Publication: NEEDS FOR LONG-TERM ELDERLY CARE FACILITIES – PUBLIC’S PERSPECTIVE IN KUCHING, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA
Date
2022
Authors
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Publisher
International Medical University
Abstract
ntroduction: Malaysia is postulated to become an aging nation by 2030,
where the elderly population above 60 years old would reach 15% of the total
population. The objective of this research is to understand the needs for long-
term elderly care facility from the residents’ family member’s perspectives,
as they are the decision makers. It is timely to gather evidence in Sarawak as
there is no study done to-date.
Methods: A qualitative, inductive, exploratory research design is applied in
this research. In-depth interviews were conducted with family members of
the residents of long-term elderly care facilities. They were recruited via
purposive sampling from the researcher’s network. Saturation occurred at 8th
participant. Data was analysed using thematic content analysis.
Results: 5 main themes and 16 sub-themes were derived in 5 phases, namely
Phase 1 (Challenges in caring for elderly family member), Phase 2 (Decision
making to transfer to long-term elderly care facility), Phase 3 (Criteria for
selecting long-term elderly care facility), Phase 4 (Experience at long-term
elderly care facility) and Phase 5 (Expectation to improve quality of care).
Space, hygiene and environment, location and distance from home and cost
have been reported as important criteria for family members, and expectation
to improve on service and facility have been outlined.
Conclusion: Space, hygiene and environment, location and distance from
home and cost are deemed important considerations for family members
when choosing long-term elderly care facilities. Policy makers can consider
expanding scope of government healthcare services to home visits and
provide transportation to address the challenges faced by family members.
Social and Welfare Department could encourage facility operator to register
their business with the authority, as a mean to evaluate and accredit the
standard of care to cover processes, procedures, facilities, and manpower.
Guidelines for registration should be concise and cover core aspects and
application for registration be made swift and efficient.
Keywords: Elderly, nursing home, aged care, demand
Description
Keywords
Aged, Nursing Homes, Qualitative Research, Quality of Health Care