Better education, exercise, good diet and having religious, spiritual beliefs help in ageing process
The Straits Times (Singapore) May 30, 2009 Saturday
CHINESE men do not have it easy when it comes to ageing. A new study has found seven in 10 elderly Chinese men do not age well.
The study also found that men who are better educated, physically active, have a proper diet and have religious or spiritual beliefs tend to age better.
Associate Professor Ng Tze Pin, of the department of psychological medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS), said: ‘What’s very interesting is that those who have some religious or spiritual belief tend to age more successfully. Spiritual help seems to be a source of emotional and mental support.’
The other factors, he added, are fairly predictable in that exercise and good nutrition keep one healthy; and better-educated seniors tend to be more resourceful in areas such as seeking medical help.
So what is considered ageing well? Prof Ng – who presented the study of about 1,300 Chinese men aged 65 and older at a symposium titled Health-care Challenges For An Ageing Population – said there are four factors that pertain to positive ageing. They are: good physical health and the ability to function independently; being mentally alert and emotionally well; being engaged socially; and being able to say they are highly satisfied with life.
However, the number of men who score on all four criteria is small because many are in poor physical health, he said. About half of those surveyed said they were not in good health. And for many, ill-health affects their quality of life. Because of their ailments, for example, some men feel they are no longer able to move about independently.
Mr Lim Boon Heng, the minister in charge of ageing issues, who was the guest of honour at the symposium, urged Singaporeans to exercise regularly, sharing that he had signed up for a gym membership with two other friends. ‘It is tough for a person to change his lifestyle if his family and friends don’t do so. Some mornings, I wake up and go to the gym because my friends are there.’
However, three-quarters of the population do not work out on a regular basis, he said, and the challenge is to convince people to do so, as a healthier population will mean a lower rate of chronic diseases and disabilities. Helping people stay healthy for as long as possible and helping the sick get proper care are two challenges relating to Singapore’s rapidly ageing population, he pointed out.
Another NUS study presented at yesterday’s symposium, which focused on older men living alone, found lack of mobility a major area of concern as men equate it with independent living.
The qualitative study was conducted over six months last year on 31 men aged 65 to 93, living alone in either owned or rented HDB one-room flats. ‘They talk about having ‘healthy legs’,’ said NUS Associate Professor Thang Leng Leng, an anthropologist who conducted the study with Fei Yue Community Services.
Even two visually impaired men were more worried about not being able to walk about unaided than their failing sight, she said.
One interesting conclusion was that those staying in rental flats felt more psychologically secure as most of them were relying on Public Assistance and felt they had a safety net, while those who were home owners were more worried about incurring medical costs and if their savings would last.
Prof Thang’s recommendations included greater efforts to promote community bonding in areas where seniors stay, and for social services to offer more exercise programmes specific to seniors so they can stay healthy as they age.
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