Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.
Active Ageing Impact Lab, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.
J Gerontol Soc Work. 2024 Apr;67(3):322-348. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2023.2264894. Epub 2023 Oct 3.
Mealtimes are crucial markers of daily schedules and hold significant meaning for older adults in senior living facilities worldwide, extending beyond the food served. Utilizing Moustakas' transcendental phenomenological approach, this study explores the lived experiences and multifaceted meanings of mealtimes for older adults from multicultural backgrounds in senior living facilities in Malaysia. In six urban senior living facilities, 28 older adults from Malaysia's three major ethnic groups, namely Bumiputera Malays, Chinese, and Indians were interviewed through semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Five discernible themes beyond tangible aspects emerged: mealtimes as cultural bridges, memories and palate, emotional bonds through food, quality control and consumption, and comfort through personalized dining experience. This study raises awareness among senior-living facilitators, family caregivers, academics, and policymakers to acknowledge the evident complexities of mealtimes for older adults living away from the comfort of familiarity. Future research should consider the active involvement of all stakeholders in co-creating and implementing interventions that enhance older adults' mealtime experiences in senior-friendly establishments.
用餐时间是日常生活的重要标志，对全球养老院中的老年人具有重要意义，其重要性超出了所提供的食物本身。本研究采用莫斯塔卡斯的先验现象学方法，探讨了马来西亚城市养老院中来自多元文化背景的老年人对用餐时间的生活体验和多方面意义。在六家城市养老院中，通过半结构化的一对一访谈，对来自马来西亚三大族群（马来族、华族和印度族）的 28 位老年人进行了采访。除了有形方面，还出现了五个明显的主题：用餐时间作为文化桥梁、记忆和味觉、通过食物建立情感纽带、质量控制和消费、以及个性化用餐体验带来的舒适感。这项研究引起了养老院管理者、家庭护理者、学者和政策制定者的关注，让他们认识到远离熟悉环境的老年人在用餐时间方面的明显复杂性。未来的研究应该考虑让所有利益相关者积极参与，共同制定和实施干预措施，以提高老年人在对老年人友好的场所的用餐体验。
