Essay About Senior Citizens

In the Philippines, the ages to be considered a senior citizen are those who are aged 60 years old and over. They made up 6.8 percent of the 92.1 million household populations in 2010, higher than the 6.0 percent recorded in 2000 and the number reached over six million in 2011; it is seen to double in 16 years. Among the senior citizens, females (55.8 percent) outnumbered the males (44.2 percent). The number of people 60 years old and above, or those considered as senior citizens, has increased, as the country 's household population was also up. With the growing number of senior citizens, there is a generalized notion associated with senior citizens such as degeneration and decline of health and well being but on the contrary, most of them are still active and productive, performing significant roles at home and in the community. With that being stated, the rapid growing population of senior citizens in the Philippines and the lack of positive awareness in terms of aging and senior life sparked the interest of the researcher.

Older people who retire from work, ill or live with disabilities can remain active contributors to their families, peers, communities and nations. Active aging aims to extend healthy life expectancy and quality of life for all people as they age. Active aging allows people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well-being throughout the life course and to participate in society, while providing them with adequate protection, security and care when the need arise. Maintaining autonomy and independence for the older people is a key goal in the policy framework for active aging (Alexandre, Cordeiro, & Ramos,