Managing An Ageing Society Is A Holistic Undertaking

AGE IS JUST a number—the cliché is often heard in Penang, where 10% of its estimated 1.9 million population are now aged 60 and above. These are retirees, nudged to the margins and encouraged to “enjoy” their golden years, which for many turn out to be more isolating than celebratory.

Even among those with financial security, ageing can be profoundly disorienting. It is the age at which society quietly forgets you. Many slip into depression, compounded by chronic illnesses and age-related psychological disorders. At the same time, seniors are being asked to adapt to a world evolving faster than ever: from the internet to the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and social media—spaces where scammers are increasingly active and the elderly especially vulnerable.

Ask anybody with experience in dealing with ageing family members, and the response is often the same: a weary sigh, followed by a catalogue of challenges. These difficulties mirror how society at large treats the elderly—not as active citizens with agency, but as problems to be managed.