Staying healthy as a senior

For senior citizens, healthy aging means taking care of both body and mind. Regular but age-appropriate physical activity — such as walking, stretching, or dancing — helps maintain strength, balance, mobility and heart health.

Eating nutritious meals, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and keeping up with medical check-ups are equally important.

Mental and social well-being matter just as much. Seniors benefit from staying socially connected, learning new skills, managing stress, and remaining engaged in their communities. Awareness of conditions such as dementia, along with support from family and health professionals, can also help older adults live safely and independently for longer.

Wellness space

SM shopping malls help promote senior health by serving as venues for learning, movement and connection. Through SM Cares, the company’s corporate social responsibility arm, SM has been hosting activities that encourage active aging, wellness, digital inclusion, and emergency preparedness among older Filipinos.

A recent example was SM Cares’ celebration of Elderly Filipino Week 2026 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, held with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). Around 650 senior citizens joined a full-day program that combined health, learning, and community engagement.

Among the highlights of the event were a Walk for Life light exercise, learning sessions on digital literacy, nutrition and muscle health, and dementia awareness. The celebration ended with a Zumba and retro community dance, showing that exercise can also be enjoyable and social.

Mall for all

For SM Cares, supporting seniors goes beyond Elderly Filipino Week. Its continuing initiatives include promoting active aging and wellness, conducting emergency preparedness programs, helping build inclusive communities, and working with organizations such as the NCSC.

“SM’s commitment to serving as a Mall for All involves our seniors,” said Engr. Junias Eusebio, SM Supermalls vice president for operations. “We believe our lolos and lolas continually contribute to nation building by standing as crucial members of our community who help build up the next generation.”

Atty. Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez, chairperson and CEO of the NCSC, welcomed SM Cares’ continued support. “Through partnerships like this, we can continue building communities where our seniors can live with dignity, remain active, and enjoy a better quality of life,” she said.

Elderly Filipino Week may be observed once a year, but its message continues every day: growing older should not mean stepping away from community life. By creating welcoming spaces and meaningful activities, SM Cares helps senior citizens stay healthy, connected and empowered.