Interdependency among Malay older people in the institutions: an interpretative phenomenological analysis / Tengku Mohd Asri Tengku Makhtar

Malaysia will become an ageing country by the year 2025. The development of the country, economic circumstances, advancement in health facilities, coupled with declining birth rates and longer life expectancies have changed the social fabric of the Malaysian society. Many young people have moved from the rural areas to the urban areas to seek better lives, economic opportunities and higher standards of living. Thus many ageing parents find themselves living on their own in the villages, with lack of social support, financial resources and deteriorating health conditions. Ageing parents in the urban areas are also affected because their children are busy pursuing career and their own family welfare, leaving their aged parents to fend for themselves or sent to old folk’s homes. It is evident that public and private elderly care institutions are rapidly growing in number in Malaysia because of this trend. This study identifies the positive and negative experiences of the aged Malays staying in care institutions via a two-stage analysis i.e. from a pilot study and from an in-depth semi-structured interview methodology. The former involved five elderlies from one public institution- Rumah Seri Kenangan (RSK) Cheras while the latter interviewed twenty elderlies from four RSKs namely RSK Cheras, RSK Cheng, RSK Taman Kemunin, and RSK Bedong. The pilot study proved useful because it helped in testing the questionnaires, familiarisation and assisted in the questionnaires development for the second stage. Data obtained from the interviews were analysed employing the six stages of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results show that there are elements of interdependency among Malay older people and interdependency helps them to improve their productivity, offer life satisfaction and maintain their quality of life. In fact, they are needed to opt and practice interdependency to continue their occupational engagement in daily activities. This study highlights the importance of the occupational therapist, particularly those practising in the institution to consider every possible attribute of interdependence during their service. An occupational therapist may consider facilitating the process of interdependency among the older people in the institutions by promoting socialisation and enhancing the establishment of a meaningful relationship. Meanwhile, the policymakers could play an important role by encouraging family members to reconnect with their elderlies left to stay in care institutions.