During the Clementi Health Carnival, held on September 7 at the hardcourt of Block 354, Clementi Avenue 2, Dr Tan Wu Meng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, and MP for Jurong GRC, said: “Health is priceless, and life will be so much better when you’re happier and better.”
He emphasised that as we age, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to continue enjoying an active, fulfilled life. “You can do this by focusing on habits such as regular exercise, proper nutrition and staying socially active,” said Dr Tan, speaking in Malay, Mandarin and English. “Keep your friendships going, watch your diet carefully, and avoid falling sick.”
The core message at the carnival was clear: Remaining socially connected as you get older is extremely important in order to maintain your physical and mental health. People who are engaged in more social interaction are typically healthier individuals, according to proven experiments by experts. Social interaction brings positive feelings and decreases stress. Seniors who are more socially active also have lower rates of Alzheimer’s.
The lively event featured a number of interactive activities such as aerobic exercise sessions, health booths, cooking demonstrations and telematches.
Retiree Rahimah Salleh, 59, said it is always nice to choose a fitness routine that you like. “For example, if I don’t go to the gym, I go brisk walking or dancing, or play badminton or squash. That way, I ensure that there’s no boredom with the routine.”
Sales supervisor Janet Thong, 46, enjoyed the morning’s aerobic workout. She said: “We know that regular fitness is good for the heart and that it can help the body to build muscles and maintain a healthy weight. But it also spurs the release of endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that promote happiness.”
Housewife Rajalakshmi Siva, 57, checked for diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure at the health booth, and said it was good that such events for seniors are organised. She said: “It’s heartening to see other seniors here who are older than me being active, and that’s a very good sign that more people are taking health and their lifestyle very seriously.”
Dr Tan advised that one way to stay active socially is to participate in group activities. Getting out of the house to have a healthy meal, or taking a walk with a friend are some of the nice ways to maintain connections and friendships. “Small group exercise classes will help you stick to an exercise programme and create a sense of camaraderie,” he said as the event came to a close.
