Problems Associated with Lack of Formal Living Arrangements, Care and Support Services for the Older Adults and Retirees in Nigeria: Need to Revamp Social Protection Mechanisms

• Published in: Journal of population ageing Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 213 - 233
• Main Authors: Okah, Paulinus S., Agha, Agha A., Ekoh, Prince C., Onalu, Chinyere E., Ebimgbo, Samuel O., Ene, Jacinta C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adults; Aging; Caregivers; Demography; Economic problems; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Health services; Health status; Informal care; Lack of care; Living arrangements; Loneliness; Medicine/Public Health; Mental health; Nonpayment; Older people; Poverty; Protection; Qualitative analysis; Qualitative research; Retirees; Retirement; Retirement benefits; Social protection; Social Sciences; Social workers; Sociology; Support services; Welfare; Welfare state; Nigeria; Older adults and retirees; Social protection; Problems; Formal living arrangement; Care and support
• ISSN: 1874-7884; 1874-7876
• DOI: 10.1007/s12062-023-09439-0

Though most people wish to live long and see old age, ageing is associated with psychological, emotional, physical, social, health, and economic problems. Many older adults and retirees have died untimely as a result of lack of care and support, abandonment, loneliness, abuse and neglect, and complications from health issues. Reliance on informal care and support and the lack of functional formal living arrangements for older adults have compounded their woes. This study is aimed at finding out the problems associated with the lack of formal living arrangements, care, and support services for older adults and retirees in Nigeria, and the need to revamp social protection mechanisms to enhance the welfare of older adults. Twenty-eight participants were selected for the study, using qualitative methods of sample selection. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and analysed thematically. Findings revealed that older adults and retirees lack social protections, care, and support and suffer from poverty, nonpayment of retirement benefits, and lack of welfare visits by social workers. The study recommended the need for revamping social protection strategies for older adults and the involvement of social workers as caregivers for older adults.