Perception of health and health practices of five Filipino elders

Abstract

It is projected that the United States will not have a single racial or ethnic majority by 2055. Health care providers need to be aware and knowledgeable of other cultures in order to deliver culturally competent care. Equally important is for health care providers to recognize their own biases and to identify and respect differences when delivering care. It is important to know the health and health beliefs of other cultures to effectively provide quality of care. This descriptive exploratory study using fieldwork was focused on the perceptions on health, being healthy, and health practices of 5 Filipino Elders. Elders were asked 7 focused, descriptive questions through interviews about health, being healthy, and health practices in their home to elicit information on the use of traditional remedies, health habits, illness practices, and resources for assistance and health information. Common themes revealed that elders’ view of a healthy person is a state of balance between physical and mental well-being. Physical appearances and mobility were part of their perception of health. Elder’s perception of an unhealthy person were poor emotional outlook, immobility, and nutritional deficiency.