Perspectives of Rural-Dwelling Older Adults on the Experiences with Informal Care in Southeast Nigeria

Introduction: Nigeria’s growing population of older adults and limited social security have continued to overstretch the informal care networks. More so, the alterations in the filial value for older adults in Nigeria have further threatened the availability and reliance on informal care arrangements. Exploring the experiences of rural-dwelling older adults on the availability of informal care is crucial in strengthening and sustaining the informal care system. Our study explored the perspective of older adults residing in rural parts of southeast Nigeria on their experiences with informal care. Due to changes in the proportion of the aging population, family structure, migratory trends, etc. as well as the need for program and policy improvement, exploring the current informal care experiences of older adults is essential.

Methods: Data was collected using a qualitative phenomenological approach from 10 older adults aged 65. Purposive sampling techniques were employed to recruit study participants. In-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview guidelines. The data was interpreted using the inductive thematic analysis technique. NVivo 12 software was used to codify the data.

Results: Four key themes were identified such as sources of informal care and support, changes in the provision of informal care, challenges of informal care, and knowledge of formal care homes. Older adults prefer informal care because it provides a customized approach to care, especially in meeting dietary and medication needs. Study findings also show that there was an intergenerational change in informal care patterns due to the quest for education, technological advancement, and migration tendencies. Issues such as economic hardship, declining filial value for older people, and migration of adult children were found to affect the provision of informal care to older adults in Nigeria. Despite having adequate knowledge and a positive perception of institutional care, older adults preferred informal homes due to a lack of availability and a cultural mindset.

Conclusion: Study findings strongly recommend preserving filial values for older adults in Nigeria, improving and strengthening family-oriented care, establishing well-equipped and adequately funded care facilities for older adults in rural communities, and developing comprehensive social security for older adults in Nigeria.