The Battle of Senior Citizens:: A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF ELDERS LIVING IN VALENZUELA CITY

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG VALENZUELA
Poblacion II, Malinta, Valenzuela City
THE BATTLE OF SENIOR CITIZENS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE LIFE AND

STRUGGLES OF ELDERS LIVING IN VALENZUELA CITY
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirement for the
Senior High School Students
ABELLA, HALZINASHEIN
ALBERTO, KRIZA MARIE
LUMBRERA, MARK IAN
URRUTIA, KARL SEIJI
STEM 12-7
MARK JOHN T. ACUÑA, LPT

APRIL, 2018
ABSTRACT
The life of a human is a sequence of development from being a child into being
an adult. This research paper is a qualitative-descriptive study that used a case study
method. In terms of the respondents, the age of the senior citizen must be ranging from
sixty (60) years old and above, living in Valenzuela City for at least fifteen (15) years,
and a certified Valenzuelano. For the instrumentation, the researcher used an interview
question to gather data from the respondents. The main objective of the study is to
know what are the factors of the life and struggles of a senior citizen in Valenzuela city.
The result of this study shows that the ten (10) respondents are showing the signs of
ageing and how do they endure it in their everyday lives. Therefore, we conclude that
the elders are experiencing many changes and struggles towards the social, physical,
and emotional aspect on their lives. They also have different ways and perspectives on
how to cope up with the struggles that they are getting through with their lives.
Keywords: Senior Citizen, Aging, Struggles

CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
The life of a human is a sequence of development from being a child into being an
adult. As this development struggles also arises. The definition of struggle could two
organisms fight for a food in order to survive. While Darwin's definition of struggle could
be defined as “a plant on the edge of a desert is said to struggle for life against the
drought”. This struggle shapes a person's personality, abilities, understandings and
perceptions in life. Struggles should result to a progress, how big or small it is, hence life
without it is dull and meaningless.
The elderly population of the world was 251 million in 1950 and expected to
increase from 530.5 million in 2010 to 2 billion in 2050 (WHO World Aging Report, 2013).
The aging process starts from the day a person is born and after the age of retirement, it
is regarded as a senior citizen. Aging has profound consequences on a broad range of
economics, political life, and social process (Sarfaraz & Riaz, 2015). In many countries,
aging became a serious attention of policy makers of the government because if the
number of population of the elders are growing, there will be serious issues such as,
challenges in form of weak economic growth, weak pension system, and political
instability.
According to Carlos (n.d.), elders, in the total population of 4,280,364 or 5.8 per
cent of the population in the Philippines, have their significant concerns from the following
issues: security in old age, occurrence of abuse committed, health status, policies and
legislative, and impact of aging on overall welfare. In addition, most elders are also
experiencing changes in daily routine of their lives, especially in relation to the
reconstruction of social ties and decreased loneliness (Andrade, et.al, 2014)
The studies of Mollon & Curtro (n.d.) have explored the issue of senior citizens or
retired people who capably managed their lives and for those who have health problems
are the only ones who accompanied the aging process. Their study shows the
components of the Quality of Life such as, optimism, perceived control, adaptation, self-
realization, independence, etc., that are beneficial to the senior citizens to have a
successful process of aging.
This research study aims to get the factors that affects the life of a senior citizens.
This also aims to get the perspective of the senior citizens for their struggles in their lives.
The purpose of this study is to know what are the changes of being a senior citizen in
Valenzuela, to acquire what are the struggles of senior citizen, and to understand how do
they endure their struggles in life.

Theoretical Framework
Theory of Aging (Disengagement theory)
FIGURE 1:
Theory of aging is composed of three theories the continuity theory,
disengagement theory, and activity theory, but in this theory, we will focus in the
disengagement theory
The disengagement theory of aging claims that it is normal for older adult to
withdraw their social life/ personal relationship in this society. The theory also suggests
that society responds to the elder’s disengagement with a recognition that the elder will
soon pass away and society must prepare to function in their absence. The
disengagement theory explains why process of disengagement occurs as one ages, and
why this is important and beneficial to the social system as a whole. This theory explains
why it is rational for individuals who know that death is approaching and who have seen
friends of their age pass to begin to anticipate their own deaths and disengage. Theory
by Elaine Cumming and William Earl Henry (1961) from their book called “Growing Old”.
Elaine Cumming has a double major in philosophy and women’s studies, she is also the
acting director of professional responsibility. William Earl Henry is a professor in
psychology and human development in university of Chicago and he also become the
chairman of Commission human development (“prabook”).
The researcher will use the theory as a base structure for the research, they will
use some of the claims of this theory to base on why does senior citizens encounter this
problem.
Disengagement theory has some postulate structure. Every people expect their
death, and their skill has gone by aging process. An individual that has less interaction
with other people tend to have fewer norms. Men and women have a different
disengagement process. When they get change in their self-esteem, their skills and
knowledge to degenerate. When the society is ready for disengagement it will continue
to disengagement, but when the person is the only one that is ready the result will be
misunderstanding. Man is for work and woman is for family. Readiness for
disengagement is earned if the individual is aware for the shortness of life. If the individual
disengaged in their main purpose they tend to do something new. Disengagement theory
is not based in the culture but the result of it is bound in culture.

