Lifecourse and housing careers of childless and poor older Malaysians

Abstract

Secure, affordable housing is strongly linked to wellbeing in older age. This paper reports on a study of childless and poor older Malaysians who are potentially a vulnerable group in relation to accumulating such housing resources for older age. Childless is defined as a person without biological, step or adopted children, and poverty is defined following the national guideline. The research explores the cumulative advantages and disadvantages over the lifecourse that may influence their routes to attaining, or failing to attain, secure and stable housing in older age. Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 34 childless and poor older Malaysians in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were analysed using a lifecourse perspective to identify the events/experiences that had shaped their housing arrangements in old age. Housing arrangements are hierarchical in structure and can be categorised into four types: home-ownership, public-rental, private-rental and informal housing arrangements. The capacity to afford secure housing (i.e. public rental or ownership) decreased with ill-health and reduced opportunities to work. Structural and policy factors such as eligibility for public housing had also contributed to shaping current housing arrangements. Family poverty, low levels of education and, consequently, reduced employment opportunities affected the ability to accumulate the financial resources needed to afford housing in older age. Some individual decisions and situational disadvantages also contributed to reductions in housing choice. From the social and cultural context, some participants with greater networks had more choices and advantages in the accumulation of housing resources. Initiatives to provide retirement entitlements for workers have not favoured those in low-level informal employment or have come too late to assist those who are now older people. In conclusion, more disadvantages than advantages were accumulated earlier in their life, impacting on their ability to have affordable, secure and stable housing in older age.

Managing social support needs in older age for childless Malaysians living in poverty

“…Those participants who reported receiving free food frequently were mainly Chinese, probably because most Malay participants had relatively more affordable housing 9 and/or Baitulmal.…”

“…Participants prioritised needs for housing, food and health care and adjusted their expectations to make do 9 . Many participants reported having low expectations in relation to food:…”

“…This paper, part of a larger project exploring the experiences of childless and older Malaysians living in poverty, focuses on managing social support needs. Childlessness refers to those who do not have adult children in older age 9 . Poverty is defined following the Malaysian poverty definition in this study reflected in eligibility for welfare assistance.…”

“…Retirement income support (ie pensions or the contributory Employees Provident Fund (EPF)) tends to be exhausted quickly 8 . Under the welfare financial assistance scheme, a subsistence income of MYR 350 per month is provided to older people without income and family support 9 . Malays also have access to Baitulmal an additional form of assistance provided by the Islamic Council to those of the Muslim faith.…”

“…Other ethnic groups (non‐Muslim) can access food and shelter through charitable organisations but cannot access financial support similar to Baitulmal. There are a limited number of state‐funded homes to accommodate older people who are living in poverty and experiencing homelessness; however, they are not the living arrangements of choice 9 . Some home help and respite services are also available.…”