04/11/2025

LYFE TUESDAY | NOV 4, 2025

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performing arts as a way to nurture empathy, confidence and kindness among children and teens. The academy’s upcoming triple-bill theatre showcase at PJ Performing Arts Centre this month, features Alice in Wonderland , The Emperor, Dresser & Tailor and Beauty and the Beast , and Matilda . Each production, performed entirely by children aged four to 13, carries a message of courage, compassion and character-building at a time when young Malaysians need hope and emotional guidance more than ever. “Children today face immense pressure – from academic expectations to online influences – and many are struggling to express themselves in healthy ways. Theatre gives them a safe space to explore emotions, understand others, and learn how kindness and respect can M ALAYSIA’S rapidly ageing population is putting unprecedented pressure on families, with doctors warning that dementia care is fast becoming one of the country’s most urgent yet dangerously overlooked healthcare crises. Behind closed doors, caregivers are burning out, resources remain scarce and the nation is sleepwalking toward a demographic disaster. Malaysia is already grappling with an estimated 200,000 to 216,000 older adults living with dementia today, a figure projected to reach 668,000 by 2050, according to the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing). Yet the medical infrastructure remains far behind. As of 2024, there are only over 60 trained geriatricians serving the public and private sectors combined – one for every 10,000 older adults. The shortage is so critical that many dementia cases go undiagnosed or are mistaken as natural ageing. One case is that of a 70-year-old “Uncle Chan” with moderate dementia. During a visit, the patient suddenly stood up, muttering about haunted places and trying to leave. His nephew panicked and tried to stop him, until his doctor and a nurse calmly intervened. Stories such as this are common in a geriatrician’s work, showing just how tough dementia care can be for families. Afterward, the nephew said: “I’m scared he won’t come back, will lock himself away and shut everyone out. My parents are worn out and no one else will help.” In that moment, only helplessness is seen – a quiet, lonely struggle as families face complex conditions with little to no support. Dementia care often requires round-the-clock supervision, emotional resilience and behaviour management that few families are equipped for. The middle stages are particularly difficult. Patients may wander, hallucinate or become aggressive. In Uncle Chan’s case, despite having 10 siblings, only the nephew’s parents were involved in caregiving. Everyone assumes someone else will step up. Eventually one person is left holding everything. The country is set to become an aged nation by 2030, when 15% of the

Malaysia faces dementia crisis without urgent action Group and community activities help our elderly stay mentally active, socially connected and emotionally supported – an important step in reducing the risk of dementia. consultations, long-term

private sectors and communities. Other nations have begun tackling the issue head-on. Singapore and Japan, for example, have national dementia strategies and support systems, Malaysia has National Dementia Action Plan, first proposed in 2019 but it is still awaiting full roll-out and funding. Key areas such as early screening, community care and public education remain underdeveloped. Malaysia must pivot to the World Health Organisation’s “active ageing” model, which promotes physical health, social inclusion and lifelong learning. It is not just about adding years to life, but life to years. We need policies that help seniors live independently, not just survive. For families already affected, seek professional help – medical

Beyond helping children to discover their confidence through roleplay and live performance, the academy emphasises social learning through the arts. By rehearsing and performing together, children from diverse social status and family backgrounds learn teamwork, empathy and resilience. “Instead of lecturing children about values, we let them experience those values through the characters they bring to life. When they play roles that require forgiveness, honesty or bravery, they begin to understand what those qualities truly mean,” added Wan. Families and the wider community are encouraged to attend the Nov 23 showcase and support these young performers who are using the stage to promote positivity and connection. care planning and building a network of support. Dementia is not just old age. There are therapies that can slow it if caught early. But the bigger shift must come from society. Right now, dementia is seen as a family’s private burden. That mindset must change. This is a public health emergency. Unless Malaysia acts now with investing in trained professionals, accessible care, policy reform and public awareness, the nation will not be able to withstand the full weight of its ageing future. This article is contributed by Oriental Melaka Straits Medical Centre consultant geriatrician & physician Dr William Lee Wei Kiat.

o We must recognise public health emergency

population will be 60 or older, and a “super-aged” society by 2056. Currently, about 9% of seniors live with dementia, with rates soaring to one in three among those over 80, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey. Many families only seek help when symptoms become severe or dangerous. The economic toll is also rising. In 2022 alone, MyAgeing reported that dementia including Alzheimer’s affected between 202,000 and 216,000 older Malaysians, costing the country RM7.9 to RM8.5 billion, or nearly 0.5% of GDP. This includes healthcare, lost productivity and unpaid caregiving by family

members who often scale back or quit work to look after ageing parents. This concerns are shared by others. MP Sim Tze Tzin recently urged Parliament to set up a ministry for senior citizens, citing the lack of focus on ageing issues. Cheah Tuck Wing of the Malaysian Coalition on Ageing urged the government to expedite the Senior Citizens Bill, warning that caregiver burnout is leading to family breakdowns and elder abandonment. Meanwhile, University of Malaya’s Social Well-being Research Centre director Prof Datuk Norma Mansor added that protecting the elderly must be a shared effort across government,

Children take stage to spread message of kindness amid school violence AT a time when Malaysia is facing growing concerns about youth aggression, bullying and emotional distress in schools, The Story Book Academy is turning to the Wonderland invites audiences into a world of imagination and curiosity, showing how creativity can be a positive outlet for expression in uncertain times.

Young performers from The Story Book Academy display the words ‘Help, Not Hurt’ – spreading kindness and empathy through theatre.

Beast explore themes of self-image, honesty and the danger of pride, reminding children that true worth comes from character rather than appearance. Meanwhile, Alice in

transform not only a story – but real life,” said The Story Book Academy director Jeanisha Wan. The production of Matilda – based on Roald Dahl’s classic – highlights a

child’s resilience in the face of cruelty and injustice, showing how intelligence and kindness can overcome oppression. The Emperor, Dresser & Tailor and Beauty and the