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A SOMBRE CONCERN FOR SENIOR PEOPLE

16/08/2017 07:25:00 BY PRUDENCE HLATSHWAYO

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POPULATION ageing is an established trend in almost all countries, including rapid increases in developing countries. At the same time processes of social, economic, political and cultural change call into question the extent to which older people with care needs can solely rely on kinship networks to provide all support.

As a result, most developing countries like ours should take note that a major expansion in the demand for and provision of institutional care for older people shall be inevitable in the near future. This article advocates for the populace to make this subject a concern. Despite the observation of kinship breakdown, we are still doing much less in ensuring that our mature generation gets admittance to quality welfare services such as residential recreational and rehabilitation homes. In realism, I can securely stand a point that less studies have been done in Swaziland on such profound services that endorse the well-being of our old loved ones.

The year 2022 breeds high expectations whenever mentioned to most of us in the country. Hence; it would be cherished to perceive acceptable best practice in residential institutions for the elderly for future purposes. This welfare service provision, some of us dream of, is one that offers dignified services, that promotes and respects the elderly’s human rights to inclusion in society and that do not lead to discrimination, stigmatisation, segregation and that dehumanise it’s residents and undermine personal autonomy.

Nevertheless, one may spontaneously point out that some elderly people relish their relatively independent life. Yet, in contrary the probability of experiencing disability and reduced functioning of the body increases throughout old age development stages (Woodrow 2002). In most developing countries these issues continue to receive marginal attention.
There are numeral reasons for this upsetting abandonment. First, some policy-makers have been leisurely to identify the rapid growth of very old populations, and greater priority is still given to younger age groups. Second, policy is dominated by concerns about formal pension programmes, including contributory schemes and social pensions.

Third, there is a tendency to assume that informal support networks like family continue to function relatively well in most developing countries, reducing the need for specific policies and relevant interventions. This is based on my professional experience that older people in developing countries are less likely to live alone than is the case in richer countries.

Nevertheless, these sentiments do not necessarily mean such welfare services guarantee the best care of the elderly in most countries. Appreciatively, let us not ignore that various trends, including greater female participation in salaried labour and increased levels of migration, may be reducing the capacity of informal networks like kin to provide care in our communities.

Studies from a wide range of developing countries indicate important shifts in inter-generational relations, whereby older generations are becoming less confident about receiving care and support from younger family members. Alternatively, residential institutions are becoming an increasingly acceptable alternative to family care.

We have a lot of work to do as social workers and other helping professions pertaining the plight of the poor. Studies and surveys need to be carried out to find out from the troubled elderly themselves how they feel about their independence? Is it compromised? What treatment they receive from their families who support them? And whether they think their well-being is downplayed. Moreover surveys will demonstrate how many elders are satisfactorily benefiting from kin these days and can it be qualified as super life?

As a Swazi, I acknowledge the fact that, like many other services, we can borrow this approach and convey it from developed as a commodity. But, sanction effective policies that will promote such services to suit our own cultural and diverse environment. To a greater extent this should be related to our prevailing traditional norms, values and customs. Institutional living should be viewed as a last resort that harbours policies that will downright curb dubious professional practices.