Looking Prior and After on Individual Life:
A Study of Elderly Perception & Learning Aspect
through Life Experiences
Affizal Ahmad
• The global population is aging.
• In 2000 ~ the world’s elderly population
grew by more than 795,000 each month
(Kinsella & Velkoff, 2001) ~ it is expected to be more
than double by 2025.
• There will be more than 800 million people
over 65, two-thirds of them in developing
countries (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1999).
In Malaysia ~
• based in the year 2005 statistics ~ it is
estimated that the percentage of the elderly
(age above 65) is 4.6% compared to 3.9% in
2000
• by the year 2050 ~ the proportion
will increased to 21% (7.9 million)
~ almost double the figure in 20
year’s time
(Malaysian Department of Statistic, 2005).
• People today are living longer.
• Throughout Asia ~ a large proportion of
older people live with their children ~ but
as financial & health status improves ~ this
pattern is less common than it used to be.
• People live longer ~ especially in developed
countries ~ due to economic growth, better
nutrition, healthier lifestyles, improved
control of infectious disease, and
better access to safe water,
sanitation facilities, & medical care
(Kinsella & Velkoff, 2001).
• SUCCESSFUL AGEING is best described as an
ongoing process that occurs throughout a lifetime
optimizing opportunities for improving &
maintaining health, physical, social &
mental well being, and independence &
progressive life transitions.
• By and large ~ each phase has its own
challenges & adjustments that could be
viewed as developmental. The perception
of adult life & its value has varied greatly
among individuals & groups.
• Theorists & researchers disagree on how to define
& measure successful or optimal, aging.
• Rowe & Kahn (1997) and Snow & Pan (2004):
focus on cardiovascular functioning, cognitive
performance, & mental health ~ as an indicator of
healthy & successful ageing.
• Willcox, Willcox, Sokolovsky & Sakihara (2007) and
Stolzenberg (2001):
view productivity & economic ~ important criterion
for a meaningful or healthful life.
• Blazer (2006) and Willcox (2005):
look at longevity ~ as a sign of physical & mental
health.
• Schulz & Heckhausen (1996):
understand successful aging is by examining
individual experiences ~ how well individuals
attain their goals & how satisfied they are with
their lives; individual ability to shape their lives
to fit their needs & optimize their development.
• Krause & Shaw (2000):
people tend to live longer if they have a sense
of control over the role (such as spouse,
parent, or friend) that is most important to
them.
• In my point of view ~ all definitions of
successful & healthy aging are value-laden
(meaningful).
• There are few theory & research looking at the
important of understanding successful aging
in order to figure out the elderly prior & after
point of view about their live.
• This could help us to help the elderly planning
better life for their future.
Objective
To identify successful and unsuccessful
ageing through elderly perception on life
experiences & understand learning aspect
throughout life experiences.
* Life experiences will be seen in three main
stages; childhood, teenagers, & adulthood
Methodology
Design: Survey ~ structured interview
Setting: Free-living elderly in Peninsular
Malaysia
Subjects: Elderly women & men age 65 - 80
Purposive sampling
Inclusion criteria:
• Age 65 to 80 years.
• Respondent must be able to communicate.
• Respondent do not have psychiatric
problems (Geriatric Depression Scale)
• Respondent do not have cognitive
problem (Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire)
Research Instruments ~
• Part A: Demographic Information
• Part B: Depression Assessment
The Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-SF) ~ 15
items relating to depressed mood &
psychophysiological indicators of depression ~ to
measure subjects’ level of depression. Scores equal to
or greater than 7 suggesting a large number of
depressive symptoms.
• Part C: Cognitive Assessment
Cognitive impairment will be determined using the 10
items of the Elderly Cognitive Assessment
Questionnaire (ECAQ). Score of 7 or less was
considered as having cognitive impairment.
• Part D: The Interview Guide
 Use the ‘interview guide’ for data collection
 24 open-ended questions related to life
experiences
 1st ask questions about their past life
experiences, followed by questions regarding
their present life, & future life expectation.
 Interview ~ transcribe verbatim ~ analyzed with
interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)
(Smith, Jarman & Osborne, 1999) method.
Result
Result shows 2 group of themes –
Successful ageing & Unsuccessful ageing
Successful ageing
Unsuccessful ageing
Health
Health
Human relationship
Human relationship
Economy
Economy
Inner attribution
Inner attribution
Spiritual
Leadership
Themes & Sub-themes of Successful Ageing
Health
Physical health
Mental health
Human relationship
Family relationship
Friendship
Economy
Financial stable
Productivity
Inner attribution
Life satisfaction
Happiness
Spiritual
Faith
Religiosity
Leadership
Sense of control over the role
Themes & Sub-themes of Unsuccessful Ageing
Health
Poor physical health
Poor mental health
Human relationship Family crisis
Distrust people
Economy
Financial unstable
Unproductive
Inner attribution
Life dissatisfaction
Hopeless
Discussion
Successful aging ~
 a favorable outcome perceived by the individual
 ability to cope/adapt to the cumulative changes
associated with the passage of time
 experiencing a sense of meaning/purpose in life
 mean to grow old with good health, strength, &
vitality
 having a sense of purpose, interactions with others,
personal growth, self-acceptance, autonomy &
health
• Generally ~ the term healthy ageing is used to
encapsulate (sum up) successful ageing through
this research.
• Life satisfaction & positive perceptions of elderly
life follow financial security, ability to function,
freedom from chronic disease, and quality
relationships with friends & family.
• Functional capacity, perceived health, good
housing conditions, active life style, & good social
relationships were some of the factors ~ explained
life satisfaction & subjective quality of life.
• Having social networks of emotional support are
positively associated with successful aging.
Conclusion
Elderly define successful life as ~
• the individual’s subjective perception of
his/her position in life within the context of
culture
• the systems of values in which he/she lives
• in relation to his/her objectives,
expectations, standards & worries.
Social support ~
• one of the most significant resources used by
the elderly.
• involves the perception of the received
support, the sense of control over
social relationships, & the perspective
of exchanges that include affective,
emotional & material factors.
• Differences between successful &
unsuccessful aging is not just the difference
between health & sickness ~ however, it is a
place from which to start.
In brief ~
 the absence of clinical disease or
disability means that all is well.
 the presence of disease represents
some kind of personal failure.
Thank You