Geria Report

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: Care for

Older PersonsPUNO, Jude Tommy E., NAVALAN, Edward Joseph.

III-ACN

GOALS of the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

“A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIFESTYLE AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OLDER PERSONS ARE PROMOTED.”

INTRODUCTION: Older Persons

Population aging is a demographic phenomenon

indicated by a stable increase in the number and

proportion of the elderly and a corresponding decrement

in the proportion of younger age groups.

This is because to an increase in life expectancy,

mortality reduction and fertility reduction that are

brought about by new advances in medical technology

and medical care as well as by improved socio-economic

conditions. (National Objectives for Health, 2005-

2010)

According to NEDA, Philippine Population

Projections 1980-2030 (as cited in National

Objectives for Health, 2005-2010) There are

estimation of five million older Filipinos aged 60

years old and above. Older persons consist a little

over six percent of the total population, but the

proportion is expected to be more than 10

percent by 2020 as the number of older persons

doubles by that time.

According to PHS 2000 (as cited in National

Objectives for Health, 2005-2010) The leading

causes of mortality for this age group

are non-communicable diseases:

diseases of the heart, diseases of the vascular

system, and cancer. On the other hand, the leading

causes of morbidity are infectious in

nature, such as influenza, pneumonia and TB.

Other common health-related problems

among older persons are difficulty in

walking and chewing, hearing and

visual impairment, osteoporosis,

arthritis and incontinence.

Disabilities and impairment in function

increases with age and adversely affect

the quality of life of older persons.

The diseases that show greater percentage

of the elderly population dying from are:

cardiovascular (66 percent), pneumonia (65

percent), peptic ulcer and other gastro-

intestinal disorders (56 percent), diabetes

mellitus (52 percent), and TB (51 percent).

The percentage of the elderly population

dying of malignancies, kidney diseases and

septicemia are also significant.

Mortality rate of accidents are

one tenth of all age groups.

Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's

Disease are diseases of old age though

they are not prominent causes of

death in the country.

REPUBLIC ACT 9257

RA 9257 (The Expanded Senior Citizen's

Act of 2003) provides for higher health care

subsidies for older persons from both the

private and public sectors. This law is the

main instrument by which older

persons would be empowered to

seek and demand for the highest

quality of care available.

NATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR 2005-2010

OBJECTIVES INDICATOR TARGET BASELINE DATA AND SOURCE

Morbidity among older personsis reduced.

Morbidity rate from all causes per 100,000 older persons.

Reduce by 50 percent.

To be determined

Mean life expectancy.

72 yearsMale: 70 yearsFemale: 75 years

70.5 yearsMale: 67.8 yearsFemale:72.8 yearsPhilippine Statistical Yearbook,2004.

STRATEGIC THRUSTS FOR 2005-2010

Redefine the minimum health care package for older persons. The package should consist of health services tied up with pre-financed sources of care in order to improve accessibility to older persons.

Build the capacity of health human resources toward the promotion, prevention, cure and supportive care for older persons.

Integrate into current licensing and accreditation requirements, building, facilities, equipment and personnel standards appropriate care for older persons.

Develop community-based and institution-based models of health care for older people.

Pursue the implementation of laws and policies for the protection and improvement of the quality of life of older persons such as the RA9257 or The Expanded Senior Citizens‘ Act of 2003.

Essential Health Care Package for Older Persons:

1. Management of illness

2. Counselling on substance abuse

3. Nutrition and diet counselling

4. Mental health

5. Oral care

6. Healthy lifestyle advocacy

7. Screening and management of chronic debilitating

and infectious diseases

8. Post-reproductive health care

Essential Health Care Package for Older Persons:

A list of essential health care package for older persons had been drawn up but services have remained inadequate.

Although health facilities, especially hospitals, have noted higher utilization of health services by older persons, however most buildings and facilities have not been provided with reasonable accommodation for the special needs of older persons such as ramps to complement stairways, bed with adjustable heights, adequate support bars, etc.

This is on top of the lack of geriatrics specialists in the country.

REFERENCE:

Department of Health. (2005, October). National Objectives for Health 2005-2010. Retrieved from http://www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/NOH2005.pdf