Variable | N (%) |
Sex | |
Male Female | 755 (39.2) 1172 (60.8) |
Age group† | |
60–69 70–79 80 and over | 980 (50.9) 769 (39.9) 177 (9.2) |
Education level† | |
Low Medium High | 238 (12.4) 1638 (85.3) 44 (2.3) |
Marital status | |
With spouse Without spouse | 1295 (67.2) 632 (32.8) |
Household income*† | |
Low Middle High | 1222 (64.1) 612 (32.1) 71 (3.7) |
Living arrangement† | |
With children With others Alone | 874 (45.9) 813 (42.7) 219 (11.5) |
Self-rated health† | |
Poor Good | 535 (27.8) 1389 (72.2) |
Cognitive impairment†‡ | |
Yes No | 407 (21.2) 1510 (78.8) |
No. of chronic illnesses† | |
None 1–2 3 or more | 598 (31.2) 859 (44.8) 460 (24.0) |
Depression† | |
Yes No | 222 (11.8) 1666 (88.2) |
Social isolation† | |
Yes No | 349 (18.2) 1567 (81.8) |
*The median monthly income in Malaysia ranged from RM3626 to RM4585 during the baseline study period (2013–2014), with varying figures from state to state. Negeri Sembilan (NS) has lower median income than the national figure. In 2014, 17% of households in NS were considered low-income. Our sample showed a higher percentage of low-income households (60.4%). This is in line with findings from local studies that showed: (1) higher poverty rates among older populations and (2) households headed by older adults comprised approximately 60% of the low-income group in Malaysia.
†in some variables, N did not add up to 1927 due to missing data.
‡cognitive impairment here refers to mild-moderate only, as those with severe cognitive impairment were excluded from the interview at baseline.