With dementia rising and ageing accelerating, Malaysia urgently needs a nationwide Silver Alert system to quickly locate missing seniors and keep them safe.
IMAGINE Atok wandering off for a stroll then vanishing – faster than a glass of teh tarik at a mamak table. Yet, unlike missing children, there is no NUR Alert for our seniors. And the numbers are shouting that we urgently need one.
Enter the Silver Alert: nationwide, smart, respectful – with a touch of Malaysian flair – because our elders deserve far more than a shrug and a “biasa-lah”.
Malaysia’s ageing reality is catching up fast: As of 2025, about 8% of Malaysians are aged 65 and above. This age group now makes up 11.6% – roughly 3.9 million people. Projections? By 2040, Malaysians aged 60 and above are expected to exceed 17% of the population.
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And this does not just mean more “senior discounts” at kedai makan. We are staring at a surge in age-related issues – cognitive decline, dementia and all the “forget where I parked my Honda” moments.
Today, an estimated 200,000 to 216,000 older adults in Malaysia live with dementia. By 2050, that number could balloon to 668,000 if we keep ignoring it.
Translation: we are not just getting “older”; we are becoming a nation where senior citizens are no longer a fringe demographic but an increasingly mainstream one. This is why a Silver Alert isn’t some fancy idea; it is plain common sense. More seniors mean a higher risk of “wandering off and lupa jalan balik”.
As life expectancy rises, more of our parents, grandparents and neighbours will fall into the “golden but vulnerable” zone. With dementia and other cognitive issues creeping up, the simple act of “going for a walk safely” is no longer guaranteed.
Current support system? Kinda sus (lingo for suspicion). As of 2024, Malaysia has just over 60 trained geriatricians – that is roughly one specialist for every 10,000 older adults. Many dementia cases go undiagnosed or dismissed as “Mak lima-lah, tua, lupa sikit.” The signs often blur between normal ageing and real medical concerns.
Families end up juggling caregiving like a part-time job with full-time stress. And while we loudly shout “Respect your elders!” at the dinner table, the moment they wander off, we suddenly realise we don’t have a system to help them.
Birth rates are dropping and life expectancy is rising – a classic recipe for a future with more old folks than younglings. If we don’t build a robust elder-friendly safety net now, we’ll regret it later – with missing old folks, overburdened hospitals, exhausted caregivers and public panic. So yes, Silver Alert isn’t about charity; it is common sense.
Learning from others
This isn’t rocket science. Other countries have already set up systems to locate missing seniors.
United States: Around 18 US states have Silver Alert programmes. Florida’s system fires alerts via highway signs, media and public notifications when seniors or adults with dementia go missing. North Carolina does the same, with law enforcement verifying cases before issuing alerts .
Canada: In British Columbia, civil-society initiatives like BC Silver Alert pilot alert systems for seniors with dementia. Other provinces are lobbying for legal frameworks to support missing-vulnerable-adult alerts.
Lessons to steal – shamelessly: Coordinated alerts that combine law enforcement, media, public engagement and technology actually work. Funding and training are key. And yes, these countries manage to keep seniors safe without causing unnecessary panic or stigma.
Malaysia wouldn’t be reinventing the wheel, just giving it a local spin.
How to make it smart, practical and sassy
National alert infrastructure: A system like NUR Alert, managed by the government, ready to send alerts the moment a senior goes missing.
Integration: Hospitals, police, transport hubs, community centres – if someone wanders into a clinic, LRT or pasar malam, the alert fires automatically.
Wearable ID or QR-coded bracelets: Stylish enough so elders don’t feel like criminals; functional enough that social-minded youths or Starbucks-obsessed teenagers can help.
Community engagement + public awareness + respect framing: No more “old bods gone wild” headlines. Think “lost heritage, lost stories” instead. Mobilise neighbourhood watches, shopkeepers, bus drivers – basically everyone – to help guide Atok and Makcik back safely before they wander into the next pasar malam or random street.
Funding and policy: Treat ageing as a national agenda, not an optional side-project. Train more geriatricians, fund elder-care services, support caregivers and integrate Silver Alert into national welfare planning.
A dash of Malaysian realism
Some politicians will shrug: “Elderly? We have bigger problems – inflation, rising chicken price.” Aiyo. But if Atok gets lost 100km away, who gets called first? NUR Alert works for kids but now we need VIP-level chaos control for seniors.
Sure, some elders may resist ID bracelets. The reply: “Atok, this isn’t a name tag. This tag keeps you safe. It ensures you don’t end up makan Maggi with strangers in Penang.”
And don’t even think elders won’t wander far. Atok already has a history of “adventure walking” and Makcik’s curious spirit may land her in someone else’s rumah terbuka. Without Silver Alert, it’s everyone panicking while the elders enjoy free kuih and kopi.
Cultural twist: Malaysians love a bit of chaos but we love family more.
Picture the kampung: everyone knows everyone and news travels faster than a WhatsApp forward. A Silver Alert harnesses this communal energy. Imagine a unified alert system, QR bracelets and neighbours ready to track lost elders like national treasure hunts. It’s fun, safe and culturally resonant – no foreign tech buzzwords required.
Training and manpower: let’s make it sustainable.
One geriatrician for every 10,000 seniors? Not enough. We need more trained medical staff, social workers and community volunteers ready to respond whenever someone wanders off. Schools and universities can pitch in too – younger Malaysians get a sense of responsibility and elders gain safety. Win-win.
Final word: Do it now or sit back and watch Atok and Makcik turn your neighbourhood into a missing-persons episode.
We praise seniors as “the backbone of civilisation” and “living kampung history books”. When they wander and vanish, shrugging it off as normal ageing is lazy and irresponsible. Silver Alert is not charity; it’s common sense.
When an elder goes missing, it is not just a lost person; it’s lost memory, lost stories and lost heritage. Malaysia cannot afford to lose people we love without raising the alarm.
Azura Abas is the associate editor of theSun.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
