Lived Experiences of Rural Elderly Individuals in Nueva Ecija

The lived experience of the elderly individuals in Barangay San Miguel, Quezon, Nueva Ecija was examined in this multi-layered perspective through the use of a qualitative descriptive phenomenological study. Ten people were interviewed who were selected using purposive sampling, and all were aged 60 years and above. The methodology for the thematic analysis of the responses followed Colaizzi’s 7-step data analysis method, which enables the study to develop relevant themes that mirror the actual lived experiences of the participants. The results of this method are four major themes, which include: Daily Life and the Aging Experience in Rural Communities, Health, Financial, and Environmental Challenges, Ways of Coping and Cognitive Adaptations, and Sources of Support and Livelihood Recommendations. The results showed resiliency in cognitive and behavioral pacing. But physical decline, structural, geographical, and economic obstacles make it difficult for the elderly to access health services that are crucial to their health. Furthermore, it was also found that the Filipino customs of caring for one another and supporting each other (bayanihan) are important informal social safety networks for the elderly. The study also emphasizes the need for a decentralized health system and the establishment of home-life backyard livelihood programs in the villages to ensure economic independence in the long run. The findings are only immediately generalizable to the specific municipality in which the event takes place. This study, however, offers rich, contextualized, and multidimensional views and insights that bring the academic and the rural public health practice closer together in the Philippines.