How Anna Chew transformed personal loss and purpose into award-winning eldercare innovation in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 15 December 2025 – In 2010, Anna Chew walked into a five-star hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur and had an unexpected thought: this would be a perfect space for eldercare services. At the time, she was deeply immersed in the startup world, building successful ventures across technology, digital marketing, and communications. Eldercare was far from her professional focus, yet that single moment planted a seed that would later reshape her life’s work.
That same year, Anna’s ageing father, who had been struggling with a heart condition, passed away. Soon after, a visit to an elderly aunt at a nursing home in Penang left her shaken by the poor living conditions she witnessed. These experiences, arriving so close together, became a turning point. Looking back, Anna believes these events were not random, but part of a deeper calling that was beginning to take shape.
A vision shaped by experience
Nearly 15 years later, Anna has emerged as one of the region’s most influential voices in ageing and care innovation. She has launched several eldercare initiatives, most notably ReU Living, an assisted living and recovery centre established during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, ReU Living was named Operator of the Year at the Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore.
In a striking full-circle moment, ReU Living now operates within MiCasa Hotel, the very building where Anna first imagined the possibility of eldercare in a hotel setting years earlier. For her, the journey reflects a deeper sense of purpose shaped by life experiences, loss, and renewed faith.
Rediscovering purpose through work
Although Anna comes from a long line of Christians with roots in marketplace ministry, she describes herself as having drifted away from faith during her twenties. It was only later in life that she rediscovered her spiritual grounding, not within church walls, but through her work and interactions in the business world.
Her family history is deeply intertwined with entrepreneurship and service. Generations before her used business as a platform to support communities and share values. As Anna reconnected with her faith, she found clarity in aligning her professional skills with a broader mission: to help people live, age, and recover with dignity and meaning.
She eventually became part of faith-driven leadership communities focused on purpose-led work, which further shaped her vision for eldercare that goes beyond basic medical support.
Redefining ageing and wellbeing
Anna believes one of the biggest challenges in eldercare is changing how society views ageing. Many people, she says, grow up assuming that old age inevitably brings illness, decline, and dependence. Her work aims to challenge that mindset.
By combining modern care models, hospitality-inspired environments, and a holistic approach to physical and emotional well-being, ReU Living seeks to show that later life can still be active, meaningful, and fulfilling. Anna’s philosophy aligns with a growing body of research showing that environment, mindset, and community play a major role in healthy ageing.
A growing impact on eldercare innovation
Today, Anna Chew is recognised as a global ageing trailblazer and a trusted expert in senior care innovation across Asia. She works with both public and private sector organisations, helping shape policies and services for ageing populations.
Her journey from startup founder to eldercare innovator reflects a larger trend in healthcare and wellness, the shift toward dignity-focused, person-centred ageing solutions. What began as a passing thought in a Kuala Lumpur hotel lobby has evolved into a movement that continues to influence how eldercare is designed and delivered.
