A Case Study of Barriers to Emotional Support Towards Successful Aging in Malaysia

The objective of this study is to delve into the difficulties faced by older adults when it comes to receiving emotional support, and how these challenges affect their ability to age well. The study utilized a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews and thematic analysis to present its findings. The sample group consisted of 24 older adults and three government officials who were interviewed. The study identified various obstacles to emotional support, such as family crises, stress from children’s problems, negative attitudes from children, and cultural changes. The analysis proposes several strategies to enhance emotional support for older adults, including encouraging them to volunteer to feel more connected, promoting the concept of self-care and self-love, utilizing technology to communicate, raising awareness about the emotional support needs of older adults, implementing intergenerational programs to promote emotional support across different age groups, and collaborating with community organizations to improve emotional support. Despite the importance of this topic, there is currently insufficient research on the barriers to emotional support in the context of successful aging, particularly in Malaysia.