Do not forsake the elderly

Published November 25, 2022, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

“Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

Citing this biblical passage from Psalm 71:9, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. called for the establishment of a geriatric hospital and more benefits for senior citizens.

In pushing for measures to care for the elderly, Abante cited the Longitudinal Study of Aging and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP), showing that “Filipinos aged 60 and above are far less healthy and economically secure than the younger, working-age Philippine citizens.”

The study was presented at the recent “Policy Priorities for Dignified Aging Webinar,” organized by the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department.

To underscore the urgency of his call, the congressman said indicators in the LSAHP study “reinforce the case for better care, increased benefits, and special programs to address the concerns of our senior citizens.”

“In the twilight of their lives, our senior citizens should be able to rely not just on their families, but also on the state. Having served as productive members of society, they have earned the right to rest, retire, and live the rest of their days free from sickness and stress,” he said. “I feel that the greatest concerns of most of them that need to be addressed with urgency are financial assistance, mobility, medical and health care, and recreational and health activities, which may ultimately address the issues of stress and depression among them.”

Abante has filed House Bill No. 191 (Geriatric Health Act) that calls for the establishment of a National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute as well as regional geriatric specialty centers in DOH-retained hospitals. Aside from this, Abante also filed HB 4543 (An Act Increasing and Expanding the Benefits Granted to Senior Citizens).

The Manila solon’s move is aligned with the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, a global collaboration that “seeks to reduce health inequities and improve the lives of older people, their families and communities through collective action in four areas: changing how we think, feel and act toward age and ageism; developing communities in ways that foster the abilities of older people; delivering person-centered integrated care and primary health services responsive to older people; and providing older people who need it with access to quality long-term care.”

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2021–2030 the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing after the World Health Organization (WHO) observed that “people worldwide are living longer,” noting that one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years and above by 2030.

On the domestic front, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, said that in 2020, Filipinos 60 years old and above comprised 8.5 percent of the population, or 9.2 million — more than 50 percent higher than the 4.5-million elderly population in 2000.

We express hope Congress would heed the Manila congressman’s call because of its social impact, it’s a response to the UN’s global collaboration, and its biblical implication.

We need to care for the elderly.

Do you trust elder people?

TUE, MAY 30, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Born in 1953, I started my life at a period when more babies have been entering the German population than never before. World War II, more or less the end of the world – as my late grandmother mostly describes that time – has ended eight years ago. It was not the end of everything. The world economic crises changed into another economical world wonder.

During the Sixties, we looked upon the youth culture of Woodstock as a symbol – of the power of music, the pursuit of self expression, the values of peace, love and community, and the rejection of “the establishment” – even in the midst of torrential rain and an aftermath of foot-deep mud.

I enjoyed our flower power peace generation with long hair. Yes, I confess, many times, I was really very cynical about my parent’s values. I really rejected anything that suggested tradition.

By the way, that’s one thing, which can be observed also in the Philippines since a couple of years. I observed such changes since my first visit in the Philippines in 1976. Nowadays, I feel happy, if my nieces and nephews start listening again my ideas and ask my advice.

The slogan “Never trust someone above 30” had to be abandoned since I crossed that divide myself. Now, hopefully at the second half of my present life,  “30” looks impossible young. And let’s be honest to ourselves: Aren’t we facing the same realities our parents did: Raising families, needs to pay for school et cetera et cetera? We have held fiercely to freethinking and the not traditional ways our parents – shaped by the “Depression”, World War II and much more – never got the luxury to feel.

Those of us who have made good money, hold fewer illusions that a big house and a Mercedes (or any other brand!) in the garage are likely to bring happiness. But guys, what seems most precious to us nowadays is not career or success, but time and the freedom to do the things we love to do that hold meaning. Earnings through a job we don’t like might be painful; but isn’t it much more painful to wait for nothing while being fed by a friend?

Failed marriages, difficult mid-life attempts, something that might pass away a family – yes, I think, we know the rarity of solid and long living relationships with a partner, with children or with a hard to find friend.

We may even dare to speak the language that 30 or 40 or even 50 years ago would have seemed uncool. Call it God or something spiritually, but it would probably be the quest for the sense of life, an the hope and faith, that one exists.