Developing quality care facilities and programs for elderly people – a Malaysian experience
Developing quality care facilities and programs for elderly people – a Malaysian experience

Summary/Abstract: It is estimated that the proportion of people aged 60 years and above in the world will double between 2000 and 2050. This is very much due to modernization and new technologies developed which make living standards and behavioural patterns of the population changed and continuously changing. Different sectors such as government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and religious organizations have developed programs and services to address the needs and concerns of the elderly people under the support and supervision of the concerned ministries or organizations. Many programs and activities have been developed to cater for the elderly and it becomes more challenging if the aged population are of different backgrounds with different cultures, values and belief systems. This situation raises the question of how the programs and activities are conducted by the concerned organization for the elderly and to what extent the programs and activities fulfil the needs and expectations of the old aged especially in a multi-cultural background. Qualitative descriptive research method is used in the study using survey questions, interviews, observations and documented materials. The result of the study shows that there are differences in the needs and expectations of the elderly towards the services rendered by the organizations and people’s core beliefs and traditional cultural values have become the main concerns of the elderly and should be incorporated in the programs and activities prepared. Hence, results of the study are aimed at policy makers and other organizations to ensure preparedness in management and program needs of the aged population.

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