Abstract
Ageing among Orang Asli communities requires a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach, as they maintain close relationships with family, village, land, and local social networks. Although ageing in elderly care institutions has increasingly been discussed as a response to the challenges of population ageing, understanding of Orang Asli older persons’ preferences toward such arrangements remains limited. This study aims to examine the perspectives of older persons from the Temuan sub-ethnic group in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Mahang regarding ageing in place and ageing in elderly care institutions. This study employed a qualitative approach using an exploratory case study design. Three informants were interviewed in depth. The findings indicate that Orang Asli older persons are more inclined to age in place due to the continuity of tradition, social support, access to healthcare, familiarity with their way of life, and limited literacy regarding ageing in elderly care institutions. This study is significant in providing input for the improvement and implementation of the National Policy for Older Persons by demonstrating that the effectiveness of elderly care for Orang Asli communities depends strongly on the role of the community and local environment as holistic spaces of care (social, cultural, and emotional) rather than relying solely on formal institutional facilities.