Theory Development (The Story)
By: KARINA CHICELLYN C. SHIU
Influence and Inspirations
Prof. Letty Kuan’s study on aging was influenced majorly by her observations of daily life. She
saw the world, she saw the environment, but most of all she saw the people in it -- all in a
different perspective. She perceived people’s behavior not merely as a response to what is
happening around them, but as a product or reflections of what they’ve been through insteadwhat
they have acquired and what they have not. The difficult patients, terror teachers, strict
supervisors, corrupt government officials and the cranky old people led her to the question,
why are these people behaving this way? Thus, the theory Graceful Aging was born.
Theory Development Strategy
Theory began as a dissertation of Prof. Letty Kuan’s doctorate entitled Role and Retirement
Discontinuity which was focused mainly on the elderly and the outcomes of aging. Her interest
in old people paved way for the study. Guided by inductive or grounded reasoning, this theory
is a result of twenty years of researching, organizing retreats and conducting conferences to all
the social sectors of humanity – the nurses, doctors, guidance councilors etc, nationwide.
Distractions and Obstacles
While the formulation of this theory gave her merits of all sorts, it also garnered unpleasant
reactions from people, especially her peers from the academe. She had her fair share of
discouragements and criticisms. Some would deliberately express their disinterest by saying
that her theory is old news, that life is already like this and that she can’t change people
anymore. But her love and devotion to know, her desire of wanting to contribute to the general
public made all the difference. With perseverance, she had prevailed over these obstacles,
developed this world-renowned theory – which we are all proud of, and is now an important
figure in the history of Philippine Nursing.
Victory and Recognition
Professor Letty Kuan is a recipient of the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers Award
in 1995, the first faculty to win such an award representing the UP Manila, and an Award for
Continuing Integrity and Excellence in Service (ACIES) in 2004.
She has clinical fellowship and specialization in Neuropsychology obtained from University
of Paris, France in (Salpetriere Hospital). Neurogerontology in Watertown, New York (Good
Samaritan Hospital) and Syracuse University, New York. She further added this field of
specialization in Geneva in the Centre des Soins Intensifs pour les troisieme age group.
She also had Bioethics formal training at Institute of Religion, Ethics and Law at Baylor
College of Medicine in Houston, Texas from 1991 - 1997.
She authored several books:
Concepts of illness and health care intervention in an urban community [Quezon City]:
1975.
Understanding the Filipino elderly: a textbook for nurses and related health professional
[ Dipolog City]: Jesus G. Kuan Foundation, 1993.
Essence of Caring National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions,
University of the Philippines Manila, Learning Resources Unit, 1993
But aside from all the awards, trophies, medals and certificates she received, the greatest
victory of her theory is evidenced by her own life, how she entered aging and how she managed
retirement per se. Having a dual Masters Degree in Nursing and in Education (major in
Guidance Counseling), a Doctorate degree also in Education, a former member of the Philippine
Board of Nursing, and is now a Professor Emeritus in UP, who else is a better example of
Graceful Aging?
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