Conceptual Framework
This research paper wants to acquire the following by using the theory as the
structure of this study. The following inputs are as follows: how does the physical, social
and emotional changes affect the senior citizens, how did they face their struggles in life,
and what are their perspective in struggles in life. The senior citizen lives in the Valenzuela
City, age ranging from 60 years old and above and should living 15 years and above in
Valenzuela and also a certified Valenzuelano. This respondent will make the result valid
and much reliable. The possible result of this paper is to get the factors that affects the
life of a senior citizens, their perspective about their struggles and to understand how do
they endure their struggles in life.
Statement of the Problem
The focus of this study is to understand the life and struggle of Senior citizens in
Valenzuela City
This study aims to answer the following questions:
1. How does the domain changes affect the senior citizen?
a. Social
b. Emotional
c. Physical
2. How did they face their struggles in life?
3. What are their perspective in enduring their struggles in life?

Significance of the study
The purpose of this study is to address the struggles of the senior citizen to make
their relatives aware of what they are feeling. This is also the call of action for the social
workers and even for the local government of Valenzuela to think a possible action
planned to ease this kind of situation. The study helps other senior citizen to understand
the situation they belong with and to state the factors that lead to the senior citizen a
negative change to avoid it to the near future. This will help every people around senior
citizen to notice what they need and to understand what are those needs and how can
they help. For the researchers, this will help them to look for the answer why most of the
senior citizens are living in silence because of this commonly ignored issue of seniors.
Scope and Limitation
This study focused in understanding the life and struggles of a senior citizen in
Valenzuela. The research locale will be on Valenzuela City where every citizen is valued
equally. The research started at November 2017 and expected to be finished at March
2018.
In terms of the participants, the age of the senior citizen must be ranging from sixty
(60) years old and above. The senior citizen should grow up at Valenzuela or should be
living here for fifteen (15) years and above of his/her life and a certified Valenzuelano.
The number of respondents to be interviewed is limited only to ten (10) persons or seniors.
Definition of Terms
Aging is a process where over time an individual experience a decline in performance,
productivity and health. (Sarfaraz & Riaz, 2015)
Senior citizen is any resident of the Philippines that is already 60 years of old. (R.A. No.
7432)
Disengagement is the act of withdrawing from a relationship or from an unpleasant
experience. (Nugent, 2013)
Perception is a process of interaction of a present stimulus on the basis of past
experience. (Sharma, n.d.)
Struggle shapes the person’s personality, abilities, understanding, and perception in life.
(Buss, 2009)
Chapter II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES
Local Literature
Aging process will only accompany if an elderly is capable to manage their lives
and to cope with their health problems (Mullon & Curtro, n.d.). The rapid social and
economic changes can affect the senior citizen, an article according to Philippine Daily
Inquirer, the aged people enjoy their emotional stability and well-being because of their
age. However, the mentioned changes had made them feel isolated and thus prone to
depression and led to commit suicide. The suicide rate in the Philippines per one hundred
thousand (100,000) of population is 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women. The Philippines are
known on having a extended family or nuclear family but nowadays, the younger
generation become more westernized and less involved in their parents lives, Filipino
senior citizen worry about who will care of them (Jacobson,2015). The solitude issue
among the senior citizen are the results of poverty, Senior citizen need a strong
attachment to one's home and the desire to maintain autonomy but the midst of poverty
also the reason why there is an elderly who lives alone and direct to the home of the aged
(Ryan et al., 2015). And some of the retired aged people are still working to earn money
for his family than spending the rest of their life in the comfort of their home according to
Passion (2017). The older people needs more care and support for in the Elderly stage
different kind of health complication are being emphasize and aged people suffer from
degenerative and communicable diseases due to the ageing of the body's immune
system and struggle with poverty make it much harder than it was (HelpAge Global
Network, n.d.). Changes is the only constant in the world and it affects everything.
The social changes that can affect how the senior citizen live life. The peak that
can be the result is committing a suicide. In this stage an aged individual are worried
about their future, the need of attention, care and comfortability are one of the things they
bothered about also for a having a health problems. The struggles that they are faced
being a senior citizen are becoming harder this are related to the nine postulates of the
Disengagement theory.
Foreign Literature
The population of the world constantly increases, also the senior citizens as well.
In 2040 the population of the senior citizens is expected to reach more than a billion
(Pilkington, 2009). A lot of senior citizen means a lot of responsibility, because every
senior citizen needs the care and attention of their relatives, so it would not lead them to
get a mental disorder. Senior citizens are being neglected every time because their family
are getting busy every time, and this puts them in the risk of having mental disorder
(Swain, 2013). A large percentage of our senior citizens are experiencing mental disorder
and other diseases, that makes normal people to think that they are weak do some things.
Approximately 15% of the whole population of senior citizens experience mental disorder
and 6.6% for the total population (World Health Organization, 2017). This mental disorder
can lead them to their death because when a senior feel that they are neglected and
lonely, this would lead them to depression that is a common cause of suicide.
Senior citizen quarrel or misunderstanding with its family can leads them to feel
depressed and this will put them to think about suicide if the disclosure is not yet fix
(Preidt, 2017).
Most of the senior citizens think that because they age, they cannot do anything,
or they cannot continue what they are doing when they are still young. Some of the senior
citizens stop to reinvent or stop to do something new in their life because they think that
they are too old and they don’t have confidence to pursue things. Most of the senior citizen
do not believe nor trust their selves (Saad, 2013). It does not mean that if you age you
need to stop from continuing your life. Sometimes the opportunity takes place when you
reach the older adult age, because in this age you already accumulated enough
experience to do something that you cannot do before (Saad, 2013).
Senior citizens tend to interact with other senior citizen rather than other people or
even their relatives and this can also help them to reduce mental health problems. They
do not like to interact with their family because they do not like to be a burden for them
(Bonchak, 2014). Interaction of seniors with other seniors leads to a positive effect
because there is someone who understand what they feel, and they don’t feel
uncomfortable because they are in the same state of life. Senior citizens want to have
their own interdependence and social interaction with other seniors (Bonchak,2014). A
life with other seniors and life with nature can help senior citizens to improve their mental
health. Green space with a quiet surrounding helps senior citizen to relieve from feeling
the pain with mental and physical aspects (Preidt, R.).

