2026

Siri 1/2026

As Director of MyAgeing, I’ve seen many plans that look good on paper but fail to address the actual emotional and physical realities our seniors face.

Today, I want to share a critical finding from our recent research that challenges how we think about "healthy" ageing in Malaysia.

Most of us assume that as long as our parents or grandparents are physically "healthy," they are doing fine. We think loneliness only hits those who are sickly or bedridden. Our data shows the exact opposite.

The "Healthy" Senior’s Blind Spot

In our study of 1,697 Malaysian older adults, we found that loneliness has a stronger negative impact on the quality of life for those who actually rate their health as good.

Why? Because when you feel healthy, you have higher expectations for social engagement and autonomy.

When loneliness hits, the gap between the life you feel you should be living and your actual isolation feels much wider.

3 Reality Checks for Families & Caregivers:

Multimorbidity isn't the only signal: Having multiple chronic conditions (like diabetes or hypertension) definitely lowers quality of life, but it doesn't necessarily make the "sting" of loneliness worse. Don't wait for a medical crisis to check in on their social needs.

"Feeling" healthy is subjective: 90% of our participants rated their health as "good" even though nearly 70% actually had two or more chronic conditions. Ageing-in-place requires us to support their “perception” of independence, not just manage their pills.

Loneliness hits women harder: Our data shows women reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than men. They often carry the heavier emotional load of family shifts and caregiving roles, making them more vulnerable to social isolation.

Moving from "Awareness" to Action:
We don't need more "active ageing" posters; we need systems that reduce social barriers.

1. For Families: Shift from "Are you sick?" to "Who have you talked to today?"

2. For Community Leaders: Design neighborhoods where seniors can walk safely to meet others. Safety at home is the first step to independence.

3. For Policy: We must integrate mental and social health screenings into standard geriatric care.

Feeling healthy matters, but staying connected is what makes that health worth having.

#MyAgeing #HealthyAgeing #MalaysiaAgeing #Loneliness #QualityOfLife #Gerontology #UPM

Source:
Foong, H. F., Ibrahim, R., Bagat, M. F., Abdullah, S. F. Z., & Lim, S. Y. (2025). Feeling healthy matters: comparing the moderating roles of multimorbidity and self-rated health in the link between loneliness and quality of life. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 73, 129-142. [https://doi.org/10.36150/2499-6564-N844]

Updated:: 23/04/2026 [lizamdnor]