Senior Pinoys to reach 23.63-M in 2050 – UNFPA

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The number of senior citizens in the country are projected to balloon to 23.63 million in 38 years, says the UNFPA

AGING POPULATION. The table contains the UNFPA's projections on the increase in the population of senior citizens across Southeast Asia. The image was obtained from the UNFPA's latest report.

MANILA, Philippines – The population of senior citizens in the Philippines are expected to balloon to 23.63 million by 2050, according to the latest report released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday, October 2.

The report titled “Ageing in the Twenty-first Century: A Celebration and a Challenge,” the UNFPA and HelpAge International said this means that from an estimate of 5.91 million Filipinos aged 60 and above, the population of the older generation of Pinoys will increase by 17.72 million in 38 years.

If senior citizens today account for ony 6.1% of the country’s population, in 2050, their projected share in total population will be more than twice as large at 15.3%.

The UNFPA added that if there are 464 Filipinos aged 80 years old and above in 2012, their number will increase by 2.93 million to 3.39 million by 2050.

“Ageing is a lifelong process that does not start at age 60. Today’s young people will be part of the 2 billion-strong population of older persons in 2050,” UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin said. “This report shows that, with actions taken now, we can all benefit from the longevity dividend– increasingly in the developing world – now and in the future.”

Discrimination and respect

The UNFPA conducted consultations with the world’s seniors. In the Philippines, the consultations revealed that age discrimination continues to be a problem in the country.

The report stated that in the Philippines, some seniors feel ignored and could not participate in activities for older people. The UNFPA also said that in the Philippines, age has become one of the “barriers to employment.”

In the Philippines, some seniors said that older men experience greater challenge when it comes to working beyond the age of 60 because of physical limitations. The UNFPA said this is because of “their declining strength and lack of alternative employment.”

“There is strong age discrimination. Even though we are able to, we are not allowed to work,” a senior in the Philippines was quoted as saying in the UNFPA report.

The UNFPA report also stated that there are seniors in the Philippines who experience being disrespected in the way they are treated at home or in terms of property ownership. This is despite another survey saying that 67% of seniors in the country still supported their children.

“Not even children respect older parents. They don’t give them enough food, even though we help them in the household. The children eat better food outside but don’t have enough for their own parents,” another local senior citizen said in the report.

The high cost of care

Seniors in the Philippines also encounter problems on health care despite the fact that the country is one of 21 worldwide that have implemented age-specific policies.

The UNFPA added that through the Philippines’ Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, the country become one of only 12 countries who have passed national laws on older persons.

The report stated that access to affordable medicines is a problem for many seniors in the country. It can be noted that through the senior citizen’s card, Filipinos aged 60 and above ony get discounts for treatments, medicines, restaurants, and grocery shopping, among others.

“People have stopped going to the health centre because it’s useless. The doctor gives me a prescription but I don’t have the money to buy the medicine,” a Filipino senior citizen said.

The report also included the story of a senior, Ligaya Bahillo, 75, who has a daughter with mental health problems. She said she could not gain access to discounts simply because she did not have a senior citizen’s card.

She revealed that she did not have a birth certificate that’s why she was not able to obtain an identification card. Birth certificates are required before seniors can claim a senior citizen’s card.

“I failed to secure a senior citizen’s ID because I don’t have a birth certificate, which is the main requirement for issuing an ID. I feel discriminated against because of my age and my poor situation,” Bahillo said.

LIGAYA BAHILLO. Her's is one of the stories told by the UNFPA. The image was obtained from the report.

Moving forward

The report underlines that, while the trend of ageing societies is a cause for celebration, it also presents huge challenges as it requires completely new approaches to health care, retirement, living arrangements and intergenerational relations.

In 2000, for the first time in history, there were more people over 60 than children below 5. By 2050, the older generation will be larger than the under-15 population. In just 10 years, the number of older persons will surpass one billion people—an increase of close to 200 million people over the decade.

The UNFPA recognized efforts to improve the care and the overall state of senior citizens in various countries in the world. But more needs to be done such as encouraging the formation of support groups for seniors to help deal with social discrimination issues and the creation of better policies for seniors.

“We must commit to ending the widespread mismanagement of ageing. Concrete, cost effective advances will come from ensuring age investment begins at birth – fully recognizing the vast majority of people will live into old age. Global and national action plans are needed to create a pathway to transform the explosive number of people over 60 to become growth drivers and value creators,” HelpAge International Chief Executive Officer Richard Blewitt said.

“By revolutionizing our approach and investing in people as they age we can build stronger, wealthier societies. Social protection and age friendly health care are essential to extend the independence of healthy older people and prevent impoverishment in old age,” he added. – Rappler.com

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