Health and physical support for the elderly in Nigeria

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• The well-being of elderly Nigerians is significantly influenced by the support systems available to them.
• Understanding the sources and determinants of care for older adults is crucial for policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the services received by elderly Nigerians from family, relatives, and non-relatives.
• To investigate the impact of age, sex, location (urban/rural), and health status on the provision of these services.

Main Methods:

• The study analyzes the sources of help for elderly Nigerians.
• It assesses how demographic factors and health influence the availability of care services.

Main Results:

• Children and grandchildren are the primary sources of assistance for the elderly.
• Women experience a greater lack of household help and continue domestic tasks longer.
• Health issues like arthritis and vision impairment increase the need for care.
• Migration patterns can disrupt the availability of familial support for older adults.

Conclusions:

• Familial support, particularly from children, is vital for elderly Nigerians.
• Health and demographic factors significantly shape care provision.
• Migration presents a growing challenge to elder care in Nigeria.