Critical Issues of Human Resource Management in Ageing Care Centres: Case of Malaysia

Abstract

The entire world is progressing towards an ageing population, as, until 2030, 1.4 billion population will be elderly, which leads to 2.1 billion by 2050. The changing lifestyle and the declining fertility rate are main reasons for drastic makeover of economic environment and business issues. This study aims to examine the critical issues of Human Resource Management (HRM) in elderly care sector. The success of a business is associated with employed staff and ‘human resource’ in elderly care centres entails knowledge, skills, passion, loyalty, and personal traits. A qualitative research strategy is adopted, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 HR executives of elderly care centres throughout Malaysia. Saldana’s structured inductive data analysis method for analysis. The result revealed critical issues of human resource management such as lack of professional and competent workers, absence of flexible and adaptive potential of employees. A recommendation plan is proposed regarding planning, recruitment, selection, training and professional development and supervision, and support of staff. Thus, it is imperative to achieve these objectives of human resource management in elderly care centres to provide graceful ageing to an older adult. The findings of the study may use as a guide for HR executives in elderly care centres.