Chances are, you are reading this on some sort of devise. Has technology been so convenient, accessible and pervasive in our everyday lives – from travel to finance to health, that we never stop to think how we came about using it and why we still continue to do so? Have you always embraced the changes technology brings to your life or have you grappled with new technologies and wonder, “Am I getting too old for this”?

This research seeks to understand Malaysia’s community-dwelling older adults’ perception and needs of digital health technologies (DHTs), in pursuit to develop an inclusive and sustainable DHT that promotes optimal ageing and improves quality of life. The design thinking approach is the proposed research design due to the nature of this project which aims to solve complex issues from human-centric ways and focus on the users’ experience while involving an interdisciplinary research team.

Supervisors:

Dr Tan Meng Yoe and Dr Dyah Pitaloka, Monash University Malaysia

Dr Leah Heiss and Dr Rowan Page, Monash University Australia 

With increasing longevity and retirement age, the profile of e-learners is getting older. The learning characteristics of older adult learners are distinct from younger adult learners. Yet, there seems to be a gap between older e-learners’ needs and the current development and evaluation of online courses. Through scoping review, this research sought to find evidence to describe older adults’ online learning experiences and draw lessons to design better online learning courses.

This research thesis was completed as part of the Master of Ageing programme at University of Melbourne.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Jenny Waycott and Associate Professor Femke Buisman-Pijlman, University of Melbourne

• Inclusive Digital Health Technology for Malaysia’s Ageing Population – The Way Forward (2023). - LSE SEAC-KRI Forum 2023: Malaysia Futures

• Chung, K. S. Y., Lee, E. S. L., Tan, J. Q., Teo, D. J. H., Lee, C. B. L., Ee, S. R., Sim, S. K. Y., & Chee, C. S. (2017). Effects of Playback Theatre on cognitive function and quality of life in older adults in Singapore: A preliminary study. Australasian Journal on Ageing.

• A Qualitative Understanding of Dementia among People Living and Working in a Mature Community in Singapore (2018) - U.S.-Hong Kong 2018 Conference "Aging across Time and Contexts", Hong Kong

• Social Support Network: Case Studies in Singapore (2015) – 10th International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) Asia/Oceania Regional Congress, Chiang Mai, Thailand

• Localising Reminiscence Therapy (2015) – Oxford International Health Conference, UK

• Developing Dementia Services to Help People Age-in Place (2014) – 24th Alzheimer Europe Conference 2014, Glasgow, Scotland

• Master of Ageing, University of Melbourne, 2022

• Teaching in Higher Education Certification, Temasek Polytechnic, 2016

• Graduate Diploma in Gerontology, Singapore University of Social Sciences, 2014

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with Communications, Singapore University of Social Sciences, 2011

• Diploma in Applied Food Science & Nutrition, Temasek Polytechnic, 2008

• Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship, 2022

• Gerontological Society Scholarship, 2013

• SIM University Scholarship, 2010