Multi-Generational Housing Environment Preferences’ Physical Features for Quality of Life and Active Ageing Community in Malaysia

Hafiszah Ismail; Kushairi Rashid; Nor Rima Muhamad Ariff; Elisabet Siahaan

doi:10.21834/e-bpj.v11i35.7661

Authors

Hafiszah Ismail Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Kushairi Rashid Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia
Nor Rima Muhamad Ariff Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Elisabet Siahaan Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sumatera Utara, 20155, Medan City, North Sumatra, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v11i35.7661

Keywords:

Multi-Generational Housing, Quality of Life, Active Ageing, Physical features

Abstract

Malaysia’s rapidly ageing population highlights the need for housing environments that promote well-being. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework of Multi-Generational Housing Environment Preferences’ physical features for the quality of life of an active ageing community. Using a mixed-method approach, this paper reports quantitative findings from 398 respondents in Shah Alam representing Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. Four key physical features were identified: (1) Accessibility and Walkability, (2) Communal Areas, (3) Personal Privacy, and (4) Assisted Technology Integration. These findings guide future housing developments to support inclusivity, independence, and well-being in the Malaysian context

References

Adianto, J., Gabe, R. T., & Farraz, M. A. (2021). The influence of family relations on the housing preferences of Millennials in Depok, Indonesia. Journal of Urbanism International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 16(1), 84–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2021.1944282 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2021.1944282

Al-Homoud, M. (2025). Space personalization as a catalyst for sustainable aging in place: Enhancing elderly autonomy through culturally adaptive housing in Jordan. Sustainability, 17(10), 4693. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104693 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104693

Chou, Y., & Kröger, T. (2020). Ageing in place together: older parents and ageing offspring with intellectual disability. Ageing and Society, 42(2), 480–494. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0144686x20001038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X20001038

Dash, S. P., & Thilagam, N. L. (2022). A Systematic Review on Inter-Relationship of Residential Neighborhood Characteristics on Quality of Life of Elderly. Pertanika Journal of Social Science & Humanities, 30(4), 1533–1566. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.30.4.05 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.30.4.05

Heinonen, K., Kurtmollaiev, S., Lervik-Olsen, L., Mele, C., Streukens, S., & Andreassen, T. W. (2025). Responsible aging: integrating individual and intergenerational well-being. Journal of Service Management, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/josm-12-2024-0529 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-12-2024-0529

Ismail, H., Abidin, A. W. Z., Ling, N. L. F. J., Afif, A. S., & Siahaan, E. (2023, October 31). Factors affecting place attachment and types of living arrangement Preferences for Ageing-In-Place of the Malaysian Generational Housing Consumers in Malaysia. https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/IJSCET/article/view/14343

Ismail, H., Johaimi Ling, N. L. F., Abdul Wahab, M., Mohd Fawzy, F. F., Mohamed Shaari, S., & Anthony Jiram, W. R. (2025). The elderly-friendly housing neighbourhood preferred features by generations in Malaysia. Built Environment Journal, 22(SI), 15-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22iSI.6475

Ismail, H., Nordin, M. S. A., Halil, F. M., & Khalid, N. H. A. (2023). The elderly quality of life (E-QoL) and retirement village preferred features by Malaysian Generations. Planning Malaysia, 21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v21i26.1271

Ismail, H., Nordin, M. S. A., & Zainan Abidin, A. W. (2020). The Elderly-Friendly Housing Design Features Preferences by Generations in Malaysia. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 5(15), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i15.2510 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i15.2510

Kim, M., Jang, M., & Lee, Y. (2025). Relationship between indoor environmental quality levels in senior housing and perception of indoor environmental quality. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2553034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2553034

Kim, Y., Yeo, H., & Lim, L. (2023). Sustainable, walkable cities for the elderly: Identification of the built environment for walkability by activity purpose. Sustainable Cities and Society, 100, 105004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2023.105004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2023.105004

Kwon, H. J., & Oh, J. (2023). Comparing older parents’ and adult children’s fear of falling and perceptions of Age-Friendly Home Modification: an integration of the theories of planned behavior and protection motivation. Behavioral Sciences, 13(5), 403. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050403 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050403

Lak, A., Rashidghalam, P., Myint, P. K., & Baradaran, H. R. (2020). Comprehensive 5P framework for active aging using the ecological approach: an iterative systematic review. BMC Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8136-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8136-8

