Exploring the elderly's perspectives on aging in place: a case study of healthcare chaperone services in Terengganu, Malaysia

The study aims to investigate the lived experiences and viewpoints of elderly individuals residing in a supervised living facility, with a specific emphasis on the various factors that impact their overall well-being and quality of life. The study is driven by three fundamental concepts: Aging in place, which pertains to policies and practices that enable older individuals to remain in their preferred living environment for an extended period, thereby avoiding unnecessary relocation; Sense of place, which refers to the subjective and emotional attachments individuals form with a particular location; and place, which denotes a geographical area that carries a range of symbolic significance. The findings underscore the significance of prioritizing the emotional well-being of elderly individuals residing in assisted living facilities. An illustrative instance is an assertion made by a woman that "Old trees cannot be moved," which emphasizes the necessity of offering sufficient assistance and resources to foster well-being during the later stages of life. Another resident, for example, asserts that the act of assembling a substantial number of individuals within a single unit and anticipating the spontaneous formation of social bonds is both unsuitable and impractical. The challenge at hand stems from the diverse range of interests, living conditions, and requirements among individuals, thereby posing difficulties in cultivating robust social cohesion. To obtain a comprehensive understanding, a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was utilized. The qualitative aspect of the study entailed the implementation of semi-structured interviews with a total of seven participants. Open-ended questions were employed to elicit comprehensive and varied responses. Furthermore, the research employed participant observation at different time intervals, encompassing daytime, evening, and night time periods.