Abstract:

Increases in the number & proportion of elderly persons in rural Malaysia are a growing concern, especially in rural areas where traditional caregivers (daughters) are migrating to urban areas. Here, interviews are used to examine the health care & social support systems of 102 rural, low-income, functionally impaired elderly persons in the state of Terengganu. Outmigration patterns were lower than expected, & the needs of respondents were generally met by multiple in-kind assistance from adult children, spouses, relatives, friends, & neighbours as well as by free government health care & cash assistance programs. Future research should examine the utilization of health care facilities by women, negative impact of detrimental myths about aging, & need for more visiting nurses & mobile clinics.