Showing respect to our elders will gratifyingly fill them a sense of wellbeing. Senior citizens have quite a lot of life experiences that they can impart to the younger generation, may it be about continuing change or handling life trials.
Older persons refer to those aged 60 years or over. In the Philippines, roughly 7.55 million were senior citizens, according to the 2015 Census of Population by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
As a person grows older, the body system will experience a lot of changes. Often, the elderly have limited mobility due to weak bones. They are also more susceptible to various diseases and illnesses due to weaker immune resistance than younger ones.
To ensure that elderly Filipinos are properly cared for, Presidential Proclamation No. 470, s. 1994, declares the first week of October of every year as Elderly Filipino Week (Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino) with the theme “Healthy and Productive Aging Starts with ME!”
Also, the government has various means to help elderly Filipinos. There are laws and programs that grant additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens.
The National Nutrition Council (NNC) together with various health sectors has developed goals and advocacies that focus on the health of the Filipino people counting the senior citizens. One of these is the 10 Kumainments which aims to promote a healthy lifestyle for the Filipino people by following the guidelines of nutrition. The Department of Science and Technology's Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) in collaboration with the NNC has developed the Pinggang Pinoy that can be used as a nutrition tool and health guide for the older persons. This will also serve as a guide for the families in preparing healthy food on a per meal basis for the elderly.
Old age cause many health problems and they are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. Here are some important tips to ensure proper nutrition during this stage. With reduced appetite, skipping meals shouldn’t be necessarily done instead small frequent feeding is encouraged. Eating colorful fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and red pepper and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as tuna, sardines and oysters helps when you are being forgetful. When experiencing constipation, drink water every hour and during meals. It will also help prevent Urinary Tract Infections. Prepare foods in small pieces or boiled vegetables and fruits to soften when you are having difficulty in chewing. For those with hypertension, limit sodium and salty foods and use a variety of spices such as ginger, lime, garlic, onion and various herbs.
Ensuring proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle will bring better results especially for adults aged 60 and over. Likewise, it is of great worth to prioritized health and secure nutrition during the younger days to have a high probability of becoming a healthy citizen during senior years.
It is important to know and understand the changes that aging causes and to know the steps that can be taken to maintain the good health of the elderly. Through these, they can do more, still be productive and will stay active in our society. (NOILaurito/NOIIIFlores/NPC)
