Of late, we’ve seen a plethora of media articles highlighting points affecting our seniors.
Clearly, there are lots of gaps and holes to be addressed as we put together to transition into an ageing nation.
According to the Malaysia Census Report 2020, our inhabitants grew by 1.7% during the last decade to 32.4 million – 10.4% comprised these above 60, whereas the inhabitants of younger Malaysians dropped from 27.6% in 2010 to 24% in 2020.
Data from the Statistics Department reveals that Malaysia will shift to an ageing nation sooner than beforehand projected, with 15.3% of our inhabitants falling into the 60-and-above class by 2030.
Disturbingly, the median financial savings of all Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members under the age of 55 stands at RM13,000, which interprets to RM54 a month for his or her (20 estimated) retirement years.
This is a 95% shortfall from the EPF’s advisable primary financial savings of RM240,000 (RM1,000 a month for 20 years), assuming one retires at age 55 and lives up to the common Malaysian’s life expectancy of 75 years previous.
So, not solely are we getting older, however we may even be getting poorer.
“If you don’t have social and financial protection, then you cannot age well,” says consultant geriatrician Professor Dr Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman.
“Our personal finances aside, so many of our infrastructures are not age-friendly – these things can promote more diseases and stress that can actually tip you into a more stressful life in your old age.
“It’s about community ageing, and as a nation, we could do better – we owe it to the next generation to ensure their ageing is secure.”
A constructive journey
Getting older shouldn’t be one thing that’s feared, however as an alternative, a journey to be loved.
Prof Shahrul, seen right here with a affected person, thinks that ageing needs to be rebranded as a constructive journey, offered that we plan for it.
She provides: “There are times when presentations of older people in the media show a stereotype as tired, lonely or sad; where, upon retirement, they are no longer relevant or productive members of society.
“So we don’t look forward to ageing and think it comes with a lot of negativity, ills, and losses of spouse and independence.
“We want to rebrand ageing as something that is positive – provided we plan for and anticipate it.”
Prof Shahrul, who can also be the president of the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS), opines that the aged needs to be allowed to really feel and behave as they really feel and never as they age.
“We have so many negative stereotypes of what ageing is in our cultures, especially in Asia.
“We see very few examples of wonderful, active, healthy ageing.
“In fact, those living beyond their years and dressing young are frowned upon for being age- and culturally-inappropriate, but we need to build more positive images of ageing – we don’t have enough role models.
“If we are celebrating a few, then it’s not the norm,” she says.
Turning again the clock
The fortunate ones with good genes age higher than others, though how you reside your life could make plenty of distinction – smoking, alcohol, overexposure to solar, and many others can all speed up the ageing course of.
Prof Shahrul says: “Some people age more prematurely than others, and there are signs that can give you a clue, e.g. walking a bit slower, having a thicker waistline, poorer grip strength, difficulty going up the stairs, poorer memory and skin elasticity, etc.”
There are additionally illnesses that may age you quicker such as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (bear in mind the 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?) and Werner syndrome.
However, this present day, illnesses that trigger us to age sooner embrace weight problems, which is a danger issue for hypertension (hypertension) and diabetes.
If you evaluate a 35-year-old with diabetes and one other with out, the one with diabetes will probably be 10 years older by way of bodily and physiological ageing.
“The modern world we live in allows us to live longer, but the quality in which we live those years may be in question, because in the age of modern medicine, quality is compromised.
“Chronic stress, hectic lifestyles, processed foods, restricted diets, environmental pollutants, etc can be damaging and affect sleep quality.
“These then set off the cascade of ageing a lot faster than anyone back in the day.
“This also compromises our immune function and puts us at risk of infection – look what Covid-19 has done to us!
“The pandemic has definitely accelerated our ageing,” she factors out.
Whether one lives within the rural or city space, entry to healthcare is of utmost significance when tackling plenty of ageing woes.
In the previous, the agricultural of us aged higher, however we’ve modified a lot that the rural-urban divide is blurred.
“Now their kids are away in big cities, their housing may be more dilapidated and they may be more predisposed to falling, but there is no one to take them to the hospital.
“All this came to light during the pandemic when people couldn’t get access to healthcare, couldn’t get to their kids or vice versa, and weren’t protected – it didn’t matter where you lived.
“The disease has affected us physically and cognitively; some of my older patients who were slightly impaired mentally went on to develop dementia in the past two years, which is sad,” says Prof Shahrul.
While ageing will not be reversible, it may be slowed down, offered the chance elements are lowered.
“If someone is obese and suddenly goes and runs a marathon, it will probably affect his life.
“These things cannot be rushed – you have to follow a balanced regime.
“At 50, if you want to change your life and start running, do have a full physical check-up first because you never know what those previous unhealthy lifestyle habits can trigger – it might go the wrong way,” she warns.
Prof Shahrul will probably be giving a plenary tackle on Accelerated Ageing and Conditions That Cause It on the tenth Malaysian Hybrid Conference on Healthy Ageing to be held in Penang from March 15-17 (2022).
The convention, organised by MHAS in collaboration with the Penang state authorities, is themed Holistic Healthy Ageing: 10 Pillars to Living Longer, Healthier and Better.
“The convention’s 10 pillars of wholesome ageing will create a fuller image of what ageing actually is.
“While there are particular challenges, there are additionally plenty of alternatives,” concludes Prof Shahrul.
