Table 1.

Description of Variables Used in This Study

Variables	Description
Unmet healthcare needs	Did you ever hesitate to visit health facilities even when you were ill/sick in the past 12 months? “Yes” or “no.”
Reasons for unmet healthcare needs	If the response to unmet healthcare needs is “yes,” why? (1) It’s too expensive for me. (2) The fares to/from the clinical department are too high for me. (3) I do not know which department to visit for the medical care I need. (4) Health facilities are too far from my home. (5) I do not think I need medical care. (6) I do not have time to see a doctor. (7) I do not have health insurance. (8) Other reasons. Reasons for unmet healthcare needs were then classified into three categories based on the study conducted in Canada: (1) accessibility (economic hardship and inaccessible transportation); (2) availability of services (service not available and scheduling conflict); and (3) acceptability of available services (attitudes toward and knowledge about healthcare).
Marital status	This variable was categorized into two groups: (1) married, whether living together or separately; and (2) never married, widowed, or divorced.
Family composition	This variable referred to whether the participant lives alone or lives with their friend or family.
Education level	Based on the Malaysian education system, the education level was categorized into three groups: (1) attended primary school, including participants without formal education; (2) attended secondary school, including vocational school; and (3) attended a college or university education.
Employment status	This variable was categorized into employed and unemployed. Those who had retired were included in the unemployed group.
Household income	The 2019 income structure of the Department of Statistics of Malaysia was used for the household income classification. In this study, household income was classified into three categories: B40 is the base group or bottom 40% of individuals who earn less than RM 4850 as monthly household income, whereas M40 is the middle-class group or the middle 40% of individuals who earn between RM 4851 and RM 10,959. T20 is the upper-class group or the top 20% of individuals who earn more than RM 10,959.
Self-perceived financial status	Which of the following best describes your current financial situation in light of general economic conditions? “Difficult,” “average,” or “comfortable.”
Self-perceived health status	How is your current health status? The four options of answers (excellent, good, fair, and poor) were then further categorized into two groups: (1) good to excellent and (2) poor to fair.
Ability to travel alone	Can you go out alone by train, bus, or taxi? “Yes” or “no.”
BMI	Weight and height were measured twice to calculate body mass index (BMI). The Malaysian BMI classification was used as a reference. In this study, the BMI was classified into two categories: (1) not overweight for underweight and normal and (2) overweight for overweight and obese.
Depression	Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) that has been incorporated into the BM-JAGES questionnaire. A score of less than 5 points indicated no depression.
Hypertension	Have you ever been diagnosed with hypertension by a medical doctor, nurse, or health officer? “Yes” or “no.”
Diabetes, heart disease, stroke	Participants were given a list of diseases, and they had to circle the number of diseases they had, which were diagnosed by a doctor.
Activities of daily living (ADL)	Six ADLs were assessed, which included bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, feeding, and continence. These ADLs were categorized into dependent and independent. Any activities that require assistance were categorized as dependent. For feeding, partial or total help or parenteral feeding was categorized as dependent. For continence, partial or total incontinence of the bowel or bladder was categorized as dependent.
Visual, hearing, memory, and walking impairment	Do you have any difficulty in seeing? Do you have any difficulty in hearing? Do you have any difficulty in remembering or concentrating? Do you have any difficulty in walking, climbing steps, or carrying items? The four options of answers (no difficulty; yes, some difficulty; yes, a lot of difficulties; and cannot do at all) were then categorized into two groups: yes or no.