Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5448

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JUMEL ANTHONY I. ESPINO

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The intention of this bill is to provide a Senior Residence and Geriatric Care Services
Nursing Home in every Province and Cities in the Philippines,

At present, the problems faced by senior citizens include deteriorating health,
malnutrition, lack of shelter, fear, depression, senility, isolation, boredom, non-productivity
and financial incapacity among others. Filipino families at present, despite their effort to have
their senior members join them at their homes, are at a difficult situation where they cannot
provide the care that the senior members should receive.

The establishment of a Senior Residence and Geriatric Care Services Nursing Homes
would give the families a choice to have their senior members take residence in the nursing
home where they would be taken cared of free in a government institution. Section 4 Article
XV of the Philippine Constitution mandates the family to care for its elderly but the State
may do the same through programs through just programs of social security.

‘The current Philippine Health Agenda (2017-2022), guarantees a centralized health
services for care in all life stages, service delivery n rks, financial risk protection and
geriatric health is a special issue of concern, The Department of Health has likewise planned
to undertake programs to promote the health and wellness of senior citizens as well as
alleviate the conditions of older persons who are encountering degenerative disease

This bill supports all these programs of the government to ensure that our senior
citizens are able to live a better quality of life through a healthy and dignified aging.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is then earnestly requested.

‘THONY if. ESP!



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 544

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JUMEL ANTHONY I. ESPINO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SENIOR RESIDENCE AND GERIATRIC CARE SERVICES.
NURSING HOME IN EVERY PROVINCE AND CITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known as the “Senior Residence and Geriatric Care
Services Nursing Home Act

SECTION 2. - Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared as policy of the State to
provide the Filipino elderly to receive quality care to achieve or maintain the highest
practicable physical, mental and psycho-social well-being through the establishment a senior
residence and geriatric care services nursing home.

As such, there shall be established a Senior Residence and Geriatrie Care Services
Nursing Home in every province and cities in the Philippines.

SECTION 3. ~ Definition of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
hereby defined:

a. Geriatric patient or resident ~ an older person, belonging to the middle to low
socio-economic status as determined by a government social worker, with
impaired overall function, 65 years old or more with chronic illness or illnesses,
physical impairment and/or cognitive impairment who do not need to be in a
hospital but cannot be cared for at home. He or she, in consultation with his
family, relatives, guardian or a medical doctor, may be admitted to a Senior
Residence and Geriatric Care Services Nursing Home.


b. Geriatric Care and Services ~ the provision of comprehensive care plan, nursing
services, social services, rehabilitation services, pharmaceutical services and
dietary services jointly by the Department of Social Welfare and Development
and the Department of Health and Philhealth

c. Senior Residence Nursing Home ~ a home used for the provision of services for
geriatric and resident nursing care purposes, which is clean, safe and comfortable
for residents, to be administered jointly by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development and the Department of Health

SECTION 4. ~ Rights of Geriatric patient or resident. — The residents or patients of the
nursing homes shall have the right to

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SECTION 5.

freedom from abuse, mistreatment and neglect;

freedom from physical restraints;

privacy;

accommodation of medical, physical and psychological and social needs;
participate in social, leisure, recreational and spiritual activities,

be treated with dignity,

communicate freely and express concems about the operation of the facility,
receive visitors and maintain contact with family, relatives and the community

Resident Care. - The Senior Residence and Geriatric Care Services Nursing

Home shall.

a.

ensure that at the time of admission and on an on-going basis, there is an appraisal of
the medical, mental-emotional and behavioural status of each resident, including
prescribed medications, and the goals and plan for the care of the resident are
formulated accordingly and that the care provided for the resident is appropriate to his
needs as determined in the said appraisal and plan;

maintain a medical record for each resident:

ensure that the facility is staffed by an adequate number of registered nurses, licensed
practical nurses and caregivers to provide for the residents’ safety, comfort and
nursing or other care in a manner that is appropriate to the residents’ state of health
and degree of activity:

designate an employee who is a medical doctor as the director for the Senior
Residence Nursing Home. The Director is responsible for (i) managing the day-to-day
operations of the nursing home (ii) the organization's direction and evaluation of
nursing care in the nursing home; (iii) directing the work of the nursing care staff (iv)
organizing, supervising and evaluating the delivery of personal care services by
nursing care workers.

SECTION 6. Administration, Operation and Inspection. - The Department of Social
Welfare and Development with the Department of Health shall jointly administer and operate
the Senior Residence Nursing Homes. Both government agencies are to conduct
unannounced inspection including resident interviews and complaint investigation once every
three (3) months,


SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The funding needed to carry out this Act shall be included
in the annual General Appropriations Act

SECTION 8. Effeetivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved.