August 29, 2025
PETALING JAYA – Many old folks home operators are caught in a quandary when families stop paying the monthly charges.
One of them, Michael Yee Chee Hoong, said he even had to sell his properties and car to sustain his operations due to unpaid bills.
The operator of Wan Hing Home Care in Selangor said the facility suffered huge financial losses because of non-payment.
“It was especially bad during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many guardians said they could not afford to pay the charges.
“They did not want to be responsible for the payments,” said Yee, adding that the home has been caught in such a predicament every year since then.
He said he was faced with rising costs while caring for more than 100 residents.
“I do two things, either lodge a police report or send the elderly back to their guardians’ homes. Or I just take care of those who are abandoned.
“Some families tell me they don’t have money because they need to travel or do house renovations,” Yee lamented.
My Aged Care founder Lisa Nadia Tan shared similar problems, including bills not being paid on time by guardians.
Tan said giving “eviction notices” to family members or guardians who refuse to pay bills was one way of handling the situation.
“Eviction is always the last resort. If the family is not reachable and nobody comes forwards to help the aged member, we continue to care for them until the Welfare Department steps in.
“In the event the department does not, the aged member will remain with us until their passing.”
Tan said there was a difference between “can’t pay” (being unable to pay) and “won’t pay” (refusing to pay).
“Refuse to pay is when the family can still order food on Grab and pay for unhealthy items like cigarettes for the aged member every day, but refuse to pay our monthly bills,” she added.
Tan said her home tried its best to handle the situation with care and discuss the matter privately with the family to avoid unduly worrying the resident.
She said usually, problems begin after a month or two when families start delaying or discontinuing payments.