Investing in health care for the elderly

This Oct. 1 to 7, we join the nation in celebrating Elderly Filipino Week, with the theme: “Embracing age, living a life of dignity and purpose.” This annual observance, established through Proclamation 470 (1994), pays tribute to our senior citizens and honors their wisdom, resilience and invaluable contributions to nation-building.

- JOE ZALDARRIAGA

Led by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), the week-long celebration brings together government agencies and local government units to host a vibrant array of activities: caravans, information sessions, photo contests, medical missions, Zumba parties and even a pageantall spotlighting the strength and spirit of our elderly.

I stand in solidarity with the nation in recognizing the immeasurable contributions of our seniors. But beyond celebration, this week also calls us to reflect deeply on how we care for them, especially in one of the critical issues that come with old age: health care.

I recently sat down with Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes to share insights on the services available to the Filipino elderly especially when it comes to health care and he brought up an alarming and sad reality: The Philippines lacks specialized public health care for those aged 60 and up.

Rep. Ordanes underscored this gap as he shared his ongoing efforts to advocate for the establishment of dedicated geriatric wards in public hospitals and the hiring of more geriatric specialists. These initiatives aim to address the unique and complex health needs of older adults that are often overlooked in our current health care system.

Geriatric medicine, which focuses on the special health needs of older adults, remains underdeveloped in the country. Most hospitals lack the infrastructure, personnel and protocols to address the complex interplay of chronic illnesses and mobility issues that many seniors face.