The words you’ll come across while searching for care in Malaysia, in plain language.
The Department of Social Welfare. It registers and regulates residential care centres (Pusat Jagaan) under the Care Centre Act 1993.
A care centre registered with JKM — the most common type of residential care facility in Malaysia.
The law under which JKM registers and regulates residential and day care centres.
The Ministry of Health. It licenses clinical private nursing homes and other private healthcare facilities under a separate, stricter regime.
Cawangan Kawalan Amalan Perubatan Swasta — the MOH branch that licenses and inspects private healthcare facilities, including private nursing homes.
The law under which MOH licenses private nursing homes, hospitals and other clinical facilities.
The Association for Residential Aged Care Operators of Malaysia, a voluntary industry body. Membership is a positive quality signal, separate from licensing.
Support with daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals) for a person who is largely independent but needs some help.
Care for people needing help with mobility, medication, feeding tubes, wounds or catheters — usually involving trained nurses.
Specialised care in a secure environment for people with memory loss and wandering risk, delivered by trained staff.
Comfort-focused care for people with advanced, life-limiting illness.
Short-term residential care that gives family carers a temporary break.
Care delivered in a person’s own home rather than in a residential facility.
Daytime care and activities, with the person returning home in the evening.
The centre appeared on the JKM registry with a currently-valid licence at our last update.
The JKM licence had lapsed at our last update, or the location comes from an operator’s website and is not (yet) on the JKM registry. Please verify it yourself.