Are We Ageing Well?

Malaysia is ageing faster than expected. The NHMS 2025, released in Apr 2026, confirms only 14.7% of our elderly are ageing well — meeting all five criteria: social support, independence, freedom from depression, freedom from dementia, and living without major chronic disease. 

That means 85.3% are struggling through old age. Behind the numbers are human stories: 18.8% live alone, nearly triple since 2018. Some choose independence, some are widowed, some have children far away, and some truly have no one left. 

Even those with “support” often face distance — a call is not a hand to hold, a message is not a meal shared. Risks are stark: depression, dementia, muscle loss, and chronic diseases like hypertension, cholesterol, and diabetes. 

By 2030, 1 in 5 Malaysians will be 60 or older. Families are smaller, migration leaves elders behind, and healthcare systems strain under frailty and loneliness. 

This is not just about them. It is about us — how we choose to care, connect, and prepare.