Faith, gratitude, and the meaning of aging: religious and cultural influences on care for older Muslim Melayu women in southern Thailand

This qualitative study explores religiously informed understandings of aging among older Muslim Melayu women in southern Thailand’s Pondok institutions. Data from focus groups (n = 54) and interviews (n = 12) across three provinces showed aging was linked to physical decline, work cessation, and spiritual preparation, often beginning at 48–55 years. Findings illustrate how Continuity, Activity, and Disengagement theories intersect within these faith-based settings. Pondoks provide a culturally congruent, low-cost alternative that facilitates spiritual activity and identity continuity for women relying on minimal state subsistence allowances. While filial gratitude remains a core imperative, residential choices are increasingly mediated by economic precarity and shifting family capacities. The study underscores a critical need for integrated policy models that bridge the gap between traditional spiritual care and formal health support systems to ensure dignity and well-being for marginalized older populations.