KOTA SAMARAHAN: It has been reported that most of the elderlies at Rumah Seri Kenangan (RSK) — a local old folks’ home — are suffering from loneliness and dementia.
RSK Kuching principal Peter Gabong said 34 residents of RSK are showing signs of having mental health issues as of February 25.
“They are showing the symptoms after undergoing five sessions of lay counselling with our social workers,” he said in his welcoming address to Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Minister Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah during the ministry’s official visit at RSK Kuching temporary shelter here on Sunday (June 21).
Citing a report on psychological and emotional well-being of the residents, he said 17 residents were showing signs of being lonely.
“Ten are dementia suffers and nine suffer from depression. Six elderlies have aggressive behaviour, five are anti-social, four have erratic behaviour and three have selective mutism issue,” he said.
He also added that the mental health screening involves Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric @ Depression Scale and Psychology appointment,” he said.
The RSK Kuching project which was supposed to be completed in 2015 had run into problems with the previous contractor.
“Datuk Francis Harden and his team visited the site and he was informed by the new contactor that the project will be completed one month earlier.”
She said the premises was first constructed at a cost of RM20 million, but has seen an increase in cost as time goes on.
“The amount now is RM24 million as the Public Works Department has to come up with a price for the retendering. Now with the new contractor, we hope the construction will be completed on time,” said Fatimah when asked to comment on RSK Kuching sick project.
For now, the home has been temporarily placed at Samarahan Rehabilitation Centre since 2012.
