THE 3rd Asean Conference on Healthy Ageing 2024 will be held at Wembley Hotel Penang from July 30 till Aug 1.
Carrying the theme "Ageing Successfully - Equitably, Actively and Naturally," the conference aims to forge a path toward understanding and addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by an ageing population.
Organised by the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS), the conference will see as many as 22 international and 38 Malaysian speakers and over 500 delegates participating during the three day programme.
"As we enter the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, the 3rd Asean Conference for Healthy Ageing aims to provide an active platform for healthcare professionals, healthy ageing advocates, the industry, as well as the community within the Asean region to present their latest work and network with colleagues from the region and abroad to share best practices and know-how for the betterment of healthy ageing and the older population in the region," says president of MHAS and organising chairperson of the conference, Professor Dr Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman.
The conference offers an opportunity to share, interact, collaborate, and obtain hands-on skills from healthcare experts in ageing from all disciplines. This will be delivered via special lectures, workshops, seminars as well as pre-conference workshops where medical professionals and community members can learn, enhance, and enrich their knowledge which ultimately translates to better and improved care for older persons.
Dr Shahrul adds that the programmes have been arranged to cater to the different expectations and aspirations of delegates.
"Symposiums focusing on special populations, lessons from the pandemic, digital health, lifestyle interventions as well as many other interesting sessions have been carefully crafted to maximise learning opportunities."
On Malaysia's preparedness for an ageing population, Dr Shahrul, who is also a Professor of geriatric medicine at the faculty of medicine, Universiti Malaya, says the latest efforts by the government via the World Bank to create a national blueprint on ageing, is one of many efforts to prepare for an ageing population.
MHAS has invited all relevant ministries (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development as well as the Ministry of Human Resources) to send their representatives to the conference and be part of the narrative for Malaysia's ageing population.
Age-friendly cities, loneliness and social isolation, depression in the elderly, falls, emotional health of the elderly, mobility, cancer and incontinence are among some of the topics that will be covered during the conference.
For more information, visit www.healthyageing.org/acha2024