'The Celebration 2022: Life begins at 50' event focuses on three pillars - mental, physical and social - to help seniors age well. Photos: Amazing Seniors
In conjunction with International Day of Older Persons on Oct 1, Amazing Seniors is having its inaugural “Celebration 2022: Life Begins At 50” event which will take place from Sept 30 until Oct 2 at Atria Shopping Gallery in Petaling Jaya.
The three-day festival, which is the first of its kind in Malaysia, celebrates ageing and will offer four floors (Ground to Level 3) of useful resources and fun activities for those aged 50 and above as well as their family members.
The festival will incorporate “fun elements” like performances, singing, music, dancing, games, arts and crafts, together with talks. It will also feature booths on age-related healthcare, supplements, caregiving, fitness, retirement planning, travel and more.
There are three main objectives to the event: to give seniors a platform to showcase their skills and talents in arts, culture and music on stage; to educate them on elements of successful aging with the latest healthcare and caregiving tips, fitness, seniors communities, volunteering opportunities and others; and to be a platform for them to experience “memories of the past” so they can reminisce and show their families what they experienced in the “good old days”.
Amazing Seniors co-founders Jasmin (left) and Low. - Amazing SeniorsAmazing Seniors is a digital ecosystem platform to empower, educate and enrich the lives of seniors.
“Three things are necessary to help a senior age successfully and these are the three pillars that Amazing Seniors is built on – mental, physical and social – and which are incorporated into the celebration event,” says Amazing Seniors co-founder Penny Low, 52.
“For the cognitive (mental) aspect, there will be talks and seminars; for the physical aspect, there will be fitness/movement, dancing and singing; and for the social aspect, there will be communities for seniors to interact and network,” says Low.
The world is growing older and this includes Malaysia, says Amazing Seniors co-founder Jasmin Amirul Ghani, 49.
The world is growing older. In 2020, one billion (14%) of the total worldwide population is aged 60 and above. This figure will rise to 1.4 billion (17%) in 2030, and 2.1 billion (21.5%) in 2050.“In 2020, one billion (14%) of the total worldwide population is aged 60 and above. This figure will rise to 1.4 billion (17%) in 2030, and 2.1 billion (21.5%) in 2050. So, Malaysia is an aging nation and people have to start taking the older generation more seriously,” says Jasmin.
“In the past, people used to dread growing older. Even companies look at seniors and think that this group just needs hospital care. But seniors are so much more than this so we’re trying to change that mindset, hence the name ‘Amazing Seniors’,” says Jasmin.
“It’s all about celebrating and acknowledging the fact that we’re getting older and seeing it as something to look forward to than dread,” she says.
“Because seniors only have a certain amount of years left, it's about what they can do to maximise those remaining years. So rather than just sit at home watching TV or being on their iPad or Tablet, go out there and do all they can do and live their life to the fullest,” she adds.
At the Amazing Seniors web portal, we gather together in one place all these things they can celebrate and look forward to, and this event is an extension of that, says Jasmin.
Not just for the old
In the past, people used to dread growing older. But Amazing Seniors aims to change mindsets about ageing.
Low and Jasmin also encourage younger ones to attend the free public event.
Everyone grows older and at one point, we’ll all hit the big 50, says Low.
“We’re all taught how to grow up well but no one ever teaches us how to grow older successfully, so we hope to empower everyone to age well and gracefully,” she says.
“Young people also have parents and grandparents who are older in their 60s or 70s so they can go to look for what's out there for their loved ones,” adds Jasmin.
“Most seniors today seek independence and choice, and that’s what Amazing Seniors and this event is about. It’s about giving them the choice of what they want to do and how they want to be, as they grow older,” she says.
“We want to educate seniors on their choices and show them the options they have and help them make better, more well-informed choices.”
The duo reveal that they will also launch their Amazing Seniors YouTube channel in the future. Their first episode features a company that specialises in AI (artificial intelligence) which they’ve incorporated into robotic arms and legs to help seniors who have difficulties with movement. Their robotic legs have supported a group of elderly basketball players in Japan.
More info at: amazingseniors.my/
