Take the initiative to explore new horizons and never let our age stop us from trying new things that interest us. Old age creeps up on us, and seems to speed up after we have passed the 70th milestone. One fine morning, we wake up, look in the mirror and reality hits us literally in the face – we are no longer spring chicks, more like autumn turkeys! Where have all those years gone? The thought of mortality is always there, unexpressed but silently acknowledged. Until the first signs of aches and pain remind us the clock is ticking away. How do we want to spend our remaining years? B ..read more

The writer with her grandchildren (clockwise from left) Max, Allie, Hana, Reiya and baby Ryder, taken close to a decade ago. - Photos: LILY FU My youngest grandchild turned 10 last month. Celebrating his birthday made me reflect on how quickly the years have rolled by, and how fast the children have grown. My eldest grandchild will be 24 this August. Has it been that long ago that I cradled this young man as a newborn in my arms and looked after him full time while his parents were out busy working till late at night on their fledgling company? With multi-generational families no long ..read more

Dr Pola (far left) and friends are the few exceptions to the rule of female-dominated senior groups. — DR POLA SINGH Recently The Star carried an article titled Where are the women?, about the poor representation of women in the cabinet and how their presence is essential for better responsiveness to citizens’ needs. After all, women make up almost half of our population. The title got me thinking along a similar vein: “Where are the men?” This was in reference to the lack of male participation in social activities for older adults. In practically every group activity organised by sen ..read more

Most bus stops do not display bus routes and schedule on the notice-boards. If we see any, the info is likely outdated. - 123rf.com Most of my senior friends still drive. They tell me they would be helpless without wheels. They wouldn’t have a clue how to get from Puchong to Sunway, or from Kajang to Putra Heights in the Klang Valley, for example. They would also lose the freedom of going where they want and when they want. They may still have a choice now. But what happens when they reach their 80s or 90s as they surely will one day? Their reflexes then may be slower, their vision no ..read more

The new generation of seniors are ready to venture forth to where their predecessors had feared to go. - 123rf.com Each year, on Oct 1, we celebrate the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons. The entire month is packed with events and activities, and media coverage of everything related to seniors. It is an annual reminder that we are growing older, that there are challenges to be met and to prepare for. Not that we need reminding. The mirror does that for us daily. Not that long ago, no one (not even the government) knew or cared about what Oct 1 meant. But when the alar ..read more

Make sure to find out if the home has certified nurses and trained support staff. Photo: 123rf.com Whether we like it or not, there will come a time when we have to seriously consider where we see ourselves living 20 years after retirement. Given a choice, most of us senior citizens would prefer to age in place, that is, age at home in familiar surroundings. Much as we may desire this, it may not be in our best interest. There will come a day when we find ourselves living alone. We may be fit and enjoying good health in our retirement years. But all it takes is a fall to render us he ..read more

It's never too late to learn a new skill. - 123rf.com If there is one word that should be banned from a senior citizen’s vocabulary, it is the word ‘Old’. How can we expect society to have a positive perception of older people when we think of ourselves as ‘old’ – as in ‘‘I’m too old to...” Words have power. Never ever think we are too old to learn. Our brain cells do not atrophy with age. In fact, they regenerate. Our brain cells get stimulated with new learning. Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity enable us to continue absorbing new knowledge, new skills and new experiences. These two ..read more

But being together 24/7 could also result in daily acrimonious exchanges, with the couple getting on each other’s nerves. (Photo: Josh Felise/Unsplash) ‘To love and to hold, till death do us part’.  Those were the days when marriage was a sacred institution. Marriages then were meant to last a lifetime. Even when death took away one partner, the other would remain faithful till the end. Couples stayed together because they took their marriage vows seriously, especially if they married in a place of worship and exchanged vows before God. My mother remained a widow for 64 year ..read more

The very fact that the retirement age keeps rising is one indication that longevity is here to stay. Photo: 123rf.com  “75 is good enough for me!” This response never fails to surprise me whenever I pose this question to my friends: How long would you like to live? Rarely do I hear someone say, 100. Even as a hypothetical question, those who say they want to live as long as they can usually qualify it with “must be still in good health and of sound mind”. Of course, we are not talking about living to a ripe old age frail, senile and bed-bound. No one would want to live that long ..read more

'Volunteering in community service may be the missing piece that completes our overall well-being and contentment in retirement' Grey Matters by Lily Fu Eat, sleep, wake. Repeat. Eat, sleep, wake. Ad infinitum. Doing what we like, living how we want, and no one to answer to. Bliss! But sooner or later, we will wake up one morning feeling something is missing in our lives. The hours ahead seem stretched. Day in, day out, it’s the same old routine. Retirement is turning out to be one big yawn. Once we have got over the initial joy of being master of our time, harsh reality sets in. While ..read more