respond to change.

In Sabah’s context, community capital is highly relevant because many communities operate through family support, local leadership, informal cooperation, religious and cultural groups, community associations, NGOs and small enterprises. These networks can become powerful foundations for social resilience when properly recognised and strengthened.

Community capital enables older persons to remain independent, healthy and engaged within familiar environments. Smart ageing in Sabah should integrate this social capital with appropriate technology-driven solutions, such as telehealth, digital support systems and assistive tools. This combination can reduce vulnerability, ease caregiver burden and strengthen agency among older persons.

Community development in Sabah should not rely only on topdown systems. While policy and institutional support are necessary, real impact often happens when communities are equipped, connected and trusted to participate in solutions.

In ageing, this means creating stronger links between older persons, caregivers, families, youth, service providers, local associations and relevant agencies. It means building initiatives that are practical, locally grounded and sustainable beyond one event or campaign.

Several components of community capital are especially relevant to smart ageing in Sabah.

The first is bonding social capital, which refers to close relationships among family members, friends, neighbours and trusted community members. These relationships provide emotional support, daily assistance and a sense of belonging.

The second is social cohesion and trust. Shared norms, mutual help and community trust can reduce isolation, loneliness and emotional vulnerability among older persons.

The third is bridging social capital, which connects older persons and families to wider community resources, organisations, younger generations and service providers. This improves social inclusion and access to information.

The fourth is community exchange and mutual support. Concepts such as time-banking or structured volunteer support can allow community members to exchange time and assistance, strengthening social bonds while helping with daily needs.

The fifth is digital and community linkage. Digital platforms, communication tools and community linkages can help older persons remain connected to services, families and support networks, especially when physical access is limited.

The sixth is connected environments. Neighbourhoodbased initiatives, age-friendly infrastructure and communitydriven approaches can help create safer and more supportive surroundings for older persons.

These components show that smart ageing is not only about technology. Technology is useful, but it must be supported by human relationships, community trust, accessible services and practical local implementation.

Sabah’s ageing future requires a practical and coordinated response. Ageing readiness should be connected to healthcare, housing, public infrastructure, digital inclusion, family support, caregiver training, social participation, youth development and community-based service models.

The state cannot depend only on formal care institutions or hospitalbased responses. As the population ages, more attention must be given to ageing-in-place, preventive support, caregiver capacity and local community systems.

Smart ageing should therefore be understood as a development agenda. It is not only about older persons today, but also about how society prepares for future needs before they become urgent.

For Sabah, the way forward should include stronger public awareness, practical community models, training pathways for caregivers and youth, better coordination among stakeholders, and wider recognition of community capital as part of ageing readiness.

If Sabah can align technology, community participation, caregiver support and institutional collaboration, smart ageing can become a meaningful pathway toward a more prepared, inclusive and future-ready society.

Chung Jin Jong (ASDK) is Adjunct Professor at North Borneo University, Sabah. Her current direction focuses on strengthening public understanding of smart ageing, community capital and caregiver support in Sabah. Through academic engagement, advisory roles, journal publications and published public commentaries, she continues to connect research-based perspectives with practical community needs. Her work supports the advancement of a more prepared, inclusive and future-ready Sabah through smart ageing advocacy, community-based development, public writing, researchinformed perspectives and institutional collaboration.

Article Name:Smart ageing as a crucial part of Sabah’s future readiness

Publication:The Borneo Post (Sabah)

Section:Home

Author:By Chung Jin Jong

Start Page:5

End Page:5

https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/270495/call-to-prioritise-smart-aging-solutions/

https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-borneo-post-sabah/20251203/281797110303958?srsltid=AfmBOooGO_uqHzL9IvGrEPINNje9zv85m_I0R9BmNEZHBzNfskUgDOt_

3 Dec 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The new Sabah administration should place Smart Ageing reforms at the core of its development agenda as the state approaches a pivotal demographic shift, said North Borneo University College (NBUC) adjunct professor Jessie Jong Chung Jin.

Jong, whose studies on ageing readiness and long-term care systems in Sabah have drawn interest from community groups and policy stakeholders, said the state government now has a crucial opportunity to reshape how Sabah prepares for its changing population.

"Sabah is entering a demographic phase that will influence every sector, including health, mobility, workforce planning, community development and the broader economy.

"If we plan early and plan together, ageing can become a platform for stronger communities and new economic opportunities, not a pressure point," she said.

Her research highlights recurring gaps across districts, including limited geriatric-capable healthcare, uneven rural infrastructure, rising caregiver strain and fragmented support systems.

However, Sabah also has strong advantages, she said, including social cohesion, active youth net-works, vibrant community organisations and growing interest in the silver economy.

"Ageing is no longer a single ministry issue.

"It touches every department. The new government has the chance to align these efforts so they reinforce each other instead of operating in isolation," she said.

Jong noted that her recent papers demonstrate how evidence-based planning and community partner-ships can lead to more effective and sustainable policy outcomes.