Patterns in Elderly Care: A study Conducted in Kedah
Malaysia is estimated to become an “aging society” country by 2030 due to the increase in the number of senior citizens in the country. This is expected to lead to issues relevant to the welfare of the elderly when there is an outflow of guardians to the urban cities. Thus, this study was conducted to explain the pattern of caring for the elderly among their guardians. This qualitative study was conducted in Yan, Kedah, involving 26 respondents among the elderly. Face-to-face interviews have been conducted by researchers using semi-structured interview forms related to demographics and elderly care patterns. Moreover, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) has also been conducted with the subjects to find out more about the issues being studied. The data obtained has been analyzed descriptively and thematically to answer the research questions. The results showed that there has been migrations of the elderly’s guardians from rural areas to urban areas. Most respondents live with their spouse or alone in the village because of their guardian’s job commitments. The results also demonstrated that respondents chose to live in their own homes rather than their children’s homes. The study also suggested that authorities need to provide social support for the elderly who live in rural areas, especially to care for the welfare of these groups.