Page 62 - 5th APA Conference Program Book Final

924 Economic well-being of older adults in the Philippines and Vietnam

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Yasuhiko Saito , Grace Cruz , Christian Cruz , Nguyen Vu , Linh Dang
1 Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan. Population Institute, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines.
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3 Institute of Population, Health and Development, Hanoi, Vietnam
Categories
8. Population Dynamics, Demographic Transition and Population Ageing

Abstract

This is an abstract in a panel session “Financial Adequacy among Older People in Selected Asian Countries”, with
submission reference number 265. This study examines economic well-being of the older adults living in the
Philippines and Vietnam? While population aging is a worldwide phenomenon, these two countries are
experiencing it at different pace, much faster in Vietnam compared to the Philippines as measured by the
proportion of those age 60 and over. In a recently conducted nationally representative cross-sectional survey on
ageing and health in Vietnam and the Philippines, data indicate that the economic well-being of older population
seems to be distinct. For instance, almost 60% of those age 60 and over reported that their household has
considerable difficulty in meeting expenses or has some difficulty in meeting expenses in the Philippines but only
15% of older adults in Vietnam reported their household the same way as older adults in the Philippines. What
could explain such differences between the two countries. Our analyses will be mainly descriptive but we will try to
find factors associated with such difference using the new data from the ageing and health surveys in Vietnam and
the Philippines.

1352 Leisure Activities and Self-Assessed Health Status of Filipino Older Persons

Gloren Hinlo

Commission on Population and Development, Pasig City, Philippines

Categories

10. Special population groups (Youth, Persons with Disability, etc.)

Abstract

This examined the association of leisure activities and self-assessed health status of Filipino older persons
controlling for age and sex using the 2007 Philippine Study on Aging, a nationally representative survey of older
persons aged 60 and above. In general, the proportion of older persons who assess themselves to be unhealthy
increases with age. There is very little difference between the sexes in terms of considering themselves healthy but
more females assess themselves as unhealthy. Results showed a generally high level of engagement in leisure
activities among older persons. There is a significant difference in the number of leisure activities between males
and females and across ages. Males and the younger cohort have more leisure activities. The most prevalent type
of leisure activity is sedentary leisure regardless of background characteristics. Across all types of leisure activities
(physical, social and sedentary) there is a much higher proportion of unhealthy among those who do not engage
in leisure activities whether physical or social compared to those who do. This is consistent across age and sex. The

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