BUILDING A NETWORK OF SENIOR LEADERS AND PEER COUNSELORS IN AN URBAN SLUM IN THE PHILIPPINES: AN ACTION RESEARCH. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carandang, R; Asis, E; Vardeleon, K; Marges, M; Kiriya, J; Shibanuma, A; Murayama, H; Jimba, M
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 733
• Page End: 734
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.2707
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: The City of Muntinlupa is one of the fastest urbanizing cities in the National Capital Region and holds approximately 37, 000 senior citizens as of 2018. Despite the current developments, the majority of its senior residents lives in low socio-economic status. We conducted an action research to determine the psychological wellbeing of community-dwelling senior citizens in Muntinlupa City. We found that 56% of the senior respondents (N = 1, 021) is suffering from depression based on the scores obtained from the Geriatric Depression Scale. We identified the factors that are associated with psychological wellbeing and depression. We then recruited 60 senior volunteers from different barangays (villages) and trained them for leadership and peer counseling for one month. The trained senior volunteers exhibited significant improvement in knowledge, skills, and attitudes. After the training, we did house visits and assigned each senior leader/ peer counselor to two previously identified depressed senior citizens. The senior leaders/ peer counselors performed weekly counseling sessions and implemented community projects in their own catchment area. It was found that peer counseling and social engagement offered a two-way advantage both for the senior leaders/ peer counselors and depressed senior citizens.