Living longer is one thing, ageing well is another

In the recent local film “Jangan Buang Ibu”, an ageing mother who has spent much of her life caring for her children eventually finds herself placed in a care home as they become caught up in their own lives.

The story may be fictional, but the emotions behind it are familiar: the fear of becoming frail, dependent and disconnected from the people who once formed the centre of daily life.

Those concerns are becoming increasingly relevant in Malaysia, where about 4.1 million people are already aged 60 and above. The country is expected to become an ageing nation by 2030, yet recent findings suggest only 14.7% of older Malaysians are experiencing healthy ageing.

Living longer, after all, is only part of the picture. The quality of those additional years matters just as much.

Ageing affects the body, mind and social life together. Muscle strength declines, immunity changes, chronic illnesses become more common, and reduced independence can gradually reshape relationships with family, friends and the wider community.

Some of the biggest changes begin long before old age is obvious. Muscle mass and strength gradually decline from middle age, increasing the risk of sarcopenia, while the ageing immune system becomes less effective at responding to infection.

Frailty can make ordinary setbacks more serious. A fall, illness or hospital stay that a younger person might recover from quickly can lead to a much steeper decline in an older adult.

According to findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2025, about 11% of older Malaysians are already frail, while around 60% are at risk. More than a third have sarcopenia.

Physical activity therefore becomes more important with age, not less so. Resistance exercise, adequate protein, balance training and simple measures to reduce fall risks at home can all help older people remain independent for longer.

Malaysia also faces a shortage of geriatric specialists, making prevention and community awareness especially important.

Don’t forget the teeth

Healthy ageing also begins somewhere that is easily overlooked: the mouth.

Losing teeth or developing weaker chewing muscles can make fresh, nutritious foods harder to eat. Older people may then turn to softer foods that are easier to manage but less nutritionally complete, potentially contributing to weakness and muscle loss.

Poor oral hygiene can create other problems, too. Harmful bacteria from the mouth may be inhaled into the lungs, increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia, particularly among frail older adults and those with chronic illnesses.

Yet dental care remains underused in Malaysia, with research suggesting only a relatively small proportion of adults seek dental treatment in any given year.

Regular dental checks matter for far more than appearances. Being able to chew comfortably, eat well and avoid oral infections can help preserve health and independence.

The need to belong

Physical wellbeing is only one part of ageing. Loneliness can become a serious concern when adult children live far away, family structures change or mobility problems make it harder to maintain friendships and social routines.

Malaysia’s “sandwich generation” often faces pressures of its own, caring for children and ageing parents while juggling work and financial responsibilities. For older parents, however, reduced contact can translate into isolation, anxiety and depression.

Community spaces can play an important role here. Malaysia has more than 200 Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas, or PAWE centres, where older people can take part in activities, learn skills and spend time with others.

Family support remains just as important. Financial help matters, but so do phone calls, visits, shared meals and the reassurance that an older person still has a meaningful place within family life.

Adding life to the years

In June, Universiti Malaya academics and students brought this message to about 90 senior citizens in Kampung Kanchong, Rembau, through a community programme covering physical, oral and mental wellbeing, alongside practical breathing exercises.

While the programme was modest in scale, the principle behind it is much larger.

As Malaysia’s population ages, healthier later years will depend not only on hospitals and government policies but on what happens in homes, families and neighbourhoods.

Exercise that keeps the legs strong, food that nourishes the body, teeth that allow it to be enjoyed, friendships that prevent isolation and family members who continue to make time for one another may sound simple.

Together, they can help determine whether additional years of life are merely lived, or genuinely enjoyed.

This article was written by Aslam Abd Jalil, Megat Hafizzuddin Abd Hamid and Aisyah Ahmad Fisal from Universiti Malaya.

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