Our growing elderly population
AS I mentioned in an earlier column, the country today, like many other Asian countries faces the challenge of a growing elderly population. In fact, an East-West Center study had shown that in the next 50 years, the number of elderly persons in Asia will more than triple. It is still a long way to go, but the question is whether the government is preparing for this eventuality.
As the study notes, four approaches will be needed to respond to what could be a serious threat to society. These are: (1) the need for policies and programs that would enhance traditional Asian systems and family support; (2) policy reforms that encourage the elderly who are still capable to remain in the workforce; (3) strengthening institutions that support higher levels of personal savings; and (4) establishing public programs including pension schemes and healthcare systems. All these policies and programs would are intended to meet the psychosocial needs of the elderly – allaying their fears of loss of independence, changes in disposable income, and a shrinking social world.
The first approach refers to ensuring that we keep the existing close family ties and traditions that assure our elderly family members that they would be cared for until they die. The second policy reform continues to be a subject of debate in the legislature – increasing the age of retirement from the present 60 to perhaps 70 or even beyond. Because of better nutrition and access to health technology, many of our senior citizens continue to be mentally active and productive. The third refers to social security policies that would increase the income of the elderly, and the fourth are reforms in the pension and healthcare systems. Already these are being addressed by the PhilHealth program and laws providing social benefits to the senior members of our society.
While we have a healthcare system that is the envy of some of our Asian neighbors as well as other countries (we have some of the best doctors, nurses, and medical and healthcare staff as well as medical and nursing schools), there is a yawning gap when it comes to responding to the needs of the very elderly. Despite the policy reforms that are now in place, the government has yet to address the plight of the terminally ill who suffer from poor health or old age.
Just recently, the Philippine Star reported a study on the Quality of Death Index which listed the Philippines as one of the worst places to die, next to Iraq and Bangladesh. According to this study done by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the country scored poorly in terms of the quality of the end-of-life care available. The quality of death index was measured across five categories – palliative and healthcare environment, human resources, affordable care, quality of care and level of community engagement. The low score was attributed to the severe shortage of specialized palliative care professionals, lack of government-led strategy for the development and promotion of national palliative care services, and limited public understanding and awareness of palliative care services. The country was placed near the bottom out of a list of 80 countries.
I know this for a fact as my Google search showed that there are only about a dozen hospices or clinics that address the dying. Palliative care is defined as the “prevention and relief of suffering provided by an interdisciplinary team.” Since most of the patients suffer from cancer and other life-threatening disease, the team usually consists of doctors who are specialists in cancer and pain management, a nurse, other needed medical staff, and a spiritual counselor. As a writer noted, it is “helping the dying to live until he dies.” The goal is to provide comfort and enable the patient to die in peace and with dignity.
Also, what ever happened to the bill on Palliative and Hospice Care that was filed by Rep. Linabelle Villarica during the 15th Congress? HB 5250 was intended to integrate these services into the health delivery system and cited cancer and HIV-AIDS as the two lifethreatening diseases. It further noted that being a compassionate people, we should be giving this bill the support that it needs.
My email, florangel.braid@gmail. com