As the world’s population passively increases the needs and the population of the
senior citizens also increases as well. In 2014 the population of the senior citizens expects
to reach more than a billion. The number of sickness and diseases that an individual
senior citizen has escalates too. The number one common problem of the senior citizens
is the mental health disorder and not everybody knows about it.
Local Studies
According to Esteban (2015), elders use idioms in expressing their feelings and
thoughts regarding their life as a senior citizen. This idiom serves as "frame" in how they
are going to express their selves verbally and how they look in the world where they could
find their new identity as elder. Idiom tulad ng dati refers to continuing their life in past
which means that they can still do the activities they do in younger years. While di tulad
ng dati refers to the discontinuity of their life as young individual, where in it shows
decrease in cognitive and physical capacities but increases creativity and empowerment
and finds new role as elder.
According to Beliran and Legaspi (2014), health promoting behavior affects the
elders in having good quality of life. Age, health status and family income influence the
quality of life. Middle elders have high health promoting behavior than the young elders.
Once the elder knew his health condition, they became conscious about their body and
starts maintaining healthy body and eat nutritious foods. Their study shows that the higher
the family income, the more health services they can access. Beliran and Legaspi
suggested that government improve and promote quality of life and the community health
workers should implement medical assessment in the community especially elders that
belongs to the lower class.
The study of Antonio (2015) states that the role of government. Budget is the
primary consideration of the government in building facilities, creating programs and
seminars and etcetera that will benefit the elderly. The Department of Social Welfare and
Development and local government units’ coordination must be strengthened which could
be helpful in providing the needs and rights of elders in country. Antonio also stated that
the families of the elders should be the one who takes care of their elderly because it is
a way of showing utang na loob or debt of gratitude.
In the study of Inocian, Inocian and Ysatam (2014) shows that elders in nursing
homes and home for the age are dependent in activities of daily living while community-
dwelling elders are independent in doing such activities. They stated that age and
dependence in activities in daily living are directly proportional to each other. The health
and cognitive abilities decrease as the age of elder increases. The functional decline as
person ages, it is essential to support the health needs of the elderly.
According to De Leon (2014), there are several factors that the elders face in order
to have a good quality of life. One factor is health status, they are weaker unlike before
and more prone to diseases. Another factor is income of the family, their family will provide
the elders needs but some elders still works or opens up a sari-sari store to help in
financial problems of the household. Community is also a factor, where in the elder
practice their rights in voting for national elections and getting involved in community
development. The access of health services in the community still lacks or limited for the
elders. De Leon stated that the worst-case scenario that makes the elder difficult to
achieve good life is being abandoned by their own family for the reason that they cannot
support them anymore.
In the aging process, the person can suffer changes that may affect them from
having a good quality of life. There are several factors on having a good quality of life:
health status, family's income and age. Health status is a factor because senior citizens
are weak and prone on having diseases, but they became more conscious regarding their
health, eating nutritious foods, exercising and frequent consultations with the doctors. If
the income of the family of the senior citizen is high, they can support the needs of their
elder. They easily access any services and practices that the senior citizen needs. As the
age of the elder increases, dependency to others also increases but the functional
activities decrease. Some elders who are ill became more dependent in their
surroundings, especially their family. While functional activities decrease because the
capacity became shorter and they are activities that they cannot do anymore. There are
some instances that the elders are still capable of doing what can do in the younger years
which they use to help contribute in their household. Local government units are the one
responsible in creating such programs and projects which senior citizens are the main
concern. The local government units must implement this projects that will address the
issues of senior citizens and the senior citizens that belongs to the lower class should be
the priority of this projects.

