Aged Care Facilities and Elderly Residents in Kuala Lumpur & Selangor

This Master of Science in Public Health thesis, conducted at the International Medical University, examines the profiling of aged care facilities and the quality of life (QOL) of elderly residents in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia. The research, driven by Malaysia's projected status as an aging nation, investigates the current status of aged care facilities, including their characteristics and the QOL of residents. The study employed a cross-sectional survey across 14 aged-care facilities, utilizing stratified random sampling to include both private and public facilities. Data collection involved interviews with staff and residents, using instruments adapted from the Institute of Gerontology, University Putra Malaysia, and the WHOQOL-BREF. The thesis includes an introduction, literature review covering global and Asian population aging trends, elderly care trends, and QOL concepts. It also details the research methodology, study design, sampling, data collection, and analysis methods. The findings, conclusions, and acknowledgments, along with relevant appendices, are all part of the comprehensive research. This research aims to provide valuable insights into the provision of care for the elderly population and contributes to the understanding of QOL within aged care settings.

Profiling of Aged Care Facilities and the Quality of Life of elderly residents in Kuala-
Lumpur and Selangor
Dr. MarwaAmerAnis Hasson Abbas
000025253
Master of Science in Public Health (MPH)
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
BUKIT JALIL, KUALA LUMPUR
MALAYSIA
2019

Dedication
This thesis is dedicated to my loving supporting parents, Captain AmerAnis and Dr. Dikra M.
Abdullah for their belief in me, my siblings for their continuous encouragement, my colleagues
and friends for their assistance and efforts.

Abstract
Introduction: with Malaysia projected to be one of the elderly nations within the next decade
(2030), there is a high demand for aged-care facilities that could support and promote a better
quality of life for the senior population. although the Malaysian government passed a new
“Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2017”, its regulation are yet to be
developed, and a current profile of the aged -care facilities present currently and working is not
yet available. This study is attempting to explore the status and profile of these aged -care
facilities and the quality of life of their elderly residents.
Objective: To profile the aged care facilities, personnel characteristics, and the quality of life of
the elderly residents in these facilities in Kuala-Lumpur and Selangor.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional in-facility based survey that was conducted on 14
aged-care facilities in two states of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Stratified random sampling was
used to choose the facilities between private (for profit) and pubic (not for profit)and a universal
sample of the facilities staff and elderly residents (meeting the study’s inclusion criteria) was
obtained. Consenting staff and residents were interviewed using the study instruments adapted

from the Institute of Gerontology, University Putra Malaysia, and the World Health
Organization’sQOL-BREF.
Results:
Conclusion:
Key words:Aged care facilities, elderly, Personnel, Quality-of-life, Malaysia.

Acknowledgement
I would humbly like to thank my research supervisor, Associate Professor To’
PuanDrSafurahJa'afar, for her relentless encouragement, assistance, patience, and guidance
throughout all the stages of this study. I would also like to thank my co-supervisors Associate
Professor Dr. HallySreerama Reddy ChandrashekarThummala andFaculty of Human Ecology,
University Putra Malaysia’s Assc. Prof. Dr. RahimahBinti Ibrahim for their continuous support
and enrichment to this study.
I would like to thank the community medicine department and all its staff headed by Dr. John for
their guidance.
I would also like to give my gratitude and thanks to my colleagues in International Medical
University’s MPH-218, and my friends for their extensive assistance during the data collection
phase and the following phases of this study.
Furthermore, I would like to thank Dr. Kingsley Ugwu and Mr Chai Seng Thye for their kind
support throughout this study.
Last but not least, I would like to thank the Aged care facilities along with their staff and
residents who showed wonderful cooperation and assistance during the commencement of the
field data collection.

Approval Sheet No. 1
I, the main supervisor toDr.Marwa Abbas,hereby certify that the dissertation revisions have
been made based on the recommendations by the Dissertation Examination Committee on date
of viva.
Main Supervisor: DrSafurahJa'afar
Designation: Associate Professor
Name of faculty/ institute: Department of Community Medicine, International Medical
University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Approval Sheet No. 2
I certify that an Examination Committee has conducted the final examination of Dr. Marwa
Abbas onMaster of Science in Public Health dissertation entitled "Profiling of Aged Care
Facilities and the Quality of Life of elderly residents in Kuala-Lumpur and Selangor". The
Committee recommended that the candidate be awarded the degree of MSc. in Public Health.
_______________________________
Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research
International Medical University

Approval Sheet No. 3
This Dissertation was submitted to the Senate of the International Medical University and was
accepted by the Senate as having fulfilled the requirements for the degree of. MSc. in Public
Health.
_______________________________
Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research
International Medical University
Date: