How to Keep Your Parents Healthy and Happy


When it comes to keeping fit, there's plenty of evidence on how to do so. But no man or woman is an island, and there's no better time than the present to think about the health and well being of the people closest to you. Filipinos are a filial culture, and respect and affection towards your parents is one of the building blocks of Philippine society. It's time to show them just how much you care by showing more concern for their health and happiness. Here are a few ways to do so below:

Healthier Diets
The first building block to making sure your parents live a happy and healthy life is ensuring they have a healthy diet. Tawid News Magazine reports that there has been a shift in the dietary patterns of Filipinos over the years, with fewer and fewer Filipinos consuming a healthy amount of fruits and vegetables. Make sure your parents aren't just relying on a diet of meat and rice by introducing new vegetable-based dishes to their diet, or taking charge of monthly grocery shopping.

Regular Exercise
The benefits of exercise are aplenty, but not a lot of Filipinos take advantage of this. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, 61% of mid-income Filipinos don't exercise regularly. While it may be difficult to get your parents to start being gym rats, it's a good idea to encourage them to start exercising a little bit each day. Exercise strengthens bones and muscle fibers, as well as improves cardiovascular health. It also reduces the chances of your parents being overcome by lifestyle diseases such as obesity or heart disease.

Vacations
Taking regular vacations is another great way to keep your parents healthy and happy. A survey conducted by Wyndham Vacation Rentals found that city dwellers are more likely to be "very stressed", especially when compared with their suburban counterparts. Thus, taking regular vacations away from the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle will benefit your parents, especially as they get older. Plan short weekend trips to see the sights in other provinces, or longer vacations abroad where they can relax and not have to worry about much.

Health Insurance
Finally, the best way to ensure that your parents are safely healthy is by ensuring that they have the proper health insurance. Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures of Filipinos are among the highest in the region, composing 54.2% of current health expenditures in 2016. In order to avoid falling into the trap of spending all their savings on healthcare-related concerns, encourage your parents to get the right health insurance plan.

Paramount Direct's Prime Care Cash Plan (PCP) is specially tailored for senior citizens, with coverage for seniors up to 80 years of age. It has affordable premiums for as low as Php 213 monthly, with Daily Cash Benefit, Daily ICU Benefit, and Surgical Cash Benefit, so your parents don't have to worry about digging into their life savings. A health insurance plan will protect your parents' health and finances, so make sure they choose the right one.

Regular Check-ups
In order to keep ahead of the curve when it comes to illnesses and diseases, it's important for your parents to have regular doctor's check-ups. This is especially important as they grow older, as lifestyle and other diseases begin to surface later in life. By visiting the doctor regularly, your parents will get a better picture of their health, which will enable them to react proactively when it comes to diet, lifestyle, or taking medication.


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