Forum: Let seniors know it’s OK to need help

I’ve noticed over the years that whenever I or someone else offers a seat on public transport to the elderly, they will often refuse it at first. When they eventually accept, they tend to apologise – blaming themselves for being weak.

I have also spoken with elderly neighbours who apologise for asking for help, and watched my grandparents insist on doing everything themselves, even when help is needed. A quiet but painful sentiment often surfaces: “I don’t want to be a burden.”

This fear is more common than we admit. Whether it’s declining help with chores or skipping medical appointments, many seniors act not out of pride but from a deep worry about imposing on others.

It’s ironic that, in a society that prizes filial piety, this emotional isolation often goes unnoticed.

While government initiatives like the Pioneer and Merdeka generation packages address physical and financial needs, we must also pay attention to the emotional dimensions of ageing. Seniors should not feel they must stay “useful” or “low-maintenance” to deserve care.

Public messaging can help. Just as we’ve normalised conversations about mental health, we can reshape how society views elder dependence – not as weakness, but as part of the care cycle.

Campaigns like the Action Plan for Successful Ageing promote active ageing, but still emphasise independence over interdependence. What’s missing is a narrative that reassures seniors that accepting help does not make them a burden.

Growing old should not mean growing invisible.

Ethan Tan, 20