TO most of the 300 participants at the Warga Emas Fit (WE Fit) 2026 programme at Greentown Hall in PPR Rumah Pangsa Jalan Hospital (formerly known as Ashby Road Flats) in Ipoh, Perak, it was a fitness event.
But for others, it was a lifeline for meaningful connection.
Former nurse Mimi Lut, 80, said the programme helped keep her active and socially connected.
“I live alone, so coming here allows me to meet people and make new friends.
“I have made more than five new friends and I always look forward to programmes like this,” she said.
Despite her age, Mimi remains independent and even rides a motorcycle to get around.
“This kind of programme helps me stay physically and mentally fit.
“It keeps both my body and mind active,” she added.
Mimi said building friendships was especially important and she kept in touch with her peers to encourage them to stay active.
“When we make new friends, we support each other.
“It helps us stay occupied and not feel lonely.”
She said a highlight of the programme was receiving the free influenza vaccine.
“Some people do not realise its importance when they are still healthy, because they are not exposed to this information.”
She said the programme also gave her new insights into her own limitations.
“I learned that I need to do more leg exercises.
“My legs are not strong enough yet, so I cannot take part in archery,” said Mimi.
“They advised me to improve my leg strength, so that is something new I learnt,” she said.
Mimi hopes that such programmes will be held more frequently, like every three to four months, to benefit more elderly folk.
“Children should encourage their parents to join these kinds of activities,” she added.
Rosenani Amin, 71, said the social aspect was a remedy for the isolation of living alone.
“There are many activities here and it is much better than staying alone at home.
“I believe that when you get older, you need to socialise more,” she added.
Rosenani, whose favourite activity was the aerobics sessions, also took advantage of the health screenings.
“I was able to check my health.
“These events are necessary to gain knowledge and stay motivated,” said Rosenani, who used to work in a hospital.
Active ageing
Another participant Gerard Antoniette, 72, said the initiative helped her build a strong social circle despite living alone.
“Through events like this, I have made many new friends.
“We have even started our own routine, meeting every day for Zumba sessions near our housing area in Waller Court,” she said.
Antoniette, who is unmarried, said such programmes had made a meaningful difference in her daily life.
“It can be quite challenging living alone, but these activities fill that gap.
“We meet regularly now to support each other,” she said, adding that this kind of events motivated her to learn new things and stay engaged.
Antoniette invited several of her friends to join the event, and many of them turned up.
For Toon Lee Lee, 70, it was her sons who encouraged her to take part to stay active. She enjoyed it so much that she took part in all the activities.
“We got to know about this programme through UTC Perak Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE).
“I came here to learn more about health.
“I have a bit of knowledge about healthy eating before this, but coming here gave me deeper insight into the topic,” said Toon.
C. Asokumarthi, 68, who returned to Malaysia after living in the United States for 20 years, expressed surprise at the growth of local programmes for the elderly.
“When I left in 2000, there were not many programmes like this.
“Initiatives like this are meaningful platforms that allow the elderly to stay productive, engaged and motivated.
“They give older people something to look forward to, as we are turning into an ageing nation,” she added.
Asokumarthi said exercising in a group setting has its advantage over working out alone.
“When you exercise on your own, sometimes you lose motivation, but when you are in a group with friends, you feel energised.
“That sense of community really helps,” she said, adding that more people were becoming health-conscious.
Asokumarthi said the activities were free, so more people could participate.
“It is good that these events are free, so the elderly can join without worrying about cost.”
Beyond physical activities, Asokumarthi highlighted the value of community-based learning programmes for seniors.
“There are also community events that offer simple language classes.
“For example, you can learn basic Mandarin one week, then Tamil or Bahasa Malaysia the next.
“The classes are short, about 30 to 45 minutes, but useful,” she said, adding that the elderly needed to occupy their time meaningfully.
Asokumarthi said the programmes also helped the elderly enjoy a better quality of life.
Praemah VS Maniam, 68, said she previously suffered from leg problems to the point where she was once told she might face difficulty walking.
However, she said her condition had improved after participating in elderly-focused programmes.
“Now, I no longer worry about the pain like I used to,” she said.
Praemah said events like this played an important role in motivating her to stay consistent in her fitness routine, especially through group activities such as Zumba sessions.
“I participate in Zumba about five days a week.
“Being part of these programmes encourages me to keep moving,” she said, adding that structured activities and a supportive environment helped
her regain confidence in her mobility.
UTC Perak PAWE supervisor Syazaki Hasan Nawawi, 32, said the programme gave the elderly an opportunity to go for basic health checks before seeking treatment at hospitals.
“Many of them rarely go to hospitals or may not fully understand their health status, so these health checks help them identify any potential issues early.
“Some of them are even afraid to go to the hospital,” he noted.
He said the programme was particularly helpful for senior citizens who might be unaware of underlying health conditions.
“It gives them a chance to take precautionary steps.
“Compared to earlier programmes, this one is more complete.
“There are many activities and services, such as reflexology massage and influenza vaccinations,” said Syazaki.
Holistic intervention
The half-day event featured activities that promoted active ageing, including aerobics, health checks, physiotheraphy, acupuncture and nutritional talks.
It was opened by Perak women, family, social welfare, cooperatives and entrepreneur development committee chairman Datuk Salbiah Mohamed.
Participants, dressed in sports attire, arrived as early as 8am for the event which also saw booths set up by various agencies and strategic partners, such as the Welfare Department, National Population and Family Development Board, as well as private healthcare and physiotherapy providers.
In her speech, Salbiah said the programme was a continuation of the initiative that started in nine areas including Manjoi, Gopeng and Chenderoh last year.
She said last year’s programme had shown positive impact that included improvements in participants’ physical fitness, emotional well-being and renewed involvement in community activities.
“An evaluation found that 100% of 329 respondents agreed that the programme should be continued in the future.
“It has also created a healthy space for social interaction and contributed to the overall quality of life among the elderly,” said Salbiah.
“Based on data from the Statistics Department, Perak recorded 14.6% of its population as elderly in 2023.
“This development highlights a growing need for initiatives that focus on physical health, mental well-being and social participation among senior citizens,” she added.
Salbiah said many elderly individuals not only faced chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, but also other health challenges including muscle pain, joint stiffness, reduced mobility and a lack of confidence to participate in community activities.
“As such, WE Fit 2026 is designed as a holistic intervention programme to raise awareness on the importance of physical activity, while also strengthening social connections, preventing isolation and reducing the number of inactive or bedridden elderly,” she said.
Salbiah said the programme at the flats was a curtain-raiser for 12 other locations in the state.
“We are targeting about 1,200 participants for all the programmes, which will be held in stages until October.
“We hope programmes like this will produce a healthier, more active and resilient elderly community, while contributing to the development of an inclusive, dynamic and high-quality society in Perak,” she added.
