ANALYZING THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN MALAYSIA FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF QUALITY OF LIFE, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, AND AN AGE-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v23i39.1908Keywords:
Assistive Technology, Quality of Life, Age-friendly Environment, Aging in Place, Elderly StudiesAbstract
This paper contributes to the concept of aging in place among older adults in Malaysia by exploring the interconnected roles of assistive technology, quality of life, and age-friendly environments in facilitating this lifestyle. The methodology employed in this study includes quantitative methods and snowball sampling technique. Drawing on survey data collected from 499 participants aged 60 to 75, this research examines the impact of assistive technology on various aspects of older adults’ lives, including physical health, psychological well-being, and social engagement. The findings reveal substantial improvements in overall quality of life. Furthermore, age-friendly environments play a crucial role in enhancing autonomy by eliminating environmental obstacles. However, the effectiveness of assistive technology is hindered by several challenges, such as financial constraints and limited technological proficiency among some seniors. This paper underscores the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach that integrates both technological and human support. By providing valuable insights for policymakers, this research offers practical recommendations for developing interventions that uphold the autonomy and dignity of older adults in Malaysia.
Downloads
References
Ambigga, K. S., Ramli, A. S., Suthahar, A., Tauhid, N., Clearihan, L., & Browning, C. (2011). Bridging the gap in ageing: Translating policies into practice in Malaysian Primary Care. Asia Pacific Family Medicine, 10(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/1447-056X-10-2
Azmi, A., Aning, P., Wan Abd Aziz, W. N. A., Juhari, N. H., Khair, N., Mentaza Khan, P. A., & Sivanathan, S. (2021). ASSESSING THE STRATA HOUSING ATTRIBUTES FOR ELDERLY TO AGE IN PLACE IN KLANG VALLEY. PLANNING MALAYSIA, 19(17). https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v19i17.990
Chew, K. T., Raman, V., & Then, P. H. H. (2021). Remote Arrhythmia Detection for Eldercare in Malaysia. Sensors, 21(24), 8197. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/24/8197
Cohen, N., & Arieli, T. (2011). Field research in conflict environments: Methodological challenges and snowball sampling. Journal of Peace Research, 48(4), 423-435. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343311405698
Deorari, V., Aggarwal, A., Avasthi, R., & Sharma, R. (2017). Association of frailty with outcomes of thrombolysis in elderly (above 60 years) population with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Indian Heart Journal, 69, S12. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ihj.2017.09.027
Dikken, J., van den Hoven, R. F., van Staalduinen, W. H., Hulsebosch-Janssen, L. M., & van Hoof, J. (2020). How older people experience the age-friendliness of their city: Development of the age-friendly cities and communities questionnaire. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(18), 6867.
Elokla, N., & Hirai, Y. (2015). Evaluation of assistive mobility product for the Japanese elderly by the Kansei sheets. In T. Ahram, W. Karwowski, & D. Schmorrow (Eds.), 6th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (Vol. 3, pp. 2205-2212). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2015.07.362
Gibney, S., Zhang, M. Y., & Brennan, C. (2020). Age-friendly environments and psychosocial wellbeing: a study of older urban residents in Ireland. Aging & Mental Health, 24(12), 2022-2033. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1652246
Gierczyk, M., Gromkowska-Melosik, A., Sam Scott, S., & Parker, C. (2024). The Snowball Sampling Strategy in the Field of Social Sciences. Contexts and Considerations. Przegląd Badań Edukacyjnych.
Hasanah, C., Naing, L., & Rahman, A. (2003). World Health Organization quality of life assessment: brief version in Bahasa Malaysia. Medical Journal of Malaysia, 58(1), 79-88.
Hau, C. J. (2017). Age-Friendly Environment and Determinants of Ageing in Place in Malaysia Multimedia University (Malaysia)].
Huang, W., Lin, Y., & Li, H. (2024). Research on Aging-adaptive Auxiliary Construction of Smart Communities. SAGE Open, 14(2), 21582440241254689. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241254689
Iqbal, M. S., Kassab, Y. W., Al-Saikhan, F. I., Almalki, Z. S., Haseeb, A., Iqbal, M. Z., & Ali, M. (2020). Assessing quality of life using WHOQOL-BREF: A cross-sectional insight among patients on warfarin in Malaysia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 28(8), 936-942.