Foreign Studies
According to Sarfaraz and Riaz (2015), ageing is a process where overtime an
individual experience a decline in performance, productivity and health. Ageing is also
defined in terms of chronological age cut off age of 60 or 65 years (Sivaraju et al, 2017).
In general, old age is also described as a traditional period where older people encounter
changes in both his or her physic and mental health, and social roles (Sibley, Thompson
& Edwardh, 2016). Singh (2015) clarified that phenomena’s like low self-worth due to loss
of social recognition and retirement can lead to many physical, psychological, and
sociological problems. Older people are more prone to sickness, diseases, syndromes,
etc. Few diseases which are common with advancing age obesity, diabetes, greying hair
color, lessened hearing, wrinkling of skin, agility and slower reaction times, reduced ability
to clear thinking, diminished eyesight, difficulty in recalling memories, and weakness of
bone diseases (Singh, 2015). Seniors are also at a greater risk of becoming lonely or
socially isolated. According to Sibley et al (2016), the impact of loneliness and isolation
can also lead to negative physical outcomes such as mortality, dementia, depression,
disengagement, and high blood pressure. It is also stated that poverty, living alone, lack
of adequate social networks, health status, and life transitions are the risk factors that can
significantly increase older person's likelihood of experiencing loneliness and social
isolation (Sibley et al, 2016).
Sivaraju et al (2017) clarified that ageing does not just affect the elderly but also
affects everyone in society in one way or the other. Everyone has a part to play for the
well-being of the elderly including the government, civil society, communities, and even
families (Sivaraju et al, 2017). According to Singh (2015), the elder's life after retirement
affects the socio-economic condition. In Pakistan, they are facing several challenges in
form of weak economic growth, weak pension system and null infrastructure for the
ageing people, and above all lack of political will along with the political instability that
makes the life of the older people miserable (Sarfaraz & Riaz, 2015). We all must ensure
that the older people are valued and respected, and we can also encourage them to
become active members of the society. According to Novek, Menec, Tran, and Bell
(2013), senior centers promote health by providing health and support services,
encouraging active and healthy aging, and by fostering a social environment that is
conductive to social participation and well-being. Novek et al (2013) conducted an
interview where 88% of the respondents indicated that the activities help them stay
healthy, 90% of the respondents stated that it contributes to their emotional well-being,
and 85% of the respondents said that it helps them relieve their stress.
The best form of protecting the elders in the problems of ageing process is to
prevent them. Recreational activities can motivate the elders to do certain work utilizing
their skills (Singh, 2015). According to Singh (2015), by engaging the elderly in
economically productive manner, the motivations from the family and community, and
supporting the elders via counseling and self-governance, it will slow the ageing process.
Singh (2015) also added that those elders who are not able to support themselves should
be given full or partial social welfare basic relief. Sivaraju et al (2017) stated that the
government recognized some of the key concerns of the elder people could be best
addressed only in partnership with non-governmental organization (NGO).

The state is responsible for the provision of basic health facilities like food, shelter,
pension and health support (Alam, Ibar& Khan, 2016). In addition, Sibley et al (2016)
clarified that raising awareness can also assist in decreasing ageism as well as educate
the country's entire population on the reality of retirement.
It is normal for the older people to experience changes in different aspects of their
lives physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. Elders will be prone into many
diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis. Their hair will also turn into gray and
their skin will wrinkle. There is also a possibility that the older people will have dementia
and depression. Elders will also feel disengaged from everyone and they will isolate their
selves from their environment. In order to prevent these and help the elders, it is said that
motivations, love and care from their family members and community can help, engaging
them into activities and organizations would be a big help too. It will slow the ageing
process of the elders if their needs and wants are given into them.
Chapter III
Methodology
Research design
The research paper is a qualitative-descriptive study that will be accomplished
through the method used, case study. Qualitative approach is a comprehensive
summarization that have an overtone for it used a constant comparative analysis in the
data (Lambert & Lambert 2012). This type of approach aims to study a specific experience
by an individual in its natural state, to seek in-depth information regarding the objective
of the study and to acquire the status of the elder people about their struggles. This study
will use a structured interview. It is a guided conversation between two persons, where
one person seeks information from the other using a prepared list of questions as the
researcher tries to solicit the answer, this will be conducted in conjunction along with other
requirements gathering the activity (Kumar & Herger). This technique is used to better
show the data that are gathered with the use of credible and reliable respondents and to
have a precise description of a casual investigation.
Research locale
To fulfill the study, the researcher will carefully analyze who the reliable
participants in this research paper and come up with the Aged People/Senior
Citizen/Retired people living in the City of Valenzuela where the researcher can easily
perform and accomplish the method used which is case study. In terms of the
respondents, the age of the senior citizen must be ranging from sixty (60) years old and
above. The senior citizen should grow up in Valenzuela or should be living here for at
least fifteen (15) years and a certified Valenzuelano. In this qualitative research, the
possible number of respondents needs to meet the precise result to be interviewed and
is limited only to ten (10) persons or seniors. This study started at November 2017 and
expected to be finished at March 2018.
Samples and Sampling Technique Used
In this study, the researchers used purposive sampling technique. Purposive
sampling is a non-probability sampling that is selected based on characteristics of a
population and the objective of the study. This type of sampling technique can be used to
reach the targeted sample quickly (Crossman, 2017).
The respondents consist of ten (10) senior citizens who live in Valenzuela City.
The researchers choose only ten (10) respondents because according to Crouch and
McKenzie (2006), less than twenty (20) participants in a qualitative study helps the
researchers build and maintain a close relationship and thus improve the “open” and
“frank” exchange of information. The respondents should be sixty (60) years old and
above and are also living here in Valenzuela City for at least fifteen (15) years since the
study is about the battle of the senior citizens living in Valenzuela City. The respondents
should answer the interview questions prepared by the researchers. The data that is
going to be collected by the researchers are confidential.

