The Filipino Family as Home for the Aged

The position of the elderly in the Philippines and their participation in social exchanges are primarily rooted in the kinship system and the values governing interpersonal relations. In view of predicted demographic shifts towards an increasing elderly population in developing countries like the Philippines, policymakers and academicians alike are concerned with the extent to which modernization and economic conditions, particularly the worsening poverty situation, affect the care of aging parents. This paper reviews the existing literature in order to provide a baseline for ascertaining continuity and change in patterns of aid and caregiving. It also outlines trends in the support systems and exchange networks of the elderly that deserve further study.