Time to rebrand ageing as an enjoyable journey

While ageing is not reversible, it can be slowed down, provided risk factors, like being physically inactive, are reduced. — Photos: Filepic

Of late, we’ve seen a plethora of media articles highlighting issues affecting our seniors.

Clearly, there are many gaps and holes to be addressed as we prepare to transition into an ageing nation.

According to the Malaysia Census Report 2020, our population grew by 1.7% over the last decade to 32.4 million – 10.4% comprised those above 60, while the population of young 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 earlier than previously projected, with 15.3% of our population falling into the 60-and-above category by 2030.

Disturbingly, the median savings of all Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members below the age of 55 stands at RM13,000, which translates to RM54 a month for their (20 estimated) retirement years.

This is a 95% shortfall from the EPF’s recommended basic savings of RM240,000 (RM1,000 a month for 20 years), assuming one retires at age 55 and lives up to the average Malaysian’s life expectancy of 75 years old.

So, not only are we getting older, but we will also 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 positive journey

Getting older should not be something that is feared, but instead, a journey to be enjoyed.

Prof Shahrul, seen here with a patient, thinks that ageing should be rebranded as a positive journey, provided that we plan for it.

She adds: “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 is also the president of the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS), opines that the elderly should be allowed to feel and behave as they feel and not 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 back the clock

The lucky ones with good genes age better than others, although how you live your life can make a lot of difference – smoking, alcohol, overexposure to sun, etc can all accelerate the ageing process.

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 also diseases that can age you faster such as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (remember the 2008 movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?) and Werner syndrome.

However, in this day and age, diseases that cause us to age faster include obesity, which is a risk factor for hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes.

If you compare a 35-year-old with diabetes and another without, the one with diabetes will be 10 years older in terms of physical 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 points out.

Whether one lives in the rural or urban area, access to healthcare is of utmost importance when tackling a lot of ageing woes.

In the past, the rural folks aged better, but we have changed so much 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 is not reversible, it can be slowed down, provided the risk factors are reduced.

“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 be giving a plenary address on Accelerated Ageing and Conditions That Cause It at the 10th Malaysian Hybrid Conference on Healthy Ageing to be held in Penang from March 15-17 (2022).

The conference, organised by MHAS in collaboration with the Penang state government, is themed Holistic Healthy Ageing: 10 Pillars to Living Longer, Healthier and Better.

“The conference's 10 pillars of healthy ageing will create a fuller picture of what ageing really is.

"While there are certain challenges, there are also a lot of opportunities," concludes Prof Shahrul.

Click here for more information and here to register.