With its vision for the Filipino elderly to enjoy a healthy body, mind and spirit treated with dignity, and valued as a productive member of society, the Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health from the University of the Philippines Manila (UP NIH), together with the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI (RHRDC XI), conducted a Geriatric Research Capacity Building Workshop last June 4-5, 2019 at the Brokenshire Convention Hall, Davao City. The objective of the workshop is to capacitate researchers and health professionals in the region on how to conduct researches involving older persons. The morning session of the two-day workshop consists of lectures on Healthy Aging, Policies of the Department of Health on Aging, Statistics in Health Research and an introduction to the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. During the afternoon session, participants were divided into four groups. Each group was designated with demo stations wherein participants were imparted on the proper way to interview older people, tests for timed up and go, functional reach test and the handgrip test. The participants were eager to perform as patient and researcher during the workshop to demonstrate proper handling of the elder people with the guidance from the experts. The second day of the Geriatric Research Capacity Building workshop was not just focused on Geriatric Research in the Philippines but also on the ethical principles in conducting research to elders.
Through these workshops, the RHRDC XI and UP NIH are looking forward to more researches in the region involving the vulnerable group of elderly Filipinos to improve the health condition of the elders.
By: MDMC
