Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In Malaysia, most older persons reside within their own homes, as institutionalisation of older persons is uncommon. This study aims to describe the characteristics of community dwelling older persons living alone. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional study using stratified cluster sampling was conducted from June to October 2018 among 3977 older persons aged ?60 years. Face-to-face interview utilising a structured questionnaire via mobile devices was performed by trained interviewers. RESULTS: An estimated 6.3% of older persons were found living alone. This was significantly higher in rural (8.8%, 95%CI: 5.29, 7.47) compared to urban areas (5.4%, 95%CI: 4.16, 6.89), females (8.2%, 95%CI: 6.52, 10.17) compared to males (4.3%, 95%CI: 3.35, 5.59), and those not married (17.7%, 95%CI: 14.84, 20.91) compared to married (0.9%, 95%CI: 0.60, 1.43). It was highest in Bumiputra Sarawakians (9.9%, 95%CI: 6.39, 14.99), Bumiputra Sabahans (8.9%, 95%CI: 5.92, 13.22) and ethnic Chinese (7.1%, 95%CI: 4.50, 10.99) compared to Malays (5.9%, 95%CI: 4.63, 7.61). By type of house, longhouses (11.3%, 95%CI: 9.62, 13.31) followed by detached (bungalow/traditional) houses, (7.6%, 95%CI: 6.45, 9.01) were the most prevalent. DISCUSSION: Maintaining independence of older persons is important to allow them to age in place in their own homes, in line with active ageing. Living alone in longhouses may still provide a sense of community compared to those in detached houses. Measures to enhance community support would ensure older persons living alone are not marginalised, thus improving their overall well-being.
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@proceedings{APCPH-2019-210,
title = {Living Arrangements of Older Persons in Malaysia: Living Alone in The Golden Years},
author = {Rajini Sooryanarayana and Noor Ani Ahmad and Norazizah Ibrahim Wong and Mohd Aznuddin Abd Razak and Chan Ying Ying and Norhafizah Sahril and Nik Adilah Nik Shahein and Nor'ain Abd Wahab and Rasidah Jamaludin and Fazly Azry Abd Aziz and Shaiful Azlan Mohd},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-22},
urldate = {2019-07-22},
journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings},
issue = {6},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: In Malaysia, most older persons reside within their own homes, as institutionalisation of older persons is uncommon. This study aims to describe the characteristics of community dwelling older persons living alone. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional study using stratified cluster sampling was conducted from June to October 2018 among 3977 older persons aged ?60 years. Face-to-face interview utilising a structured questionnaire via mobile devices was performed by trained interviewers. RESULTS: An estimated 6.3% of older persons were found living alone. This was significantly higher in rural (8.8%, 95%CI: 5.29, 7.47) compared to urban areas (5.4%, 95%CI: 4.16, 6.89), females (8.2%, 95%CI: 6.52, 10.17) compared to males (4.3%, 95%CI: 3.35, 5.59), and those not married (17.7%, 95%CI: 14.84, 20.91) compared to married (0.9%, 95%CI: 0.60, 1.43). It was highest in Bumiputra Sarawakians (9.9%, 95%CI: 6.39, 14.99), Bumiputra Sabahans (8.9%, 95%CI: 5.92, 13.22) and ethnic Chinese (7.1%, 95%CI: 4.50, 10.99) compared to Malays (5.9%, 95%CI: 4.63, 7.61). By type of house, longhouses (11.3%, 95%CI: 9.62, 13.31) followed by detached (bungalow/traditional) houses, (7.6%, 95%CI: 6.45, 9.01) were the most prevalent. DISCUSSION: Maintaining independence of older persons is important to allow them to age in place in their own homes, in line with active ageing. Living alone in longhouses may still provide a sense of community compared to those in detached houses. Measures to enhance community support would ensure older persons living alone are not marginalised, thus improving their overall well-being.},
note = {Type: POSTER PRESENTATION; Organisation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Heath Malaysia},
keywords = {living alone, living arrangements, Malaysia, National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), older persons},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}