Health Needs Assessment of Older People in an Agricultural Plantation

Abstract

Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) is a unique palm oil and rubber plantation settlement in the rural areas of Malaysia occupied by the land settlers who are now in their old age. Their health needs may be different from other agricultural workers in the world. The aim of the study was to conduct health needs assessment to identify health priorities of the older people in FELDA, based on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines. A sample of 162 older Malays aged 60–80 years from FELDA settlement volunteered to participate in the study. Data include information on health, cognitive, psychosocial, nutrition, and food intake using standard questionnaires. Cognitive tests were administered, and measurement of body composition and food intake were taken. The results showed that the main factors influencing health functioning of the older people of FELDA according to the priorities were as follows: (1) psychological factors, (2) nutritional factors, (3) social factors, (4) health conditions, (5) access to health services and functional status, (6) lifestyles factors, (7) biological factors, (8) socioeconomic factors, and (9) cognitive factors. Psychological factors had the main influence on health functioning of the older people of FELDA. Physical health needs of the older people in FELDA were determined mainly by psychological, nutritional, and lifestyle factors, whereas mental health needs were determined mainly by psychological, socioeconomic, and social factors. FELDA has vast resources to utilize for the running and maintaining of health programs for their older people as well as for evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness of health programs.