Knowledge and awareness of the public towards aging and roles of caregiver in safety medication management among the elderly people / Rayme Rezza Azmi

Elderly people defined as people at the chronological age of 65 years (WHO, 2009). The number of elderly people is keeping increasing universally and these people experience aging process which leads to reduction in quality of life (Flatt, 2012). Therefore, they need a caregiver who can give support and helps in terms of emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical tasks (Honea, 2008). 52 million caregivers provide care to elderly with a disability or illness in all over the world (Coughlin, 2010). Therefore, this study conducted to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of the public in Puncak Alam towards aging and the roles of caregiver in safety medication management among the elderly people. A cross-sectional study has been applied to 174 samples of the public in Puncak Alam residential areas. The response rate was 51.1 %. Data were analysed by using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 which include Fisher Exact Test and frequency analysis. Distribution of questionnaires had highest in the age group 18 to 30 years old (82.2%) and the majority of them higher levels of education which is a bachelor degree ( 42.2%). The majority of the respondents (39. 7%) agrees that elderly people experience health issues. Most of the respondents agree that elderly people have cognitive impairment. The majority of the public with higher education level (47.5%) disagree that elderly people adapt well on new things. The highest percentage ofrespondents with higher education (52.3%) being neutral that the caregiver can simply give complementary and traditional to the elderly people. Mostly, respondents disagree (45.4%) that elderly people will always read and understand the label on their medication. Most public has a good level of knowledge and awareness towards aging and the roles of caregiver in safety medication management among the elderly people. However, they need to be exposed and educated more on certain issues to improve elderly's' quality of life.