Ling, T., Lu, H., Kao, Y., Chien, S., Chen, H., & Lin, L. (2023). Understanding the Meaningful Places for Aging-in-Place: A Human-Centric Approach toward Inter-Domain Design Criteria Consideration in Taiwan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1373. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021373 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021373

Loke, Y.J., Lim, E.S. & Senadjki, A. 2020. Health promotion and active aging among seniors in Malaysia. Journal of Health Research 35(5): 444-456. https://doi.org/10.1108/ jhr-07-2019-0148 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHR-07-2019-0148

Maříková, M., Řehoř, P., Vrchota, J., & Klarner, L. (2025). Factors of work motivation in production engineering for baby boomers, generations X, Y and Z. Management Systems in Production Engineering, 33(3), 321–331. https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2025-0031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2025-0031

Miyazaki, E., & Ando, S. (2020). Hierarchical Structure Analysis on Health Determinants of living environment Defining social capital. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 588(3), 032077. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/588/3/032077 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/588/3/032077

Nayak, S.R., Dash, S.P., Amin, P.S., & Priyashantha, K.G. (2023). A review on intergenerational cohousing: A possible living option for elderly and youth. New Design Ideas, 7(3), 535-556.

Nguyen, T. H. T., & Levasseur, M. (2022). How does Community-Based housing foster social participation in older adults: importance of Well-Designed Common Space, proximity to resources, flexible rules and policies, and benevolent communities. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 66(1), 103–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2022.2133199 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2022.2133199

Rashid, K., Mohamed, T., Azyze, S. N. a. E., & Ismail, H. (2022). DETERMINING ELDERLY-FRIENDLY FEATURES BASED ON AN AGE-FRIENDLY CITY APPROACH: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS ON LOCAL PERSPECTIVE IN TAIPING AND IPOH, MALAYSIA. PLANNING MALAYSIA, 20. https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v20i24.1212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v20i24.1212

Rashid, K., Sha Bani, N. S. S., Ismail, H., Azman, M. A. A., Muhammad Soffian, N. S., & Ibrahim, R. (2025). The synergy model in elder care: Improving agency and institutional roles for aging in place. Pertanika Proceedings, 1(6). https://doi.org/10.47836/pp.1.6.022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pp.1.6.022

Salih, S., Hamid, T. A., Ibrahim, R., Ashari, A., Abdullah, S. F., & Chai, S. T. (2023). A scoping review on determinants of active ageing in Southeast Asian region. Sains Malaysiana, 52(5), 1523–1543. https://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5205-15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5205-15

Shi, H., Qi, H., & Yang, K. (2025). Enhancing elderly care with smart homes: A comparative study of use and payment willingness. Digital Health, 11, 20552076251374223. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251374223 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251374223

Van Gasse, D., & Wyninckx, B. (2024). Social support exchange in shared living arrangements with older adults—Exploring the benefits of intergenerational living for older adults. Journal of Population Ageing, 17(2), 277-295. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12062-023-09427-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-023-09427-4

Wil, C. M. H. C., & Ismail, H. (2025). Integrating Biophilic Design in Multi-Generational Housing: A Conceptual Framework for Enhancing Well-Being and Quality of Life. Built Environment Journal, 22(SI). https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22isi.6498 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22iSI.6498

World Health Organization. (2002). Active ageing: A policy framework. Geneva: WHO. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/67215

Xu, S., Zhang, T., Fukuda, H., He, J., & Bao, X. (2024). Comprehensive Study of Residential Environment Preferences and Characteristics among Older Adults: Empirical Evidence from China. Buildings, 14(7), 2175. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072175 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072175

Yap, M. T., & Tan, J. (2021). Housing an ageing population: Lessons from Singapore’s multi-generational housing model. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 36(4), 1187–1206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-021-09846-5

Yue, Y., Yang, D., Owen, N., Zhou, S., & Van Dyck, D. (2025). Neighborhood environment and older adults’ mental wellbeing and cognition: mediating role of activity variety. Journal of Transport & Health, 44, 102144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2025.102144 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2025.102144

Zhang, S., Wu, W., Xiao, Z., Wu, S., Zhao, Q., Ding, D., & Wang, L. (2023). Creating livable cities for healthy ageing: Cognitive health in older adults and their 15-minute walkable neighbourhoods. Cities, 137, 104312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104312 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104312