Reconceptualizing Geriatric Care in a Sub-Saharan African Context

Abstract

Population ageing is very fast catching up worldwide and with a resultant rise in demands for health services and medical costs. This is because older adults are typically more vulnerable to falls and chronic diseases. It is estimated that by 2025, 57% of the world’s population aged 80 years or older will be living in less developed regions. By 2050, there is an estimated increase of more than 70%. Although, Africa, on average, has the lowest life expectancy in the world, in virtually every country, the section of people aged 60 years and over is developing faster than any other age group, because of both longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates. Older adults have recommended that nurses should receive some training for improving their behaviour and attitude. Older adults and their significant health needs are different from that of an adult or a child and should be considered to meet SDG Goal 8: “ensuring equitable access to, and utilisation of, health and long-term care services …”. Their intense use of health services puts older adults at greater risk of receiving fragmented or poor-quality care. The sheer number of people entering older ages is bound to challenge national structures, particularly health systems. This chapter seeks to review the literature on geriatric health care by specialists.

The State of Gerontological and Geriatric Studies in Sub-saharan Africa and Ghanaian Studies: Literature Review

“…Future research in gerontological studies in Sub-Saharan Africa should focus on addressing the lack of data and resources available. 23 This can be achieved through collaborations between researchers, institutions, and governments to gather accurate information about aging populations in different countries within the region. Additionally, there is a need for standardized methodologies to ensure consistency in data collection and analysis.…”

“…The impact of an aging population on healthcare systems is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed in Sub-Saharan Africa. Existing studies [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54] conducted in various countries within this region have shed light on the key findings and contributions to the field of gerontological and geriatric studies. These studies [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73] have identified common themes and issues that need to be addressed in order to effectively manage the healthcare needs of the aging population.…”

“…One key finding from these studies [74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92] is the increase in chronic diseases among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. As individuals age, they are more prone to developing conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.…”

“…This poses a significant challenge for healthcare systems that may not be adequately equipped to handle the growing burden of these chronic diseases. Furthermore, these studies [93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111] have also highlighted the lack of access to healthcare services for older adults, particularly those living in rural areas. Limited infrastructure, shortage of healthcare professionals, and financial constraints further exacerbate this issue.…”

“…Another important contribution made by these studies [112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127][128][129][130] is the recognition of social determinants of health among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. Factors such as poverty, limited education, and inadequate social support networks can significantly impact their health outcomes.…”