Instrumentation
For the instrumentation the researcher uses an interview question to gather data
for their qualitative research. In this type of gathering data, the researcher will conduct a
one on one interview to the respondents to gather specific data for each of the interview
questions.
Data Gathering Procedure
The researchers would make a letter of intent in order to formally interview a senior
citizen. If the letter of intent would be approved, the researchers would create the research
instrument which consist of twenty questions and divided into four aspects (social,
emotional and physical aspects). The study will be conducted for week with ten
respondents from all around the Valenzuela City. Each researcher would interview two to
three elders to gather data about their life and struggles as a Valenzuelano elder.
After the interview, the data would be transcribed and classify it to what aspect it
belongs. The data would be critically analyzed and hopefully be helpful in attending the
senior citizens' needs.

Chapter IV
Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data
In this chapter, the data that have been gathered from our respondents are
correspondents to our aim. The data are successfully collected by conducting a one-to-
one interview with ten (10) respondents: six (6) are women and four (4) are men, from
District one (1) and two (2) of city of Valenzuela. The purpose of this research study is to
get the factors that affects the life of a senior citizens, get the perspective of them, to
know what are the changes of being a senior citizen in Valenzuela and to acquire what
are the struggles of senior citizen.
Respondents Age Years in District 1

Valenzuela OR 2
A 60 60 1
B 69 48 2
C 62 40 1
D 67 30 2
E 68 42 2
F 86 38 2
G 66 30 2
H 90 31 2
I 80 49 1
J 76 76 1
Table 1.
A. Social Aspect
Social Aspect Number
of Elder
Suggests having a program that will help the senior citizens socialize with 1
each other
Suggests giving free branded medicines 2
Suggests making the pension and the discounts for senior citizens higher 4
Going to church every Sunday 1
Feels disengaged in the society 1
Wants to communicate with the younger ones 1
Likes to attend occasions like reunion or birthday celebration of a relative 2
Still communicating with other people 2
Socializing with other senior citizens 3
Stays at home more often 2
Wants to be alone 3
Table 3
According to the disengagement theory of aging, it is normal for older adult to
withdraw their social life or personal relationship on the society (Cumming & Henry,
1961). Postulate eight in the said theory states that, "Fewer interactions and
disengagement from central roles lead to the relationships in the remaining roles
changing". Our respondents experienced different changes when it comes to the social
aspect in their lives. Three of our respondents said that they want to be alone and two
of our respondents also said that they stay at their home more often. One of them said
that, "Wala naman akong kausap, dito lang ako sa bahay. Hindi ako lumalabas". Other
respondents, however, are still communicating with other people and some are friends
with other senior citizens, too. We also have a respondent who wants to communicate
with the younger ones. One elder answered, "Ang lipunan kasi you are just kinikilala ka
lang kung nakita nilang aktibo ka pero once na may edad ka na, ‘di ka na maano sa
lipunan kasi ako dati nagsasalita pa ko sa alliance pero ngayon ‘di na kasi medyo may
edad ka na kasi medyo nakakalimot ka na. Napapalayo ako sa lipunan at medyo
umiiwaas din ako" when we asked him if he felt disengaged from his family or the
society. Some of the elders also said that they like going to reunions or birthday
celebration of a relative and also, they still go to church every Sunday and communicate
with other people there. We also asked them if they belong to an organization for senior
citizens in their barangay and they suggested ideas that will surely help them. Four of
our respondents suggested that the pension and the discounts for them should be
higher. Two of the respondents also suggested to give them free branded medicines
and one of the elders suggested to have a program for the senior citizens that will help
them socialize with each other.

We conclude that most of our respondents are experiencing the signs of
disengagement in the society while some are opposing to the said theory. Most of the
elders also need help from the government and other organizations.
B. Physical Aspect
Number of
elders
Physical Aspect
Elders who still works 4
Elders who showed decrease in capability doing work done 6
Table 4.
Ageing have a huge impact in one’s physical capabilities. Elders are asked what
activities that they can still do. Four of the ten respondents are still working or continuing
their life in their younger years. The remaining six respondents can still do the household
chores but shows decrease in capability in doing works and less activities are done.
Number of
Physical Aspect elders
Elders who stopped doing their vices 2
Elders who is still capable of doing such works 4
Elders who cannot do specific physical activity and exercise 2
Elder who is not capable of doing some household chores 1

Elders who did not specify a certain activity 1
Table 5.
The researchers asked the respondent if what activities that they cannot do
anymore. Four elders stated that they can still do activities they have done before but one
of them needs some a little time to rest in order to continue the activity. Two elders said
that they stopped using cigarette and drinking alcoholic beverages. One stated that she
noticed that she had a lot of activities that she cannot do anymore but she did not say
what are those activities. Doing a specific physical activities and exercises are the things
that they cannot do according to the two elders. One elder said that she cannot do some
household chores anymore especially laundry.
Number
Physical Aspect of elders
Elders who spent the day in house 8
Elders who spent the day in work and house 2
Table 6.
Eight among the ten elders spent their whole day inside their houses, doing
household chores and leisure. While the other two respondents spent their whole day
between works and household chores.

Number
Physical Aspect of elders
Elders that noticed no changes 2
Elders who wakes up easily 1
Elders who have weaker bones 3
Elders that have blurry vision 1
Elders that experiences dizziness and numbness 1
Elders that became ill easily 1
Elders who did not specify the changes in their bod 1
Table 7.
Elders were also asked of what are the changes in their body that they noticed.
Two out of ten did not notice any changes in their body. One noticed that she had a hard
time in sleeping because wakes up easily. Another three noted that their bones were
getting weaker. A blurry vision is what one elder noticed. One of them is suffering
dizziness easily and experiencing numbness on her back. One stated that he noticed a
lot of changes, but he did not specify what are those. Another one respondent said that
he has a weak body and can acquire ill easily.

Number
Physical aspect of elders
Elders who is healthy 5
Elders who have diseases 5
Table 8.
In terms of health conditions of the elders, five out of ten respondents are still
healthy and free from diseases. While the other five respondents have diseases which
one them have a medication, but the disease is not stated. The three other suffer from
chronic diseases which are emphysema, asthma and hypertension. One out of the five
respondents who have suffers diabetes and arthritis which are both also a chronic
disease.
C. Emotional Aspect
Number
Emotional Aspect of Elders
Became too cheerful and positive about many things 2
Could easily cry 1

Became too thoughtful and overprotective 1
Became too sad when he/she remember some of her/his member of the 1
family who recently died.
Worried about her/his future, that possibly no one will take care of her/him. 1
He / She dealt the stress 2
Could easily rage 2
When an older person is in aging process one might experience various changes
in terms of economic, social, physical and emotional. Everyone must adjust in this
process and for those who has not capable to adopt the changes can possibly develop
various emotional problems (Kiau, 2016).
They experience different emotional changes depend on the lifestyle they have.
One of our respondents was single and she was full of worried about her future for no
one will possibly take care of her when she did not able to live by herself even though she
has a relative who will check up on her. We also have two (2) respondents who became
emotionally and could easily cry when they became aged person. One of them said that
he did not like crying when he is younger because for him crying is embarrassing but now
he does the opposite thing that he did not do when he is younger. And the reason of the
second one is when she remembers the people who died recently, her husband and her
daughter. One of the elders became too thoughtful and overprotective to her
grandchildren for her family continues to grow. Some of the common struggles of the
senior citizen are could easily irritable by their own family member. One of them felt this
in her husband and the second one felt it in her grandchildren. Dealing with the stress
that are caused by the problems and even the people surround them are also one of the
problem that the elders face.
According to Disengagement theory, when elders get change in their self-esteem,
their skills and knowledge to degenerate. Self-esteem is not related with the age of the
individual, the people's quality of social integration and adaptive capacities to cope with
life (Alaphilippe, 2008). Therefore, the researcher concludes that some of their
respondents are opposed to the theory and some of them are having the signs of
disengaging.
Based on our results, respondents faced their struggles in life by the help of God,
family, government and their unique way of solving their own problems. In economical
aspect, three of our respondents are still working despite of their age and they use their
salaries to provide their needs. In this age more of the senior citizen are dependent. Four
of our respondents are dependent on their pension while the last three respondents are
dependent on their children. They are also receiving a medicine came from the 3s (Sentro
ng Sama-Samang Serbisyo) Center, the help for their maintenance as they are growing
old. They also mentioned one program of the government for the senior citizens that
helped them in their medical needs which are the discounts that they got when buying
medicine and when they are confined in the hospital. The government also gives one
hundred thousand (100,000) when they reach the age of one hundred (100) as said by
one of the respondents.
In social aspect, one of the respondents stated that when she is stressed she
prefers to be alone for her to think clearly. Two of the seniors that the researchers
interviewed becomes closer to God after they become a senior citizen. The rest are either
staying at home or attending special events and still socializing to others, to feel that there
are not alone. In this age, the immune system became weak. Therefore, the senior citizen
is more prone to have different kind of illnesses. They follow what their doctors prescribed
to them. Some of our respondents are exercising every day however, some of them
cannot do some physical activity for their body is weak. The things that make them feel
useful is when taking care of children, pet and doing some household chores.
Emotional changes are normal when getting old according to one of our
respondents. The stress that they got is came from the people surround them, but they
also stated that the reason why they are still happy is their family. They also asking the
help of God when they are irritable and facing problems that made them change their
mood. One of the respondents has an advantage for he became too cheerful and positive
in life.
The respondents' perspective in enduring their struggles in life are different from
each other. Some of our respondents said that they know it is normal for their age to
experience different types of diseases. Two of our respondents also said that their
perspective since they reached the old age is to just become positive in all things then
they will face the struggles in their life willingly. They also stated when a person became
older, time will come where he/she will really feel alone when his/her family loses time for
him/her. One of our respondents admitted that she expected that when she became older,
no one will take care of her. By the help of their faith in God, some of our respondents'
perspective changed. They said that whenever they feel lonely and alone, they are asking
help and strength from God. In their social lives, two of our respondents said that their
opinions are a person should communicate with others to have friends even if he/she
already reached the old age, and never expect more than what he/she has right now and
be contented with his/her life. Most of our respondents also said that with the help and
love from their family, they are enduring their struggles in life.
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In this chapter a brief overview of the research is presented, based on the data
presented in chapters of this research.
Summary
The main objective of this research study is to know what are the factors of life and
struggles of a senior citizen in Valenzuela city. The focus of this study is to give a general
insight for the struggles and life of a senior citizen. The research has been conducted in
Valenzuela city and the researcher interviewed the respondents at February 22 to 24.
The researcher used a qualitative-descriptive type of research to study the life of a senior
citizens. The research data has been gathered by using interview questions within four
aspects (Social, Emotional, and Physical), this helps the researcher to analyze and easily
extract the data from the transcripts. The respondents have been chosen by their age
and years of living in Valenzuela city. the respondent needs to be sixty years old above
and has a minimum of fifteen years of living in Valenzuela city. The researchers used a
table to treat the gathered data from the respondents.
The respondents were asked about this three (3) base questions: a.) How does
the domain change affect the senior citizen? Social, Emotional, Physical b.) How did they
face their struggles in life? c.) What are their perspective in enduring their struggles in
life?
Social aspect becomes the struggle of some respondents because they rarely go
outside of their house and as a result they lose some of their friends, Emotional aspect
affects a senior by making them soft hearted and nervous about all things, lastly the
physical aspect affects the respondent really hard as this become barrier for them to do
some things that they want to do and in this aspect their complains are their sickness and
immune system. Second the respondents faced their struggles in life by the help of God
and their families, this keeps them alive and gives them the will to continue their life. Third
the respondents have different perspective about enduring their struggles some of them
says that there is a time that every people will leave them including their families, but
some says that by the help of God they can pass all obstacles that a senior citizen is
enduring.
Conclusions
Based on the results of the study, the researchers conclude that the ten
respondents are showing the signs of ageing. They are experiencing many changes
towards the social, physical, and emotional aspect on their lives. The elders are needing
financial support from their family and government. With the changes they are
experiencing in their body like having a hard time sleeping, getting tired easily, bones are
getting weaker, and the body being prone to different diseases like arthritis, diabetes, and
high blood pressure, it is important to take a special care and sustain their needs. Thus,
it is also normal for an elder to feel disengaged in the society. Most of the elders want to
stay at home often and are avoiding to socializes with others.
The elders are also dealing with the stress and other problems however, they are
also experiencing emotional changes. They could cry easily and become irritable with
their family members. By the help of their faith in God, love and care from their family,
and support from the government, they are getting through with these struggles in their
lives. As far as the researchers are concerned, the elders want to make their pensions
higher and to have free branded medicines and more health consultation.
Recommendations
Based on the findings and conclusions, the following recommendations for the
future researchers who would like to improve this study:
1.) The researchers recommend having larger number of respondents to gather more
data and explore deeper about their life and struggles.
2.) Future researchers could add spiritual and cognitive aspects of life and struggles of
elders.
3.) Future researchers could also focus on just one aspect of elder's life and struggles
The following recommendations for the social workers who are responsible for this topic:
The recommendations below is for social workers who could help senior citizens:
1.) The researchers recommend to the social workers to organize programs for the elders
that can improve their well-being.
2.) Social workers could also raise awareness of what are everyday struggles of a senior
citizen to the society.
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CURRICULLUM VITAE
Mark Ian R. Lumbrera

#371 Galas St., Bignay, Valenzuela City
(+63)9950033711
markianlumbrera@gmail.com
OBJECTIVE:
To obtain a civil engineering or any position that will give me more experience to
help me enhanced my skills and give me knowledge about my track.
QUALIFICATION:
 Ability to render AutoCAD and SketchUp
 A good entrepreneur
 Ability to estimate construction supply cost
WORK EXPERIENCES:
 Lab Assistant
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela
March 2018
 Familiarizing all the engineering equipments
 Applying and mastering the functions of the engineering equipments
 Typing and converting word manuals to pdf
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT:
SENIOR HIGHSCHOOL Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
2016-2018
JUNIOR HIGHSCHOOL Charis Christian School of Valenzuela

2012-2016
ELEMENTARY Charis Christian School of Valenzuela

2006-2012
SEMINARS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS:

 SUSTAINING ENGINEERING AND FIELD COGNTION TOWARDS FUTURE
EXPLOITATION AND PROFESSIONALISM
March 02, 2018
 ADVANCEMENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF ENGINEERING THROUGH
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND DEVELOPMENT
March 01, 2018
 MTAP-DEPED MATHEMATICS PROGRAM
Charis Christian School of Valenzuela
2012-2016
I hereby certify that all information above are true and correct
MARK IAN R. LUMBRERA

Kriza Marie M. Alberto

4999 Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City
(+63)555135170
mariealbertokim@gmail.com
CAREER OBJECTIVES:
 To enhance my skills and abilities in the field of Engineering
 To learn new knowledge
QUALIFICATION:
 Ability to use AutoCAD and SketchUp
 Good written and oral communication skills
 Ability to manage people
WORK EXPERIENCES:
 Engineering Laboratory Custodian (Internship)
March 2018 - present
Duties:
 Familiarizing all the engineering equipments
 Applying and mastering the functions of the engineering equipments
2016-2018
JUNIOR HIGHSCHOOL St. Bernadette College of Valenzuela

(With honors)
2012-2016
ELEMENTARY Monteras School of Valenzuela

(2nd Honorable Mention)
2006-2012

 SUSTAINING ENGINEERING AND FIELD COGNITION TOWARDS FUTURE
March 02, 2018
March 01, 2018
I hereby certify that all information above are true and correct.
KRIZA MARIE M. ALBERTO

Halzinashein A. Abella
93 S. Padrinao St. Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
(+63)9451221131
Sheinabella09@gmail.com
OBJECTIVE:
My aim is to become associated with the company where I can utilize my skills
and gain further experience while enhancing the company’s productivity and reputation.
QUALIFICATION:
 Computer Literate
 Able to learn programs and process quickly
 Good Communication Skills
WORK EXPERIENCES:
 Lab Assistant
March 2018
 Familiarizing all the engineering equipments
 Applying and mastering the functions of the engineering equipments
2016-2018
JUNIOR HIGHSCHOOL General Tiburcio De Leon National High School

2012-2016
ELEMENTARY Caruhatan East Elementary School

2006-2012

 SUSTAINING ENGINEERING AND FIELD COGNTION TOWARDS FUTURE
March 02, 2018
March 01, 2018
 MTAP-DEPED MATHEMATICS PROGRAM
Pio Valenzuela Elementary School
2006-2012
Polo National High School
2012-2016
 "MATH AND SCIENCE SEMINAR"
September 2017
 "RED CROSS - FIRST AID SEMINAR"
Valenzuela City Auditorium
January 2017
 "EARTH SCIENCE SEMINAR”
September 16, 2016
 "DREAM, BELIEVE, SOAR HIGH"
July 29, 2016
I hereby certify that all information above are true and correct
HALZINASHEIN A. ABELLA

The Battle of Senior Citizens:: A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF ELDERS LIVING IN VALENZUELA CITY

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PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG VALENZUELA

Poblacion II, Malinta, Valenzuela City

THE BATTLE OF SENIOR CITIZENS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE LIFE AND

ALBERTO, KRIZA MARIE

LUMBRERA, MARK IAN

URRUTIA, KARL SEIJI

MARK JOHN T. ACUÑA, LPT

Keywords: Senior Citizen, Aging, Struggles

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

drought”. This struggle shapes a person's personality, abilities, understandings and

without it is dull and meaningless.

is regarded as a senior citizen. Aging has profound consequences on a broad range of

experiencing changes in daily routine of their lives, especially in relation to the

reconstruction of social ties and decreased loneliness (Andrade, et.al, 2014)

successful process of aging.

they endure their struggles in life.

Theory of Aging (Disengagement theory)

Theory of aging is composed of three theories the continuity theory,

acting director of professional responsibility. William Earl Henry is a professor in

chairman of Commission human development (“prabook”).

is not based in the culture but the result of it is bound in culture.

they endure their struggles in life.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer the following questions:

1. How does the domain changes affect the senior citizen?

2. How did they face their struggles in life?

3. What are their perspective in enduring their struggles in life?

Significance of the study

Scope and Limitation

Aging is a process where over time an individual experience a decline in performance,

productivity and health. (Sarfaraz & Riaz, 2015)

Disengagement is the act of withdrawing from a relationship or from an unpleasant

experience. (Nugent, 2013)

Perception is a process of interaction of a present stimulus on the basis of past

experience. (Sharma, n.d.)

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES

experience to do something that you cannot do before (Saad, 2013).

the pain with mental and physical aspects (Preidt, R.).

and finds new role as elder.

belongs to the lower class.

primary consideration of the government in building facilities, creating programs and

a way of showing utang na loob or debt of gratitude.

person ages, it is essential to support the health needs of the elderly.

support them anymore.

the priority of this projects.

According to Sarfaraz and Riaz (2015), ageing is a process where overtime an

individual experience a decline in performance, productivity and health. Ageing is also

to clear thinking, diminished eyesight, difficulty in recalling memories, and weakness of

significantly increase older person's likelihood of experiencing loneliness and social

isolation (Sibley et al, 2016).

conductive to social participation and well-being. Novek et al (2013) conducted an

addressed only in partnership with non-governmental organization (NGO).

the country's entire population on the reality of retirement.

The research paper is a qualitative-descriptive study that will be accomplished

through the method used, case study. Qualitative approach is a comprehensive

have a precise description of a casual investigation.

expected to be finished at March 2018.

Samples and Sampling Technique Used

In this study, the researchers used purposive sampling technique. Purposive

sampling is a non-probability sampling that is selected based on characteristics of a

reach the targeted sample quickly (Crossman, 2017).

going to be collected by the researchers are confidential.