Daycare participants at a floral arrangement workshop (All photos: Oretha's Senior Care)
In Malaysia, it is common to hear or see a particular Malay term in public discourse about the elderly — warga emas, literally “golden citizen”. The term and conversations surrounding it denote a sense of value and utmost respect for the ageing community, but reality could not be more different.
The number of cases of abandonment, neglect and abuse of seniors — sometimes by their own flesh and blood — is on an alarming rise. As the working population grows and Gen Z and millennials become increasingly consumed by careers and personal pursuits, the older generation is often left behind, forgotten and ignored.
Oretha Herrera, founder of Oretha’s Senior Care, is stepping up where many are falling short. Her passion for the elderly care industry was sparked in 2010 while accompanying her father to a doctor’s appointment in her hometown. “During that visit, I noticed many seniors came alone — some from Seremban and others from smaller towns across Negeri Sembilan. It was clear they had difficulty navigating the hospital, understanding how to collect medication and managing the doctor’s consultation process,” she says.
The absence of someone to help elderly patients around hospitals and understand clinical advice poses a serious risk. At the same time, busy family members have other responsibilities and cannot always attend these appointments. A dedicated companion is needed — someone to handle the tedious but crucial tasks: escorting the old to and from appointments, guiding them through registrations and consultations, and ensuring an effective home care plan is in place.
Herrera decided to take matters into her own hands, setting up Oretha’s Senior Care in June 2019. She started things off with a concierge system to assist the elderly with hospital appointments and daily activities such as grocery shopping and outdoor exercise. The system provides them with comfort while easing the burden of their loved ones. Many seniors live alone, as their adult children have flown the nest and are preoccupied with their own young families or pursuing careers overseas. Herrera’s initiative enables golden agers to maintain independence while providing the support of a knowledgeable and trusted companion.
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Throughout the pandemic, the enterprise ensured everyone under its care had access to basic necessities and medical assistance. Herrera recalls helping clients who were stranded abroad during the tragic passing of their parents — taking on responsibilities such as coordinating with hospitals and funeral parlours, filing official reports and managing important documents and assets on their behalf.
With the lockdowns now behind us, the concierge service also helps retirees be more outgoing by facilitating supervised house calls — the safest way for them to meet up with peers. At a time when solitary living is increasingly common, regular visits with friends offer a sense of normalcy and help ease feelings of loneliness. “This has helped many reconnect with their social circles and regain the confidence to engage with the outside world, especially after the isolation caused by the pandemic or loss of a partner,” Herrera says.
To offer fresh experiences, these concierges also arrange one-on-one excursions to sites around the Klang Valley, such as museums and galleries, or even day trips to locations farther away such as Melaka, Sekinchan and Kuala Selangor. Herrera hopes to introduce an improved version of this soon to bring bigger groups on outings with the help of a boutique travel company.
In March 2024, Herrera and her team took the next big step and opened their first senior daycare centre in Taman Universiti, Petaling Jaya. The home is more than just a place for working individuals to leave their ageing parents for the day; it is also a destination where visitors are empowered through carefully designed programmes and community. Care is given according to three core pillars: Cognitive Stimulation, applied through games and mental exercises to keep the mind active and which is particularly beneficial for sufferers of dementia and Alzheimer’s; Social Connection, under which light chit chat or sharing a meal with others uplifts the soul; and Motor Skills, where physical activities and daily stretching help retain good balance and coordination.
This mindful and active approach towards elderly care drew strong appreciation from Herrera’s client base, leading to the establishment of two more Kuala Lumpur centres in Taman Billion, Cheras; and Damansara Heights this year.
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Youths are encouraged to volunteer — not only to gain the skills needed to care for seasoned family members, but also for the opportunity to learn from the wisdom and life experiences of the older generation. “What we really offer is community, a place where seniors come not only to pass the time but also to belong,” she says. “They’re treated with kindness, dignity and respect, and can be themselves without judgement. At the heart of it all, we want them to feel loved, cared for and part of something meaningful.”
Beyond the concierge service and daycare, Oretha’s Senior Care also runs a dedicated outreach programme for the elderly in the B40 category. “We initiated this project in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia (JKM) to support the senior volunteer initiative at the PPR Lembah Subang flats,” Herrera explains. “Volunteers registered under JKM visit elderly residents who live alone there to check on their well-being and accompany them to hospital appointments.” Thanks to a grant from Yayasan Hasanah, volunteers now receive a modest stipend for their efforts.
Herrera views her work as a way to fill critical gaps but acknowledges that ensuring quality care requires broader shifts in social attitudes and increased support from both the public and government. Simple acts of kindness — such as checking in on elderly neighbours or assisting strangers who appear confused or lost in public — can make all the difference.
“The way forward is to look at this issue not as an individual or family failure but as a shared responsibility. From a government standpoint, this includes ensuring access to affordable and good healthcare for seniors, providing financial and housing support for them, and creating policies that encourage intergenerational living and community participation. As ordinary people, we must start by fostering empathy among ourselves,” she says.
This article first appeared on Oct 6, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
