Objective

To explore how older people manage social support needs when they are childless and living in poverty in the Malaysian context where social policy emphasises family as the primary provider of social support.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were completed with a purposive sample of 34 childless and older Malaysians living in poverty in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A thematic content analysis focused on their reports of managing social support needs.

Results

Key strategies were using existing resources, developing new networks and adjusting expectations. Agency played a vital role in avoiding institutional care.

Conclusions

This paper adds to research on childlessness in older age in varied policy and cultural contexts. It challenges assumptions about families providing social support and argues for policies to recognise older people as an individual unit rather than as part of a family to prolong independent living in the community.