A sewing class for senior citizens as one of the PAWE Subang Jaya hobbycraft activities. - LILY FU
What a month it has been, and it’s not quite over yet. Oct 1 is International Day of Older Persons (IDOP). It marks the start of a month-long programme of activities and events for senior citizens.
There are seminars, carnivals, workshops, free health screenings and discounted buffets, to name a few, for them to enjoy.
A far cry from the early 2000s when the day would pass mostly unheralded. I remember a few days before Oct 1, I would scan the newspapers for any mention of upcoming events honouring senior citizens. Not a word. No mention at all.
I remember writing about the government and society’s apathetic attitude towards our older citizens. They have served the country well in their younger days and deserve to be acknowledged for their contribution to nation-building.
All that has changed, thanks to the work of international organisations like the United Nations, World Bank and Help Age International.
They have drawn worldwide attention to the rise in the elderly population, and its ramifications.
On the local front, we have NGOs like MyAgeing, Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS), Gerontological Society of Malaysia (GEM) and others that have worked hard to raise awareness of the changing demographics and how this would impact the country.
Malaysia will reach aged nation status by 2030 when 15% of our population will be aged 60 and above.
This rise is predicted to accelerate due to longer life expectancy and a declining fertility rate.
IDOP is a time not only to celebrate our older population and recognise their contributions, but also a time to take stock. What progress have we made in improving life for our senior citizens? What more needs to be done? How prepared is the government to face the challenges brought about by a fast-greying population?
While we applaud the government for finally taking note and organising campaigns and activities to improve the health and wellbeing of senior citizens, and setting up more elderly-friendly facilities and services in public buildings, we must not forget those who are living in poverty, who are struggling with poor health, and who are victims of abuse and discrimination.
Living longer does not necessarily mean living better.
Society as a whole still views older people as unproductive, and therefore not worthy of investing money in.
Old people are considered a “lost” cause, with no ROI value. It explains why senior citizens clubs and organisations have difficulty raising money to fund their activities.
The young old – those in their 60s and 70s are still fit and certainly still able to contribute their services to society if given the opportunity.
Don’t write them off as past their productive shelf life. They can fill the gap in the shortage of younger workers in sectors such as administration and customer service.
If you are 60 and above, you are likely to have encountered instances of ageism at one time or another. Indeed, older people face age discrimination on a daily basis, especially if they lack education or financial resources.
Even at home, elderly parents find that no one listens to them. Their advice is often not sought for family decisions. They are head of the family only in name.
Giving voice to seniors
Power and money often speak louder than age. Older people in positions of influence and authority, with vast financial resources at their disposal can still command respect everywhere they go. They can take care of themselves in their old age.
It’s the rest of the retired populace that we should make a stand for. They are the voiceless ones, the silent majority who feel disadvantaged and powerless to fight against ageism. They are the ones who have fallen through the cracks, who remain unaware of what aid is available, where to seek help and who to approach.
Most of them are in the rural areas, in the small towns. They are too busy eking out a living, taking care of themselves and their families to attend courses or workshops meant to assist them.
How do we bridge this gap?
We must continue to advocate for the provision of social protection, long-term care and access to public health for the elderly. The government together with the private sector must provide more opportunities for older people to support themselves
From public transport to public housing, from healthcare to financial support, older people, in particular those from lower income group struggle to cope with living in a society that considers their needs as an afterthought.
While we seek support from the government to pass legislation to remove age discrimination, end elder abuse, provide opportunities for senior citizens to contribute their experience, society can do its part by according respect for older people so they can age with dignity. Respect for the elderly is in short supply.
The government is aware of what needs to be done, but implementation is painfully slow. The private sector has yet to fully acknowledge the impact this shift in demographics will have on the work force and on the economy.
Everyone will age
The time will come when all of us will have to wake up to the reality that global ageing is here to stay.
Any policies that uphold the rights of older people will ultimately benefit the young of today as they too will grow old one day.
To take this one step further, when a country takes good care of its elderly population, everyone benefits.
“On this International Day of Older Persons, I call on governments to do more to address the needs of older persons. The key interventions are well-known: granting universal access to social services; increasing the number and worth of pension plans; and creating laws and policies that prevent age and gender discrimination in the workplace.”
The above was the 2010 IDOP message from then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. 14 years have passed. What have we achieved? How does our report card look?
Change is inevitable. Change takes time, but older people don’t have the luxury of time.
How long must they wait? The number of older persons is growing and this silver wave can’t be stopped. (I am loath to use the word “tsunami” as it gives a negative connotation to the rise in the elderly population.)
Not everyone has children, not everyone has brothers and sisters, but everyone has parents.
Perhaps if we can think of older people as our elderly parents, we would want to support them, care for them, respect them and do our best for them. Perhaps then we can speed up the changes that need to be carried out so that life is worth living for the elderly in their old age.
However, things are looking up for senior citizens, in particular those in the lower income bracket.
Based on our Prime Minister’s Budget 2025 speech delivered in Parliament last Friday, the crumbs we have been getting for the past years have turned to slices. Hopefully these will grow bigger in the years to come.
From increased monthly welfare aid for senior citizens to more allocation for senior citizens’ activity centres, there is plenty to cheer about as IDOP draws to a close.
Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to get connected and enjoy social activities for ageing well.