Ismail, H., Nordin, M., Halil, F., & Khalid, N. (2023). The Elderly Quality of Life (E-QoL) And Retirement Village Preferred Features by Malaysian Generations. Planning Malaysia, 21. In.
Ismail, Z., Ahmad, W. I. W., Hamjah, S. H., & Astina, I. K. (2021). The impact of population ageing: A review. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 50(12), 2451.
Istiyati, S., Marmoah, S., Poerwanti, J. I., & Mahfud, H. (2023). Comparative study of education for children with special needs in malaysia and indonesian primary school. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(10), 7903-7908.
Khan, A. R., & Tahir, I. (2014). Influence of Social Factors to the Quality of Life of the Elderly in Malaysia. Open Medicine Journal, 1(1).
Kubiciel - Lodzińska, S. (2021). Snowball Sampling vs. Respondent Driven Sampling in Regional Research Comparing the Use of the Methods to Study Migrants Working in Elderly Care. 1, 149-180. https://doi.org/10.4467/25444972SMPP.21.007.13319
Lai, M.-M., Lein, S.-Y., Lau, S.-H., & Lai, M.-L. (2016). Modeling Age-Friendly Environment, Active Aging, and Social Connectedness in an Emerging Asian Economy. Journal of Aging Research, 2016(1), 2052380. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2052380
Lai, S. L., & Tey, N. P. (2021). The Quality of Life of Older Adults in a Multiethnic Metropolitan: An Analysis of CASP-19. SAGE Open, 11(2), 21582440211029910. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211029910
Leung, L., & Chen, C. (2019). E-health/m-health adoption and lifestyle improvements: Exploring the roles of technology readiness, the expectation-confirmation model, and health-related information activities. Telecommunications Policy, 43(6), 563-575. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2019.01.005
Liao, S. J., Wu, B. J., Liu, T. T., Chou, C. P., & Rong, J. R. (2018). Prevalence and characteristics of suicidal ideation among 2199 elderly inpatients with surgical or medical conditions in Taiwan. Bmc Psychiatry, 18, Article 397. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1981-7
Lim, L. M., McStea, M., Chung, W. W., Nor Azmi, N., Abdul Aziz, S. A., Alwi, S., Kamarulzaman, A., Kamaruzzaman, S. B., Chua, S. S., & Rajasuriar, R. (2017). Prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy among urban community-dwelling older adults in multi-ethnic Malaysia. PloS one, 12(3), e0173466. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173466
Lim, X. J., Ng, S. I., & Basha, N. K. (2019). To retire or not to retire: Intention towards concept of retirement village in Malaysia. Asian Journal of Business Research, 9(1), 60-80.
Ma, Q., Chen, K., Chan, A. H. S., & Teh, P.-L. (2015). Acceptance of ICTs by older adults: A review of recent studies. International Conference on Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population,
Makhtar, A., Ab Ghani, N. N., Elias, S. M. S., & Ludin, S. M. (2023). Social support and associated factors among family caregivers of older people in North-East Peninsular Malaysia. Belitung Nursing Journal, 9(1), 69.
Mshali, H., Lemlouma, T., Moloney, M., & Magoni, D. (2018). A survey on health monitoring systems for health smart homes. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 66, 26-56. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2018.02.002
Musa, G., & Sim, O. F. (2010). Travel behaviour: a study of older Malaysians. Current Issues in Tourism, 13(2), 177-192.
Ng, S. I., Zhao, F., Lim, X.-J., Kamal Basha, N., & Sambasivan, M. (2020a). Retirement village buying intention. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 32(7), 1451-1473. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-05-2019-0295
Ng, S. I., Zhao, F., Lim, X.-J., Kamal Basha, N., & Sambasivan, M. (2020b). Retirement village buying intention: A case study on the Muslim and non-Muslim Malaysian elderly. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 32(7), 1451-1473.
