With more countries turning into aging societies, recent studies show changes in the attitude of families in providing long-term care (LTC) for the elderly.
A study published by the National Institutes of Health shows that Filipino families continue to be the main caregiver of elderly parents/adults “as dictated by the Filipino culture of filial piety and respectful behavior toward older people.”
But it also shows that this “caring culture is declining…due to deteriorating family values and societal influences brought about by modernization.”
More than half (59.0%) of the healthcare costs are still paid mainly by out-of-pocket money of Filipino older persons and their families while 19.8% and 6.5% are paid by social insurance and the national health department, respectively, according to the study.
More than two-thirds (77%) of financial support for Filipino older persons were from their children, spouses, and relatives. Aside from financial support, family members, daughters specifically, play a significant role in assisting Filipino older persons.
“The respectful and caring behavior towards older persons has been passed from one generation to another. Unfortunately, these valuable behaviors seem to be steadily fading. There is an increasing number of Filipino older persons being abandoned by their families that is likely to be worse over time,” the study says.
A recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) study also says that the “share of people who agree that adult children have a duty to provide LTC for their parents tend to decline as the population ages, as seen in Japan, where only a minority agree.”
In Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, and Tajikistan, the ADB reports, an overwhelming majority either agree or strongly agree with the statement, and only a very small fraction disagree.
In the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Viet Nam, the majority still agree that adult children should take care of their parents, but the percentage strongly agreeing is somewhat lower.
In rapidly aging economies — notably Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Taipei, China, and the Republic of Korea — a much smaller share strongly agree, and many disagree, according to the ADB study.
The ADB study notes that the social norm of filial care is less popular among younger people in many economies.
“How quickly Asia shifts away from (the social and cultural norm) will determine when gaps in LTC for older people arise,” it says.
