Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez said the city government is planning to build senior citizen’s health and wellness centers that will help promote quality life among its older residents.
Olivarez, who is a registered nurse, said one of the priorities of his administration is the construction of health and wellness centers in Districts 1 and 2 in the city since these programs mean a healthy and positive lifestyle and more physical and mental benefits for seniors.
“Wellness centers provide all types of physical activity under supervision for seniors in the city. This will be centers for healthy living,” Olivarez said.
The mayor said the Senior Citizen’s Wellness Center building located at the Fisherman’s Wharf or better known as “Bulungan sa Paranaque” along Coastal Road in the city’s first district will be soon be built.
Olivarez said the city government already identified a government-owned lot where the wellness center for District 2 will be erected and the funds for the construction of the building will be included in next year’s budget.
He said the city government will undertake and promote the health and wellness of senior citizens as well as to alleviate the conditions of older persons who are encountering degenerative diseases.
The mayor also said one of the biggest benefits of joining a wellness program is that it allows seniors to go out their way to improve their socialization through interaction with others.
Olivarez said activities that encourage interaction with others may include dancing, solving puzzles, going to the recreation park, playing bingo, or having brunch as a group.
He explained that isolation, depression, and loneliness are very common among seniors and the healthy habits included in the senior wellness programs could lower the risk and impact of problems like diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and anxiety.
The mayor pointed out that these two wellness centers will likely “improve the quality of life and well-being and help support positive brain health for seniors in our city.”
Olivarez added that the city government will be regularly providing education on nutrition as well as assign nurses and/or dietitians to develop menu plans for seniors.
The mayor, a three-term representative of the city’s 1st district, is one of the principal authors of Republic Act No. 9994, Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010. The Healthy and Productive Ageing program focuses on promoting the health and wellness of senior citizens.
Th senior citizen program initiative of Olivarez is also institutionalized in his ERIC agenda: “E” for Education for all; “R” for Reformation of youth through sports and culture; “I” for Improvement of lives through health promotion, livelihood, and housing; while “C” is for Care for the elderly, environment, business friendly, public order, and God-centered leadership.