Retirement & Healthcare Coalition, Philippine Retirement Authority and other institutions are marketing the Philippines as destination for overwintering, long stay and retirement. Especially for the active seniors or go­go's, the Philippines is a destination that has much to offer including a developed lifestyle, community, health care.

But how about products for the slow­go's and no­go's? How about services and products for Filipino citizens who are in need of care?

Currently the situation in the Philippines is the same as in much of Asia. The demographic change has almost not been addressed yet.

Despite the fact that the Philippines has one of the lowest average age in Asia at 24 years old, it cannot be denied that its population is also aging.

Over the last 20years, the age group of Filipinos 65 years old and above almost doubled from 3.20 million in 1990 to 6.30 million in 2010.

The Filipino tradition where the children take care of their parents is slowly changing, especially in the urbanized areas.

More Filipinos are moving from the rural areas to the cities where accommodations are smaller and costs are higher. The situation makes it almost impossible for a family to stay together, especially among the middle income class.

To those who have to take care of their children and their parents, tremendous challenges are present.

For the higher income class, good infrastructure is available including drivers, house helpers, and nurses that can take care of the elderly in their home. However, for the middle class income group services are very much limited.

Even if the Philippines has tens of thousands of unemployed nurses, there are almost no geriatric nurses

in the country.

Taking care of the elderly needs special and intense training, which up until now is not available in the Philippines and other countries in Asia. Those with experience usually leave the Philippines as there is a high demand for geriatric nurses worldwide.

There are also only about 150 geriatric licensed doctors in the country that are equipped to take care of the more than 6 million Filipino senior citizens. The math just does not add up. 

Moreover, up until now only one private insurance firm is offering plans for Filipinos that are 60 years old and above. There are also only a few nursing homes available with most of them located in key cities. Usually hospitals currently cater as nursing homes as there are no other alternatives available.

Patients very often stay in hospitals for months or even years as the family is overwhelmed and does not know how to ensure that their elderly members receive proper Care outside of the hospital.

Still, global aging and aging in the Philippines should not be seen as a threat but as an opportunity. The numbers tell us that this sector will grow and the Philippines is in the unique position to be able to cater to its domestic, as well as to the foreign market.

Embracing this new market will not happen overnight as the Filipino culture will adapt to this change slowly. It is in our culture that we take care of our parents at home.

If this is always in the best interest of the senior citizens, then it is questionable. Seniors with Alzheimer or dementia need special care and assistance outside homes. The good news is that several developments are happening within the industry.

Nursing Homes are being developed to cater to Filipinos, balikbayan and foreigners. The model being used in the Philippines is very unique and has caught already international attention.

Instead of building huge facilities for hundreds of seniors, small social communities of six to 15 beds are being developed where seniors can live at an affordable cost and in a gated community complete with daily activities.

International investors are eyeing to build Continuous Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) for Filipinos, balikbayan and foreigners. These communities cater to the middle­ and high-income class groups and provide a social community for active seniors in the first place with all necessary amenities.

In the later part of their lives, GCRC's can ensure that residents receive the proper care that they need.

Residents do not need to move to a nursing home but can grow old in their community.

Home Health Care is an essential part of geriatric care and enables seniors an aging place. Qualified geriatric nurses and doctors regularly visit their clients and ensure a sound environment of quality care in their own home.

Metro Manila is already covered by home health care and other cities are expected to have this service soon.

In developed countries, these services have been developed for its own residents. In the Philippines, the developments should go hand­in­hand with International Retirement Migration.

In fact some nursing homes have already been built for foreign clients first and Filipino residents within the surrounding communities. This is a win­win situation for all involved parties.

Currently the RHC together with the Department of Health and a German nursing home chain is working on QM­Systems for nursing homes to ensure a high quality of care for all residents.

We at the RHC feel the Philippines's unique market niche could be the elderly care market, if the products and services are developed properly. From this development the Filipino seniors, foreign seniors, and the service providers would benefit all at the same time.

If you want to learn more about recent developments and future possibilities in the elderly care market, the RHC, the Department of Tourism and the PRA are organizing the 3rd Philippine Retirement & Healthcare Summit on April 22 and 23 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City. The event is set to recognize the Philippines's potential as the top retirement destination in Asia and to be capable of providing quality service to the silver market by understanding its motives.

Marc Dauhenbuechel is the executive director of the Retirement & Healthcare Coalition. He is also the project director of the Philippine Healthcare Initiative for the implementation of QM­Systems in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. For your comments, e­mail daubenbeu­ chel@rch.com.