Probe of geriatric care facilities sought

A LAWMAKER on Sunday called for a congressional inquiry into the state of geriatric care facilities, warning that existing institutions may be inadequate to meet the needs of the country’s growing elderly population.

Party-list Rep. Leila M. de Lima said she filed House Resolution No. 666 to identify policy gaps in the accessibility, affordability and quality of existing support systems for senior citizens, and to recommend legislative measures aimed at improving care for the aged.

“Every Filipino senior citizen deserves to live their remaining years with security, compassion, and the full measure of dignity guaranteed under the Constitution and international human rights instruments,” she said in a statement.

The Philippines is projected to become an “aging society” by 2030, driven by declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy, Ms. de Lima said, citing a demographic study.

“There is a clear and urgent need for stronger government support in providing and promoting long-term care services and regulated institutional living arrangements for older persons, especially for those who have no one to take care of them,” she said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio