Institute on Aging

“Towards healthy aging and quality of life”

Office Address: 
            Room 211, 2/F National Institutes of Health Bldg., UP Manila, 623 Pedro Gil St. Ermita, Manila 1000 

Websites:  
            https://www1.upm.edu.ph/node/239
            http://nih.upm.edu.ph/institute/institute-aging
            https://www.healthyaging.ph 

                        QR Code for the Healthy Aging website

Social Media:  
            YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/InstionAging 
            Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InstituteOnAging2012 
            Twitter: @FITPhilippines

Official Email address:
            nih-ia@post.upm.edu.ph, instituteonaging.upm@up.edu.ph

Landline: 
            (632) 85264266

Fax or Telefax: 
            (632) 85250395 

BRIEF HIGHLIGHTS

The creation of the National Institutes of Health was approved by the Board of Regents at its 1094th meeting on 26 January 1996, and with it, the Gerontology and Disabilities Programs Cluster, through the Committee on Aging and Degenerative Diseases (COMADD). Various physicians, academicians, and allied medical professionals within the University of the Philippines system pioneered the COMADD. Its first Chairman was Dr. Clemente Amante, Vice-Chair Dr. Shelley de la Vega, members Dr. Ramon Abarquez, Dr. Jaime Montoya, Dr. May Gose, Dr. Ester Bitnga, Dr. Letty Kuan, Dr. Lourdes Ledesma, Dr. and Alvin Mojica. Within a few years its membership expanded to include Dr. Doris Camagay (Dept. Family Medicine), Ms. Elizabeth Limos (PGH Nutrition), Dr. JD Agapito (UPM CAS), Dr. Araceli Balabagno and Dr. Lydia Manahan (UPCN), Ms. Gayline Manalang (CPH), Mr. Edward James Gorgon (CAMP)Dr. Alvin Mojica and Dr. Dorothy DyChing-Bing Agsoaoay (PGH Dept. Rehabilitation Medicine).

The Board of Regents of the University approved the establishment of the Institute on Aging (IA) on 04 December 2012, through a Resolution during its 1284th meeting. Its first members were Shelley de la Vega, MD, MSc (ClinEpi), FPCGM (Director); Maria Stella Giron, MD, PhD (Faculty) and Ms. Angely Garcia, RN, MPH (University Research Associate II).

The Institute is a member of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics-Global Ageing Research Network (IAGG-GARN). The goals of the Institute include the conduct of research in the following Key Areas of Research and Development: longitudinal, multi-disciplinary, and evidence-based research is recommended (NAST Monograph on Maximizing QOL of Older Persons thru Better Health 2005). Research dissemination and knowledge translation are also key goals.

Aside from aging researches and post-graduate courses and trainings in Aging, Geriatrics, and Gerontology, IA is actively involved in the development of policy recommendations, program planning, and creative works, provision of geriatric services through the Geriatric Clinic of the Department of Outpatient Services in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), and international linkage through the UP-Trento Italy Research Innovation and Staff Exchange (RISE).

In 2016 the Commission on Higher Education approved the inclusion of Geriatrics in the curriculum. The Director Dr. de la Vega sits as a member of the DOH Technical Working Group (TWG) for Health and Wellness of Senior Citizens, TWG Program Review and Planning on Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization for Indigent Senior Citizens, and Development of Clinical Pathways and Service Packages for Non-Communicable Diseases. Published monographs include Maximizing the Quality of Life of Older Filipinos thru Better Health (NAST), Content Review of the Manual on Caring for the Elderly, Baseline Surveys for the National Objectives of Health, NAST Resolution on Active Aging, “Acute Confusion.” Essentials in Geriatric Medicine, and the two versions (2005 and 2015) of the book Alzheimer’s Prevention, Screening and Management by the Alzheimer’s disease Association of the Philippines.

A few of its completed studies include NIH Policy Baselines for Allied Medical Professions, Status of Gerontology Education in Philippine Medical and Nursing Schools, Status of Dementia Care and Workforce in the Philippines, State of the Art on Researches on Aging in the Philippines, Quality of Life and Healthcare Needs of ICM Sisters, Cultural Validation of the WHOQOL-BREF in Community-dwelling Filipino Older Persons (UP Manila Journal 2013 December), The Asia-Pacific Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Frailty (Journal of Medical Directors Association, 2017), Pilot Implementation of the WHO Dementia Toolkit for Community Workers in Low and Middle Income Countries, and WHO Dementia Field test Project 2018.

COMADD and IA faculty conduct lectures, plenary teachings and outpatient workshops for students of UP in collaboration with the UP College of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, College of Nursing, CAMP, DSWD NCMB, and COSE. Examples are learning units on Human Development of the Older Person, Communicating with the Older Person, Policies on Aging, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Outpatient Setting, Geriatric Pharmacology, and Geriatric Physiology. 

VISION

The older person enjoying a healthy body, mind and spirit, being treated with dignity, and valued as a productive member of society, in a dynamic process unique to oneself, and beginning a life of unlimited possibilities.

MISSION

To create and advocate with older persons, unlimited possibilities for their value-added life through interdisciplinary transformative research, training, education, and specialized programs.

Goal

• To contribute to national development and improvement of the quality of life of Filipinos as they age.

Objectives

• Guide policy makers in the enactment of health laws, policies and guidelines which improve delivery of quality health programs for older persons.
• Contribute to the enhancement of medical knowledge on aging and geriatrics and improve the practices of health care professionals.
• Implement research on essential national health issues and concerns on aging.
• Lead in the formulation of national health research agenda on aging.
• Disseminate information on healthy and active aging to the general public.

Key Program and Research Areas

The goals of the Institute include the conduct of research in the following Key Areas of Research and Development. Longitudinal, multi-disciplinary, and evidence-based research is recommended (adapted from NAST Monograph on Maximizing QOL of Older Persons thru Better Health 2005). Research dissemination and knowledge translation are also key goals.

• Healthcare delivery, access and utilization
• Disability and Welfare Programs
• Implications of health on retirement and pension schemes
• Prevalence and longitudinal studies on morbidity and mortality, functional status and disability
• Major geriatric syndromes
• Health care delivery systems (type, location, funding, etc.)
• Rates and reasons for institutionalization or nursing home placement
• Utilization and access to primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, screening and health maintenance
• Quality of care in public and private hospitals and clinics
• Status of human resources and community support services
• Quality of Care
• Informatics, Knowledge Translation and Research Dissemination
• Workforce Training
• Technology for improved access and environmental mastery of disabled and frail older persons
• Socio-cultural determinants of health
• Socio-cultural influences on health and health-seeking behavior
• Socio-cultural determinants of inequalities in health and quality of life
• Information technology that supports social connectedness, and enhances access to health care
• Education of older persons that enhance self-worth, self-management of health problems and functional independence
• Impact of RA 9994 and other national health policies on health and QOL
• Impact of RA 9994 on health care expenditure

RESEARCHES

• University of the Philippines Wellness Initiative for Seniors and Elders (UPWISE) 
  Funding: UP System thru the Emerging Interdisciplinary Research (EIDR) Program of OVPAA

• Focused InTerventions for FRAIL Older Adults Research and Development Program: (FITforFRAIL) 
  Funding: Department of Health thru the Advancing Health through Evidence-Assisted Decisions (AHEAD) Program

• WHO Dementia Toolkit Pilot Testing 2017 and Field Test Project 2018 
  Funding: WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and WHO Philippines

• Continuation and Scale-up Phase of the Dementia Toolkit and mhGAP Implementation in Selected Sites in the Philippines. 2018-2019 
  Funding: WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and WHO Philippines

• Philippines Geriatric Training and Coaching Modules for DOH Hospitals and Primary Care units 2018-2019. 
  Funding: WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and WHO Philippines

• Status of Dementia Care and Workforce in the Philippines 
  Funding: Department of Health

• Promoting the Health of Older Adults Living with dementia during COVID-19. 
  Funding: WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and WHO Philippines

• Beta-testing of Agatha, a Digital Health Worker for Older People 
  Funding: WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and WHO Philippines

• Relationship of Body Composition to the Functional Capacity and Quality of Life of Older Filipinos in Selected Provinces in the Philippines 
  Funding: DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute

PUBLICATIONS

• Asia-Pacific Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Frailty

       ●  Book Chapter
           “Acute Confusion.” Essentials in Geriatric Medicine. Ratnaike, Ed. McGraw-Hill Au, 2002.

       ●   On Target Investigators. Randomized Trial of Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint
            Trial: “ON TARGET”. New England Journal of Medicine, 358;15 March 2008

      ●    Transcend Investigators. Effects of the angiotensin-receptor blocker telmisartan on cardiovascular events in
            high-risk patients intolerant to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: a randomized controlled trial. The Lancet.
            August 31 2008.

     ●     T Vos, RM Barber, B Bell,et al. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability
            for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global
            Burden of Disease Study 2013.The Lancet 386 (9995), 743-800

      ●     Technical Guidance and Review:  Dementia toolkit for community workers in low-and middle-income countries:
           guide for community-based management and care of people with dementia. Manila, Philippines. World Health
           Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. 2018. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

     ●     Mixed-methods research revealed the need for dementia services and Human Resource Master Plan in an aging
            Philippines. S Dela Vega, C Cordero, L Palapar, A Garcia, J Agapito. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 102, 115-122

     ●     Dent E, Lien, C...de la Vega S,...Flicker L. The Asia-Pacific Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of
            Frailty. Journal of the  American Medical Association. 18 (2017) 564-575.

    ●      “Patterns of Morbidity and Health Utilization among Older Filipino Women.” Women’s Issues in Medical Practice.
            Reyes, Ed.  University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies/Ford Foundation. 2002.

    ●      Periodic Health Examination (PHEX), Philippine Guidelines for Screening of Mental Health and Recommendations
            for Thyroid Screening,  PHILCLEN, DOH. Published 2003

    ●      Recommendations on the Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Published by the
            Alzheimer’s Disease Association of the Philippines. Published 1st edition: 2005 and 2nd edition: 2015

    ●      Maximizing the Quality of Life of Older Persons thru Better Health. NAST Monograph Series. December 2006

    ●      Policies on Healthcare of Older Persons: Implications to Internal Medicine Training and Practice. Philippine Journal
            of Internal Medicine July 2009.

    ●      Hypertension in the Elderly Guidelines. Compendium of Philippine Medicine 2012.
            Hypertension_in_the_Elderly_CPG_PCGM.pdf                              

    ●      Baseline Surveys for the National Objectives of Health 
           Chapter on Older Persons. NIH, and all National Regions, including NCR (nationwide survey). Published by the
           Department of Health 2002
           Funding Agency: DOH

    ●       Active Aging. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science and Technology “Active Aging for Quality Life” 2009

    ●      Cultural Validation of the WHOQOL-BREF in Community-dwelling Filipino Older Persons. UP Manila Journal 2013
            December.

    ●       Aging, Resilience and Vulnerability of Selected Faculty and Staff (55 years old and above) in an Academic
            Community in the Philippines. 

    ●       A Descriptive Study of the Nutritional and Frailty Status of Working and Retired Employees within an Academic
            Community in the Philippines. 

    ●       Active Aging Health Determinants among Working and Retired Filipino Older Persons Living in an Urban
            Academic Campus 

    ●       The Visual and Hearing Impairments among Working and Retired Employees with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Two
             Academic Communities
            in the Philippines 

   ●       Chapter 4. The Philippine Health and Care Workforce in an Ageing World.