Philippine Culture - Take care of Parents?

When I first came to the Philippines the culture norm was that children took care of their elderly parents and grandparents, but a few years after arriving in the Philippines I saw that culture tradition begin to erode.  It was common to hear Filipino’s be critical of Westerners, especially Americans, for putting their elderly in nursing homes.  They would argue that we were disrespectful of our elders and that Filipino people would never do that.  Well, times have CHANGED!

I never put my mother in a nursing home, but now that I look back I believe it would have been better for her and the family if I had.  She had Alzheimer’s and there were times when caring for her at home were nearly unbearable.  At the time I foolishly thought nursing homes were where the young dump elderly parents and grandparents when they no longer want to be bothered with them. 

At the present moment there are two bills before the Philippine Congress that reflect the growing problems Filipinos have with the elderly.  House Bill 1514, filed by Representative Augusto Syjuco, allows the elderly to ask the courts to compel their descendants, whether legitimate or illegitimate, to give them financial and other support.  If younger Filipinos were caring for older Filipinos there would be no need for Representative Syjuco to file such a bill.

There is also a bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 1809, filed by Senator Mirian Defensor Santiago, which proposes the establishment of a government assistance program for elderly victims of abuse, whether physical, emotional or sexual, as well as neglect or abandonment by caregivers, financial exploitation and health care fraud and abuse.  Again, if younger Filipinos were caring for older Filipinos there would be no need for Senator Santiago to file such a bill.

I have heard many horror stories of the retired persons’ SSS or GSIS card being taken by their children or grandchildren, who then withdraw the monthly pension to use mainly for themselves rather than for their parents or grandparents.   I know of elderly people that have been put out on the streets by family members to beg for pesos to simply survive.  I doubt there is anyone in the Philippines that has not seen an elderly lady or man sitting on the sidewalk begging. 

How many bills are already on the books to curb the ills you find in the Philippines that are never enforced.  We all know that if established laws to fight corruption were enforced there would be little to no corruption.  I would suspect that these two bills if passed will not be enforced either due to lack of funds.

The elderly problem is only going to get worst in the Philippines.  In the 50’s Filipino’s generally died in their 50’s.  The time span to care for the elderly was short, but now Filipino’s who die in their 60’s are thought to have died YOUNG.  Complicating matters is the cost now involved in caring for the elderly.  Most elderly suffer from hypertension and diabetes and the cost of medication can run into the thousands of pesos each month.  Factor in diseases like Alzheimer’s and the cost runs even higher. 

The job situation in the Philippines requires many Filipino’s to work abroad.  The money sent home naturally goes first for the needs of the young and what is left may filter down to the elderly.  It is not only a monetary problem.  The O.F.W. simply cannot be home to give personal care to the elderly.

The numbers of elderly will continue to rise in the next century, but I do not think Congress can legislate parental or elderly care.  The government must strength the safety net they provide for senior citizens.  The Philippine government and society as a whole must begin to provide facilities for the elderly to go to and feel safe and be properly cared for and be given the opportunity to socialize with people their own age.  Nursing Homes/Assistant Care Living is not a dirty word as many Filipino’s believe. It often is better than the alternatives.

The Philippines has a population of people aged 60 and over of 7 million. This is projected to grow to 19.6 million by 2040, as a result of the lower fertility and lower mortality rate.

UPDATE: The abuse problem continues - June 22, 2014 MANILA from the Inquirer—with the growing number of aging Filipinos, various sectors are calling for the passage of laws to protect the elderly against abuse, described by many as a “hidden disease.”

At the commemoration of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Quezon City last week, experts noted how senior citizens are constrained by shame to admit to being victims of abuse from members of their own families.