Why Are Many Older Adults in Malaysia Unhappy?

 The annual celebration of the International Day of Happiness fell on 20 March. This day was defined by a resolution in the UN General Assembly in 2012. A day decreed to be observed annually on 20 March because happiness and wellbeing are universal goals and aspirations around the world.  

This year’s theme “Reconnecting for Happiness: Building Resilient Communities” aims at happiness for the young, the old and everyone in between. As of 2024, Malaysia was ranked 58th out of 143 countries in life evaluation 2021-2023. The rankings for other Asean member countries were Singapore (30th), the Philippines (53rd), Vietnam (54th), Thailand (57th), Indonesia (80th), Laos (104th), Myanmar (118th) and Cambodia (119th).

Source: https://www.un.org

Among the criteria used include GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.

 Malaysia stood at 64th among those aged below 30 (Thailand was 45th) and 71st among those aged above 60 (Thailand 41st, Philippines 43rd and Singapore 26th).

So Malaysian citizens aged 60 and above were the least happy in the country, while those below 30 were the happiest. The “World Happiness Report 2024” quotes from the “Seven Ages of Man” in Shakespeare’s As You Like It: “the later stages of life are portrayed as deeply depressing.” This quote may well describe the state of mind of many older Malaysian adults.

Some factors that may contribute to older adults being the least happy group in the country include:

• Financial insecurity, which can result from ineffective financial management after retirement, insufficient savings, low retirement benefits and lack of awareness, thus limiting access to various pension schemes which are only available in more recent years.

• Limited access to healthcare facilities, long waiting times, and high out-of-pocket expenses.

• Social isolation and loneliness are common among older adults in Malaysia, especially those who live alone or have limited social support networks. 

• Age discrimination in employment and societal attitudes can limit opportunities for older adults to remain active and engaged in the workforce and community life. 

• The lack of affordable and suitable housing options that are age-friendly and accessible is a challenge for many older adults in Malaysia. 

• Older adults in Malaysia are at risk of various forms of mistreatment, including financial exploitation, neglect, and physical or emotional abuse.

• Transport and mobility are a problem for many older adults due to limited access to reliable and affordable transport options. 

• The digital divide limits many older individuals’ access to digital technologies and the internet. This restricts their ability to stay connected, access information and take advantage of online services, such as telemedicine and e-commerce

By identifying these factors, we may improve the happiness of older adults in Malaysia. This will assist local authorities, planners and welfare organisations in formulating targeted strategies to create a more inclusive society by studying the inequality of happiness.

Reference:

Why are so many older adults in Malaysia unhappy? Goh Hong Ching, ALIRAN, 30 March 2024