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Journal of Aging Science | ISSN: 2329-8847 | Volume 5
July 18-19, 2018 | Atlanta, USA
Aging & Gerontology
3
rd
International Conference on
Women, care giving and social support for the aged:TheNigerianperspective and its counselling implication
Beatrice Ifeoma Ajufo
National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria
N
igerian population has always been described as “youthful population” but with gradual increase in the elderly population from
6.4 million in 2005 to 11.5 million in 2025 and 22.5 million in 2050 really calls for concern especially with no social security
policies for them on ground by the Government. While most of the western world has accepted that the ageing of the population
constitutes a vital public issue, in Nigeria the issue of the aged and their care has been regarded as personal problems falling under the
expectation that the extended family will take care of its elderly members. However extended family system is diminishing and fast
fading out. This study therefore sought to find out how much satisfaction the elderly are receiving from different categories of family
members and friends. A cross- sectional descriptive study was carried out among retirees. Two research questions were generated for
the study. Instrument for data collection was self – developed validated questionnaire. Frequencies, percentages, means and standard
deviation were used in data analysis. The findings revealed that the elderly people who feel satisfied with the support and care they
receive from members of the family and friends (especially from their daughters) see ‘Old Age’ as a happy period. The findings
therefore revealed that there is paradigm shift from the care of the aged by the extended family to the nuclear family especially adult
daughters. Based on these findings, it was recommended among other things that structures should be put in place to promote
and improve family relationship and appropriate legislation should be introduced to provide some measure of social services. The
counselling implication was also discussed.
ifyajufo@yahoo.co.ukJ Aging Sci 2018, Volume 5
DOI: 10.4172/2329-8847-C1-006