Extending Healthy Ageing Narratives in Sub-Saharan Africa: Expert Viewpoint

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Demography

Background:

• Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing rapid demographic transition with a projected tripling of the older population by 2050.
• Existing geriatric infrastructure and informal caregiving structures in SSA are underdeveloped and strained by urbanization and social changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive outlook on population ageing, age-friendly environments (AFEs), and healthy ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• To highlight the gap between the growing need for geriatric support and current provision in SSA.
• To advocate for strategic shifts in policy and intervention for the region's aging population.

Main Methods:

• Expert viewpoint drawing on professional and scholarly experience.
• Selective literature searches conducted in Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed.
• Utilized targeted keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms relevant to ageing and AFEs in Africa.

Main Results:

• Population ageing in SSA is outpacing current informal care arrangements.
• There is a significant and widening gap between the needs of the older population and available geriatric support systems.
• The development of AFEs and coordinated healthy ageing interventions is urgently required.

Conclusions:

• A strategic shift towards developing age-friendly environments and healthy ageing interventions is necessary in SSA.
• Proactive, evidence-based policy implementation is crucial to ensure the well-being of the aging population in SSA.
• Addressing the challenges of population ageing requires coordinated efforts to bridge the gap in geriatric support.