geriatricsphilippines.org Blog

Mr Michael Tan, writes about Geriatrics and care of older Filipinos in a recent article in the PDI.

Click for here the complete article Philippine Daily Inquirer PDI (10.28.09).

Excerpts below:

Geriatrics is also about developing more autonomy or independence for the elderly. That includes encouraging the elderly to set their own goals for health. This is where problems often arise. Non-geriatricians tend to keep patients passive: take this medicine, don’t take that food, stay in bed. Unfortunately for the elderly people, that passive role often leads to a further deterioration of their health. This is worsened by Filipino cultural norms that also emphasize passivity and dependence for the elderly.

Less is more

Geriatricians want their patients to be active whenever possible. When it comes to medicines, less is more for geriatricians because of more risks of side effects, and of drugs interacting with each other. Again, this sometimes runs counter to local culture: our elderly sometimes boast that they are taking 10 pills a day.

We will need more geriatricians who have both the biomedical skills and cultural competence or sensitivity to care for our elderly. Moreover, geriatricians could play another important role of training caregivers, friends and relatives, somewhat like para-geriatricians. I know The Medical City offers such training workshops from time to time.

The National Conference on Aging “Promoting Wellness, Improving Quality of Life of Oder Persons” was held at the Balyuan Convention Center, Tacloban on October 28-29, 2009, completing the 5-day geriatric education outreach of the UP Manila-NIH Committee on Aging (COMADD). The event was hosted by the School for Health Sciences Palo and attracted participants from Region 8, Quezon province, Manila, and Southern Luzon.

Basic topics on Gerontology and Geriatrics were discussed, with the following objectives:
1. Discuss the myths and theories on aging
2. Discuss the value of health promotion and disease prevention such as
• Immunization
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Risk management/lifestyle modifications
3. Explain the common medical problems/conditions in aging
a. Depression
b. Dementia/Delirium
c. Communication Disorders
d. Falls and Immobility
e. Pain
f. Polypharmacy and Rational Drug Use
g. Urinary and Bowel Incontinence
4. Recognize the emotional, spiritual and psychosocial needs of the elderly
5. State policies/laws on the rights of elderly

The COMADD shared their knowledge and led the captivated audience in plenary lectures and wet clinic demonstrations. The Overall Chairperson of the 5-day educational outreach was Dr. S de la Vega (UPM-NIH, Chair COMADD) with Co-Chairs Dean J Siega-Sur (UP SHS) and former NTTC Dean JAP Mojica. Other members of the faculty were Prof. L Manahan (UPCN), Prof. A Balagabno (UPCN), Dr. D Camagay (UP-PGH), Dr. D. Dychingbing-Agsaoay (UP-PGH), Prof. EJ Gorgon (UP CAMP), Prof. JD Agapito (UPCAS), Ms. E Limos (UP-PGH Nutrition), Prof. G Manalang (UPCPH) and Dr. M Bodo-Bernabe (PSGM), and Dr. I Alejandro Jr (PSGM VP).
Dr. de La Cruz, past President of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines shared his wise thoughts about aging and advocated for better policies on geriatric education and healthcare for older persons. Dr. L Opina- Tan faculty from the UP Community Health Development Program in San Juan Batangas, gave a return-demo lecture of what she learned during the 3 day Training of Trainors workshop in Palo.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Over all Chairman: Dr. Shelley de la Vega
Co- Chairs: Dr. Jose Alvin Mojica
Dean Jusie Lydia Siega-Sur
Prof. Amabel Ganzo

Ways and Means Committee:
SHS : Prof. Amabel Ganzo
Dean Jusie Lydia Siega-Sur
Prof. Zenaida Varona
ComADD: Dr. Shelley de la Vega

Program and Commercial Exhibit Committee:
Chairman: Dr. Romeo Ceniza
Members: Dr. Norlita Arcamo
Dr. Aileen Espina
SHS Medical Students

Physical Arrangement:
Chairman: Prof. Teresita Sardan
Members: Ms. Loreta Soledad
Dr. Filedito Tandinco
Prof. Helen Gumba
Prof. Carmelita Espinosa

Registration and Awards Committee:
Chairman: Prof. Evangeline Culas-Pasagui
Members: Prof. Rolando Borinaga
Prof. Carmen Firmo
Dr. Filedito Tandinco

Social Program:
Chairman: Prof. Amabel Ganzo
Members: Ms. Esther Hope Acosta
Prof. Carmelita Espinosa
Dr. Carmen Firmo

Invitation and Publicity:
Chairman: Prof. Amabel Ganzo
Members: Prof. Sylvia Sustento
Prof. Zenaida Varona

The project was made possible by educational grants from President GMA and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

The UP Manila-NIH Committee on Aging successfully conducted a Training-of-Trainors Workshop on Geriatric Assessment from October 24-26, 2009 at the School of Health Sciences Palo, Leyte. Objectives of the workshop were:
1. To develop a core of trainers on gerontology (the study of the science of aging) and geriatrics (that branch of medicine that is dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of older person’s diseases) at the UP School of Health Sciences that is in keeping with their mission/vision/objectives and Republic Act 9257.
2. To increase the capacity of healthcare providers at the community and provincial levels to detect age-related health problems and/or geriatric diseases and syndromes for appropriate management.
3. To strengthen the capacity of existing educators, healthcare providers and services to become models of age-friendly practices.
4. To improve the functional capacity of impaired and disabled older persons.
The Geriatric Assessment Workshop was chaired by Dr. Doris Camagay (UP-PGH), with co-chairs Dr. Dorothy DyChingBing-Agsaoay (UP-PGH) and Prof Edward James Gorgon (UP-CAMP).

The third day focused on Enhancing Competencies and Instructional Design with the objective of providing opportunity for the SHS faculty to analyze and decide on the content of the course design on Care of the Older Person. The Competency workshop was chaired by Prof. Araceli Balabagno, PhD (UPCN) and co-chaired by Prof. Amabel Ganzo (UP SHS).

The National Conference on Aging immediately followed and completed the program on basic geriatrics and gerontology.

The workshop is designed to increase the capacity of healthcare providers at the community and provincial levels to detect age-related health problems and/or geriatric diseases and syndromes for appropriate management.

Completing the faculty list are Prof. L Manahan (UPCN), Prof. JD Agapito (UPCAS), Ms. E Limos (UP-PGH Nutrition), Prof. G Manalang (UPCPH) and Dr. M Bodo-Bernabe (PSGM). Administrative assistance was provided by Ms. Angel Alarca. The Overall Chairperson of the 5-day educational outreach was Dr. S de la Vega (UPM-NIH) with Co-Chairs Dean J Siega-Sur (UP SHS) and former NTTC Dean JAP Mojica.

The project was graciously hosted by the faculty of the School of Health Sciences, Palo, Leyte and was made possible by educational grants from President Arroyo and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.