Abstracts & Presentation Summaries - Department of Health

Filipinos are group oriented, so they respond very well in PAG programs. They are
raised in an environment where they have to depend on their relationship with
others in order to survive. If their relationship is satisfactory, they are happy and
secure.
Love, happiness, sadness, frustration is always expressed through music. This is a
major component of the Day Centre activities. We dwell on their abilities and talents
expressed through love of poetry, writing, playing musical instruments and singing.
PAG Activities
Music Therapy
Gentle Exercise
Tai-Chi
Massage
Group Support and Interest group discussion
Outside Entertainer – bi-monthly
Health Education Program – healthy eating (nutrition), safety in and outside
home, managing incontinence, information on dementia, home aids,
falls prevention, etc.
Sharing Ethnic Meals
Outing – twice a year – eating out, visit to parks and other places of interest
Indoor activities
Theme Celebrations like Easter, May Festival, Christmas, Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day
Annual Respite Weekend for Carers and Carees. This has been funded twice
by Carer Links West, an event looked forward too by participants.
The weekend respite has been successful, a quality time out or break for both
carers and carees. Participants displayed uplifting of spirits, joy, delight and
was rewarding in the extreme to me as the coordinator.
5. Resource to the Filipino Elderly Advisory Council and Seven Filipino
Senior Citizens Clubs under its umbrella.
The Advisory Council coordinates and monitors activities of the member
organisations. They also:
Liaise with different government and non-government bodies
Represent the Filipino Elderly Community in forums and provides input to
discussion papers issues relevant to them
Sits in Steering Committee like Council on the Ageing and International year
of Older people
They are the active elderly. When they came to Australia, they found that they are
living longer and find another 15 years of healthy and productive life in front of
them. However, the problem is the art of knowing “how to use those years”, how to
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