“By the year 2030, the Philippines will have a significant aging population, with senior citizens comprising 8.5 percent of the household population. Defined as individuals aged 60 years old and over, this demographic totaled 9.22 million in 2020, rising from 7.53 million in 2015.”
The National Plan of Action for Senior Citizens 2023-2028 pointed this out, citing a report prepared by the National Commission of Senior Citizen (NCSC) which is mandated to ensure the effective implementation of various programs and services focused on the health and well-being of senior citizens.
The plan for action outlines a comprehensive roadmap that aims to “empower senior citizens, nurture a culture of respect and appreciation, and pave the way for a society that cherishes and supports its elderly population.”
Under the Filipino culture, that goal will not be difficult to achieve. It is in our nature to respect the elderly. Observe how traffic slows down, or stops, to allow a senior citizen to alight or board a vehicle, or cross the street. In bus terminals and markets, there is always a ready hand to help an elderly person carry his or her bags. And still practiced by families, it is considered a duty to take care of an elderly member. (A 2015 PSA survey showed that “almost all (99.8 percent) are in households and only 0.2 percent are in institutions.”)
The role that senior citizens play in society is the highlight of the celebration of Elderly Filipino Week (EFW) which started Oct. 1 and culminates on Oct. 7, with the theme – Senior Citizens: Building the nation, inspiring generations." The activities focus on their stories of milestones, and significant community contributions, cultural shows, and seminars on laws that are related to senior citizen services and healthcare.
Taking care of the elderly is a duty that we all share. With the increasing aging population – about one person aged 60 years and over for every four children under 15 years old (PSA, 2022) – government and the private sector should invest in systems and structures for their needs. One of these, which is already visible in many – but not all – public places, are wheelchair-accessible facilities. But we need more senior citizen-friendly structures.
In addition to that, households should also start setting up systems to allow the elderly members mobility to do tasks to function independently.
According to the surveys cited in the action plan, they have an overwhelming preference for independent living, the majority of them live with at least one child, while 14 percent live alone and nine percent live with their spouse.
We can do more to enable our senior citizens to live independent lives. If they are living with you, check the basic things a member of the household would do during the day. Do you have accessible electrical connections, cooking implements, water sources, and communication facilities?
A survey also found that only few senior citizens experienced loneliness with the majority (75 percent) rarely or never feel a lack of companionship. They “generally engage in sedentary leisure activities such as watching TV (66 percent), while others engage in physical exercise (52 percent) and gardening (27 percent). About one in three (35 percent) attend social activities at least once a month. The majority (76 percent) attend religious services outside the home.”
Today, make time to listen to the stories of an elderly member of your family. That is oral history being passed on to the next generation.