Being an Anak Malaysia means I have a good sense that community is important and being increasingly in good company with social diversity of people's networks to be associated with higher cognitive and physical function. Interestingly, I found that the diversity of the networks is actually more important than the size of the network. Based on my experience from childhood until now a senior citizen of 76 years old Malaysian, it also means diversity in types of relationships. Evidently having people who are very close like family & best friends, moderately close like people as my colleagues, business associates, students, social, professional clubs & alumni or neighborhood associations, and more distant people I encounter and chat at the mosques & public places.
Actually, I discovered the third places are really important for ageing well - these are places I can reasonably expect to encounter different people and potentially interact with them - like parks, libraries, local cafes, and beach, the footpath, public transport on MRT, ERL, Rapid buses, even temporal third places like at the stadium watching sports events especially soccer or rugby tournaments. While it can sometimes feel like an effort to leave the comfort of my homes, the evidence suggests that interactions in such settings can have a significant positive effect how I have age, both physically and mentally.
Sejahtera Leadership Initiative (SLI) where I serve as CEO, conducted a random survey of Malaysians living in advanced age that aimed to determine the predictors of successful advanced ageing and to understand the trajectories of health and wellbeing in our golden years, also found similar patterns. I am convinced that contributing and giving back to others are important in supporting good physical & mental health in our later years. It's also important for society to keep enabling these opportunities & recognizing the contributions older people like me already make to communities in so many different ways.
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