Understanding the Lived Experiences and Vulnerabilities of Solitary Elderly in Kapangan, Benguet

This qualitative phenomenological study investigates the daily lived experiences and systemic vulnerabilities of solitary elderly individuals in Kapangan, Benguet. Frameworked within Ecological Systems Theory and Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, the research maps how geographic isolation, economic structures, and localized institutional healthcare intersect to shape the realities of aging alone in a rural environment. The paper structuralizes the transition from traditional family-centered care to informal neighbor-based safety nets, analyzing the organic coping mechanisms independent older adults utilize to maintain self-reliance. Ultimately, it provides a comprehensive foundation for targeted legislative advocacy, rural health protocol reform, and community-led small system interventions.