Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

One-half of the Philippines elderly population takes food or nutritional supplement daily. The booming of this industry was predicated on consumers’ beliefs that these products produce health enhancement. The researchers interviewed ten senior citizens taking food supplements at Poblacion, Bacnotan, La Union to assess the lived experiences of each senior citizen terms of food supplements. Consequently, the researchers attained to answer the following queries. 1. What are the lived experiences of senior citizens in taking food supplement? 2. What are the implications of food supplements on the health of senior citizens? The research design that was utilized in the study was action research specifically descriptive and qualitative in nature. This descriptive study employed data which made use of the storytelling method that further elaborates the lived experiences of the senior citizen in taking food supplements and the data were analyzed using thematization. The majority of senior citizens taking food supplements in their diet have implied that they have experienced enough amounts of sleep which significantly relate why they tend not to feel stressed at all. Participants also experienced gaining and losing weights, being in good condition and; achieving active daily exercise and socialization. In conclusion, the senior citizens taking food supplements in their diet experienced either gaining or losing weight, improved sleeping patterns, and quality life. Presenting product analysis using educational materials in the form of brochures emphasizing the use of supplementation to diet in each barangay needs to be tailor-made for older adults.