INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR ELDERLY

Sir,

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 the support they need.
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 letter is meant to advocate for our nation to make this subject a concern. Despite observations 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. Less has been done in the country on such profound services that endorse the wellbeing of our old loved ones.

Expectations

First World status breeds high expectations whenever mentioned to most of us in the country, hence it would be cherished to perceive acceptable best practices 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 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, however, the probability of experiencing disability and reduced functioning of the body increases throughout old age development stages.

In most developing countries these issues continue to receive marginal attention. There are numerous reasons for this upsetting abandonment. First, some  policy makers have been unhurried to  identify the rapid growth of the elderly, and greater priority is still given to younger age groups. Secondly, policy is dominated by concerns about formal pension programmes, including contributory schemes and social pensions. Thirdly, 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; older people in developing countries are less likely to live alone than is the case in richer countries.

Sentiments

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 kinship 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.

Plight

We have a lot of work to do pertaining the plight of the poor. Studies and surveys need to be carried out to find out from the troubled elderly themselves on how they feel about their independence; is it compromised? What treatment they receive from family members who support them? And whether they think their wellbeing is downplayed. Moreover, surveys will demonstrate how many elderly are satisfactory benefiting from kinship these days and can it be qualified as super life? As a liSwati, 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.

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