Noy, C. (2008). Sampling Knowledge: The Hermeneutics of Snowball Sampling in Qualitative Research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 11(4), 327-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570701401305
O’Quin, K. E., Semalulu, T., & Orom, H. (2015). Elder and caregiver solutions to improve medication adherence. Health Education Research, 30(2), 323-335. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyv009
Petrovčič, A., Peek, S., & Dolničar, V. (2019). Predictors of Seniors’ Interest in Assistive Applications on Smartphones: Evidence from a Population-Based Survey in Slovenia. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(9), 1623. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/9/1623
Rashid, K., Mohamed, T., Azyze Ellah Azyze, S. N., Hazim, Z., Abdul Aziz, A., & Che Hashim, I. (2021). DETERMINING THE FEATURES OF AGE FRIENDLY FOR CITY DEVELOPMENT. PLANNING MALAYSIA, 19(16). https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v19i16.965
Rashid, K., Mohamed, T., Azyze, S. N. A. E., & Ismail, H. (2022). Determining elderly-friendly features based on an age-friendly city approach: an empirical analysis on local perspective in Taiping and Ipoh, Malaysia. PLANNING MALAYSIA, 20.
Robinson-Lane, S., Solway, E., Singer, D., Kirch, M., Kullgren, J., & Malani, P. (2022). OLDER ADULTS'PREPAREDNESS TO AGE IN PLACE: FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL POLL ON HEALTHY AGING. Innovation in Aging, 6(Supplement_1), 227-227.
Sadler, G. R., Lee, H.-C., Lim, R. S.-H., & Fullerton, J. (2010). Research Article: Recruitment of hard-to-reach population subgroups via adaptations of the snowball sampling strategy. Nursing & Health Sciences, 12(3), 369-374. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2010.00541.x
Shi Ying, L., Ming Ming, L., & Siok Hwa, L. (2021). Modelling age-friendly environment for social connectedness: a cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]. F1000Research, 10(955). https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.73032.1
Shiau, T.-A., & Huang, W.-K. (2014). User perspective of age-friendly transportation: A case study of Taipei City. Transport Policy, 36, 184-191.
Taasim, S. (2020). Ageing population and economic growth: evidence from Malaysia. South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics, 7(4), 11-18.
Takahashi, Y., Ohura, T., Ishizaki, T., Okamoto, S., Miki, K., Naito, M., Akamatsu, R., Sugimori, H., Yoshiike, N., & Miyaki, K. (2011). Internet use for health-related information via personal computers and cell phones in Japan: a cross-sectional population-based survey. Journal of medical Internet research, 13(4), e110.
Tey, N. P., Siraj, S. B., Kamaruzzaman, S. B. B., Chin, A. V., Tan, M. P., Sinnappan, G. S., & Müller, A. M. (2015). Aging in Multi-ethnic Malaysia. The gerontologist, 56(4), 603-609. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnv153
the World Health Organization, t. W. H. O. (2010). WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities. the World Health Organization. Retrieved 24 October 2022 from https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/who-network/
Tiraphat, S., Kasemsup, V., Buntup, D., Munisamy, M., Nguyen, T. H., & Hpone Myint, A. (2021). Active Aging in ASEAN Countries: Influences from Age-Friendly Environments, Lifestyles, and Socio-Demographic Factors. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168290
Tiraphat, S., Peltzer, K., Thamma-Aphiphol, K., & Suthisukon, K. (2017). The role of age-friendly environments on quality of life among Thai older adults. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(3), 282.
Wong, R., Szeto, W., Yang, L., Li, Y., & Wong, S. (2018). Public transport policy measures for improving elderly mobility. Transport Policy, 63, 73-79.
World Health Organization, W. H. O. (1999). WHOQOL: Measuring Quality of Life. World Health Organization (WHO). https://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/whoqol-qualityoflife/en/
World Health Organization, W. H. O. (2007). Global age-friendly cities: a guide. World Health Organization (WHO).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 Unported License.
Copyright & Creative Commons Licence
eISSN: 0128-0945 © Year. The Authors. Published for Malaysian Institute of Planners. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
The authors hold the copyright without restrictions and also retain publishing rights without restrictions.
