Retirement villages in Klang Valley, Malaysia: acceptance, barriers and strategies

Ling, Xin Yu (2025) Retirement villages in Klang Valley, Malaysia: acceptance, barriers and strategies. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Malaysia’s ageing population has increased the demand for alternative senior housing, such as Retirement Villages (RVs), which emphasise independence, security, and social engagement. While RVs have been extensively studied in Western countries, their acceptance in Malaysia remains relatively underexplored, indicating the need for further investigation. This study aims to assess (i) the level of acceptance of RVs, (ii) key barriers to acceptance, and (iii) strategies to enhance the acceptance. A review of existing literature revealed that RV acceptance is generally higher in Western countries compared to Asian contexts. Five key barriers were identified from literature—cultural, social, financial, legal and technical, and the living environment—alongside four strategic areas for improvement: cultural and social adaptation, financial feasibility, legal and technical frameworks, and living environment enhancements. A quantitative research method was employed, involving the distribution of structured questionnaires to individuals aged 30 and above who are nearing retirement or are involved in elder care decision-making. A total of 142 responses were collected and analysed using Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test, frequency distribution, arithmetic mean, Mann-Whitney U test, KruskalWallis test, and Spearman’s correlation The findings indicated a cautious but increasing acceptance of RVs in Malaysia. While 36.6% of respondents reported moderate familiarity with the concept, 60% viewed RVs as a viable elderly care option and would likely recommend them to others. Additionally, the study highlighted that affordability concerns were the top barrier to RV acceptance, while enhancing accessibility and design was identified as the most effective strategy to improve acceptance. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed significant differences in acceptance levels across various social demographics, including gender, marital status, ethnicity, education level, household income, and number of children. Spearman’s correlation test showed the strongest moderate correlation between poor environmental quality and optimal location and accessibility. These findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders in improving elderly care infrastructure and promoting RVs as a viable retirement option, aligning with the Malaysia Madani vision under the "Housing for the Rakyat" initiative. Keywords: retirement villages, acceptance, barriers, strategies, ageing population Subject Area: HQ1060-1064 Aged. Gerontology (Social aspects). Retirement

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