Public and health policy for the aged in Africa to the South of Saara

Abstract

Objective: to know the social and health responses for the elderly in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: An integrative literature review. Results: There is a lack of specialized health care to meet the real needs of the elderly, and the shortage of health professionals does not contribute favorably to this situation. There is a small number of facilities for the elderly and most of them are inadequate. Although there are models of care as well as social and health support policies for the elderly, there are still inequities/inequalities in access to these policies, especially for the most disadvantaged populations. Conclusion: Social and health policies for the elderly in Sub-Saharan Africa are below standard and appropriate economic, political and social intervention is required.

“Our Home Is a Muddy Structure”: Perceptions of Housing and Health Risks Among Older Adults in Contrasting Neighborhoods in Ghana

“…However, in low-income urban communities such as slums, older adults' vulnerability to such inflictions is likely to be higher, given what may appear to be a mismatch between their personal competences and the environmental press presented by the residential settings in which they live (23). The environmental press identified in the present study (e.g., clogged open drains and piles of uncollected refuse in the slum and floodwaters in the non-slum) supports this assertion and may have contributed to the disease burden of older adults whose health was possibly already under threat from a plethora of non-communicable illnesses (51). Yet, health programs specifically targeting the unique healthcare needs of older adults are almost nonexistent in the Ghanaian context (52).…”

Perspective Chapter: Geriatric Care in Africa

“…The number of older persons is increasing dramatically, especially in countries that are still developing. Most of which are African countries [38]. It is estimated by the United Nations that by the year 2045, there will be more people that will be over the age of 65 years which will outnumber the number of persons that will be below 15 years [38].…”

“…Most of which are African countries [38]. It is estimated by the United Nations that by the year 2045, there will be more people that will be over the age of 65 years which will outnumber the number of persons that will be below 15 years [38]. Older persons in recent times consist of a significantly larger population.…”

“…Older persons in recent times consist of a significantly larger population. In Africa, it was estimated in 2009 that 53.8 million individuals are aged 60 years and above [38]. Generally, few persons are trained in geriatric medicine and gerontology to care for the aging population in Africa.…”

“…Most African societies are becoming urbanized, and this is affecting the care of older persons making them vulnerable, dissolution of the structure of the family and lack of access to good healthcare [13]. Even with experience in caring for older persons, their knowledge will be limited because they do not have any specialists training in geriatric medicine [38].…”