Caregivers’ perspectives on elderly welfare programmes, support needs and the role of government in Malaysia: a qualitative thematic analysis

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Purpose Malaysia is projected to become an ageing nation by 2030, with the population aged 60 years and above expected to rise from 11.6% in 2024 to over 17% by 2040. This demographic shift places growing pressure on both formal elderly welfare programmes and the informal caregivers who provide the majority of day-to-day care. This study aims to explore the perspectives of caregivers of older persons in Malaysia on three fronts: suggestions for improving existing elderly welfare programmes, the additional support caregivers themselves require and broader comments on elderly welfare and the role of government. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative exploratory study design was used with caregivers, with 239 valid responses analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis framework, coded directly in ATLAS.ti. Findings Seven main themes were identified for programme improvement, six for caregiver support needs and seven for the government’s role, with financial adequacy, health-care access and quality and caregiver well-being recurring as dominant concerns across all three questions. Findings are discussed in relation to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and the wider Malaysian literature on long-term care financing and service delivery. Research limitations/implications The findings are based on self-reported caregiver perspectives collected through an exploratory qualitative design; implications for policy and future research are offered. Practical implications The study identifies concrete areas for improving elderly welfare programme design and caregiver support provision, offering guidance for policymakers and service providers seeking to strengthen Malaysia’s long-term care system. Social implications By centring caregivers’ voices, the study highlights the social and financial burdens borne by informal caregivers and points to the need for more responsive, caregiver-inclusive welfare policy as Malaysia’s population ages. Originality/value This study contributes caregivers’ own, first-hand perspectives to a policy debate in Malaysia that has so far been dominated by quantitative burden-scale, demographic-projection and organisational-financing research.