Caring for the elderly in the African context

An integrative review

Bibliographic Data

ID21263003
AuthorsLimkile Mpofu (0000-0002-9505-5279, University of South Africa, corresponding author), Idah Moyo (0000-0002-6122-8151, University of South Africa), Azwihangwisi Helen Mavhandu‐mudzusi (0000-0002-6916-8472, Human Sciences Research Council), Azwihangwisi H Mavhandu-Mudzusi
Year2025
Volume3
Issue1
Publication date2025-10-07
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiscover Global Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2731-9687 • E-ISSN: 2731-9687
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s44282-025-00219-z
OpenAlexW4414899620
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited34

People’s functional ability, their needs and preferences for health services, social care, and support change as they age. They would need appropriate social care and support to compensate for their functional loss and sustain a dignified life that is consistent with their basic rights and fundamental freedoms. In the African ‘ubuntu’ context, this support is provided in various settings such as home, community, and residential facilities, of which much of the day-to-day care needed by older people is provided by carers, often family members, who may also require support. This necessitates a comprehensive approach to elder care, reflecting the continent's rich cultural traditions and evolving societal dynamics. As the demographic landscape shifts, with increased life expectancy and declining fertility rates, the elderly segment of the population is expanding, thereby calling attention to their diverse needs and the importance of caregiving practices. To explore and synthesize existing evidence on factors that influence the care for the elderly population in Africa. An integrative literature review was conducted on studies conducted in Africa. An electronic search was done on several databases such as Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, Health Source, Google Scholar, and Academia. Key terms that were utilized for the search included Africa, elderly population, elderly care, sociocultural factors, socioeconomic factors, and healthcare system factors. The studies included were qualitative and quantitative from peer-reviewed journals and restricted to Africa. The review identified several factors that affect elderly care, ranging from the socioeconomic, sociocultural, and psychosocial dimensions. Other factors included a healthcare system that does not specifically cater to this elderly population. It is important that care for the elderly should be seen in its cultural ‘ubuntu’ context. In addition, the healthcare system should change and capacitate caregivers for the elderly, while there should be systemic changes to incorporate elderly care. At the same time, African governments should work out pension schemes and grants for the elderly that are adequate for caring for them. The study is significant as it contributes to the corpus of knowledge of cultural resilience in caring for the elderly in a changing environment, calling for changes in pensions and social grants for the elderly

Health care · Life expectancy · Psychosocial · Social support · Sociocultural evolution · Socioeconomic status · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses

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