Health1 min read

Old but not frail: Seniors share how exercise and friendships keep them strong

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

A Singapore survey of over 800 individuals and caregivers revealed that 73 per cent consider frailty inevitable, with most expecting it to manifest around age 60. In response, medical initiatives like the $10 million MAGNET programme are investigating muscle loss to combat physical and cognitive vulnerabilities. Experts stress that maintaining strong nutrition, social bonds, and physical exercise can delay or prevent this decline. Seniors are already adopting practical daily routines, including volunteer activities involving lifting and brisk walking, to preserve their strength and health.

Key points

  • Frailty is not an unavoidable outcome of ageing and can be actively delayed through consi…: Frailty is not an unavoidable outcome of ageing and can be actively delayed through consistent physical exercise and proper nutrition.
  • Age-related muscle loss accelerates negative health outcomes, elevating the risks of diab…: Age-related muscle loss accelerates negative health outcomes, elevating the risks of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
  • Engaging in regular daily activities like brisk walking and social volunteering helps old…: Engaging in regular daily activities like brisk walking and social volunteering helps older adults maintain their cognitive and functional capabilities.

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Branded Content

Old but not frail: Seniors share how exercise and friendships keep them strong

Survey finds most seniors see frailty as a natural part of ageing. Experts say staying active, eating well and keeping socially connected can help delay the condition

Kareyst Lin, Brand Newsroom

With one hand on the wall, Joseph Wong inched his way around his four-room Housing Board flat.

For two weeks in June 2025, a badly sprained ankle turned his daily routine into an ordeal.

The 61-year-old retiree, who is single, lives with four cats, a dog and two birds. Twice a day, he cleans the flat, feeds his pets, then cleans up after them again.

The process usually takes an hour. With his injured ankle, it took two. “The moment I finished, I (was so tired that I) had to lie down and rest,” he says.

When he was younger, Wong recalls, a sprain like this would only hurt for a day or two. This time, it took more than two weeks to heal.

The slow recovery unsettled Wong. He took it as a…

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