Background: Maintaining optimal well-being of the elderly is now a major concern since their numbers are expected to swell in the next decades. Thus, there is a need to focus on the health and psychosocial status and needs of our older persons. Objective: To describe the biopsychosocial profile and needs of older persons in Davao City. Methodology: This study utilized secondary data obtained from the OPS 2009 survey after informed consent was sought from the DCOP-RG. The OPS 2009 survey was developed by a multidisciplinary group of professionals commissioned by the Davao City Sangguniang Panglungsod in order to create a basis for the implementing rules of the expanded senior citizen act for Davao City. It included 398 respondents age 60 and above who gave consent, representing the population of older persons from the different areas in Davao City. Data gathering was done by a team of trained interviewers. Anonymized gathered in OPS 2009 survey was utilized for this present study. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Results: There was an equal sex distribution among the respondents. Majority were married, widowed and Roman Catholics, 76.6% of the respondents believed that they were in good health. 60.1% of the respondents had previous admissions but even so, majority (87.9%) had someone to help take care of them during their admissions. Psychosocial status of the older persons was favorable in general. Majority (72.2%) still engage in recreational activities. Furthermore, the respondents have a happy disposition in life wherein majority have a perceived happy mood left contented and at peace. Almost all (98%) still feels needed by their kin and friends. Perceived health needs include better medical benefits while perceived psychosocial needs include financial and moral support. Conclusion: The study showed that older persons in Davao City perceived themselves to be happy, contented, calm, at peace and important to their families. However, since most were diagnosed with chronic illnesses such as hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, and asthma; health related needs and provision of better medical benefits topped their list. Financial support and psychosocial support from their families, government and non-government institutions were also listed as needs. In general, they envisioned Davao to be an older person friendly place with program that put elderly welfare, safety and protection at the forefront.
Aged 80 and over ; Aged ; FRAIL ELDERLY