Introduction

Pusat Jagaan Rumah Seri Bahagia” or “Lucky Village Home” is a licensed old folks’ home located at 8km, Jalan Sultan Nazrin Shah, 31350 Ipoh providing shelter, care and comfort to destitute and needy Malaysian senior citizens free of charge.

The Home is currently under the management of Persatuan Kebajikan Warga Tua Seri Bahagia Ipoh, Perak, a non-profit and non-Government organization, whose committee and staff are dedicated to ensuring that destitute and needy Malaysian senior citizens are provided with all necessary care, comfort and protection for the rest of their sunset years.

The Home was established 70 years ago, in 1951, by a group of philanthropists in Perak to provide shelter to needy old folks without dependents. It was then known as “Gopeng Road Old Folks’ Home” and was under the management of The Perak Chinese Welfare Association, a non-profit organization formed by the initial group of philanthropists for the purpose of the management of the Home. All the construction costs and expenses of running the Home were funded by public donations.

The Gopeng Road Old Folks’ Home became subjected to frequent flooding as developments downstream towards Ipoh obstructed the main drainage at the foot of the limestone hills. In 1982, the Committee of The Perak Chinese Welfare Association under the new leadership of Dato’ Chin Pek Soo as President and Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lee Loy Seng as Treasurer, initiated action to build a new Home for the residents on higher ground. The project got off the ground in May 1987 and was completed in May 1988 with the new Home as it stands today. The new Home was then renamed “Rumah Seri Bahagia” or “Lucky Village Home” and had its official opening in July 1990.

The built-up area of the present Home is approximately 18,000 sq. ft. consisting of separate 15 four-bedded bedrooms for males and 8 four-bedded bedrooms for females. There are also separate living rooms and bath/toilet facilities for males and females together with a common dining area, staff quarters, kitchen, store/utility areas as well as a landscaped indoor garden area. The new Home can accommodate up to 92 residents.

The Home had been under the management of The Perak Chinese Welfare Association since inception until January 2003 when the Home premises together with all assets therein were then leased to Persatuan Kebajikan Warga Tua Seri Bahagia Ipoh, Perak who also then took over the management of the Home. This was to satisfy the requirement by the Welfare Department that grant could only be given to organizations under the Registrar of Societies. As most of the present Committee members of Persatuan Kebajikan Warga Tua Seri Bahagia Ipoh, Perak were also Committee members in The Perak Chinese Welfare Association and had been actively involved in the management of the Home, the change over in management was smooth and with continuity.

Festive occasions are celebrated in the Home so that residents are provided with the “homely” feeling as though being with their families. The residents are always made not to feel left out and uncared for. The Home holds an anniversary cum group birthday celebration annually for its residents in conjunction with the National Senior Citizens Day.  Members of the public are invited to the celebration so as to create awareness of the Home and also give an opportunity to the public to show their concern for the senior citizens. Food and entertainment are provided for the residents during the celebration for their enjoyment.  However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and for the safety of the residents, the celebration was only held internally for 2020 and 2021.  

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, schools, associations and individuals made regular visits to the Home to entertain the residents. The residents were also taken out to join in activities organized by welfare departments and other organizations so as to mix with other senior citizens from other homes.

 “Pusat Jagaan Rumah Seri Bahagia” or “Lucky Village Home” is a well-managed old folks’ home providing the best of care and comfort to needy Malaysian senior citizens. Its management team and staff are all dedicated to the welfare of the residents providing them with a means for a happy and comfortable life of “Home Away From Home” for the rest of their days.