Anna wants everyone to ‘Press Play on Life’ as they age

SHAH ALAM: Anna Chew and her friends would often talk about ageing, even imagining spending their golden years together in Janda Baik. That was about 16 years ago.

But later, the subject became deeply personal.

Chew’s father underwent heart surgery, but it did not go well and his condition deteriorated, leaving her mother as his main caregiver.

“As an only child, I stepped in to care for him to give my mum some relief. It became very tiring,” Chew told FMT Lifestyle. She was running a digital marketing business at the time, she said.

That experience opened her eyes to the realities of caregiving.

A few years later, another encounter deepened her conviction that Malaysia’s eldercare system needed change. After visiting her cancer-stricken aunt at a nursing home, she was left deeply disturbed by the conditions there.

Those experiences drew Chew into the ageing and eldercare space as she wanted to improve how people aged and are cared for.

In 2018, she joined Care Concierge as an investor and acting chief marketing officer. The company provides various services for seniors.

Three years later, she entered a joint venture with IGB Berhad to launch ReU Living, a retirement and recovery centre. That same year, she founded Meaningfull Life, which offers caregiving, physiotherapy and chaperone services to help seniors age comfortably in familiar environments.

Today, although no longer with Care Concierge and ReU Living, Chew continues helping people age with dignity as the chief executive officer of Meaningfull Life, which is built around the philosophy of “ageing in place” – continued independent living in one’s own home and community.

“It’s difficult to give up memories or a place where you built your family,” Chew acknowledged.

She believes healthy ageing rests on four pillars: physical, cognitive, emotive and social wellbeing.

Under Meaningfull Life, with its tagline “Press Play on Life”, Chew also runs a senior daycare programme centred on these four pillars, offering activities ranging from improv sessions to latte art and pickleball lessons.

“I call it the “Active Ageing Club,” explained Chew, 51.

The first club, she added, is located at the Meaningfull Care Hub in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.

Meaningfull Life also partners with a community centre in Mayang Plaza, Petaling Jaya, which uses its active ageing modules.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2021, the Active Ageing Club received the Khazanah Impact Innovation Challenge grant.

Two years later, Chew was honoured with the “Global Ageing Trailblazer Award” at the 11th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards.

However, Chew still believes Malaysia is unprepared as it edges towards becoming an ageing nation. A major concern, she said, is the country’s heavy reliance on foreign domestic helpers for eldercare.

“They are not specifically trained to take care of seniors. Do they know how to lift and transfer a person properly or observe their vitals? But many Malaysians turn to foreign domestic workers because they are seen as value for money.”

Caregiving has also long been viewed as a family duty, with the responsibility often falling on women.

“It is usually a woman in her 40s or 50s, simply because her parents are likely in their 70s or 80s. At that stage, she is often at the peak of her career. But when she tries to return to work after the parent passes away or recovers, she may no longer be employable.

“This affects her ability to earn an income, and her retirement. It also impacts Malaysia because we lose that contribution to the workforce,” said Chew, adding that there is also the risk of caregiver burnout.

A Sun Life survey titled “Women’s Wealth in Focus” reported that over 60% of Malaysian women say caring for both ageing parents and children affects their careers and ability to prioritise self-care.

Additionally, Chew believes many seniors are reluctant to invest in their wellness, pointing to how some avoid physiotherapy or strength training but are willing to spend money on surgery hoping to improve their mobility.

Asked what she hopes Malaysians would change about ageing, her answer was simple: “Be aware of which four pillars are deteriorating and get help early. As you age, be open to care, advice and getting help.”

Learn more about Meaningfull Life on its website, Facebook and Instagram. For more information, contact 010-559 2488.

المصدر: Free Malaysia Today