October 27, 2025
KOTA KINABALU – While elderly care and rehabilitation are well established in Peninsular Malaysia, many of Sabah’s seniors still struggle to access basic physiotherapy and geriatric services – a gap that health professionals say must be addressed as the state’s ageing population grows.
Sabah Physiotherapy Association (SPA) president Herman Nantharao Sannasy said the disparity was most evident in rural areas, where awareness and access to rehabilitation remain limited.
“Our elderly in Sabah are often neglected when it comes to their physical limitations. Senior care here is not given the same emphasis as in the peninsula.
“In West Malaysia, geriatric healthcare is more accessible and well known, but in Sabah – especially in rural areas – it’s still underdeveloped and often unavailable,” he said when contacted.
Herman said ageing should be embraced with strength and dignity, with proper support to maintain mobility and independence.
“Older adults need physical conditioning, balance training, cognitive care, and good nutrition. Only then can ageing be truly healthy,” he said.
“What’s the point of growing old if you can’t enjoy simple things like gardening, travelling, or spending time doing what you love?”
To help bridge the gap, SPA recently organised a community health outreach programme at Klinik Kesihatan Luyang, held earlier this month in conjunction with World Physiotherapy Day and World Elders’ Day.
The event, supported by Hospital Queen Elizabeth II, Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak Likas, and Hospital Beaufort, focused on raising awareness about sarcopenia – the loss of muscle mass and strength that can lead to frailty, falls, and reduced independence among seniors.
The programme featured sarcopenia screenings, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), flossband exercises, and group-based geriatric workouts to improve muscle strength, balance, and coordination.
A total of 42 elderly participants took part, assisted by 27 physiotherapists, 12 committee members, and healthcare staff from Luyang Health Clinic.
Guests included Chief Physiotherapist of Sabah Lily Kong, former National Chief Physiotherapist and keynote speaker Nur Hidayah, Family Medicine Specialist Dr Shahnulkamal, and Medical Officer Dr Ramzi Akram Mohamad.
The programme also aligns with the government’s Senior Citizens Action Plan 2026–2030, which focuses on strengthening the well-being, welfare, and participation of older persons through awareness and accessible healthcare.
Herman said physiotherapy and rehabilitation must be made more accessible, adding that Malaysia could learn from countries such as Japan where elderly people remain active and productive in their later years.
He also called for stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals to improve geriatric care in Sabah.
“As a physiotherapist, I believe this needs a multidisciplinary approach,” he said.
“Different health professionals must work hand in hand to improve care for our elderly.”
He added that physiotherapists must understand the ageing process and its physiological changes to better design tailored rehabilitation programmes and work alongside specialists.
“I hope more people, especially the elderly, understand the importance and value of physiotherapy – because it truly improves quality of life,” he said.