Population Aging and Informal Social Support: Towards Mobilizing Potentialities of Local Practices in African Societies

Authors

  • Abubakar Yakubu

Abstract

Population aging poses a series of challenges across developing countries within the context of eldercare needs and services. This is mainly arising from acute shortage in the availability of formal protective measures. The situation across most African countries makes it imperative for alternatives in eldercare to be sought for as matter of urgency. For such alternatives to be effective, the issue of searching within existing cultures and similar practices from other societies can be a viable option.This paper maintains that, traditional practices can serve as sources of support which can be cross culturally adapted to suit the needs elderly persons across African countries. Throughout the paper the potentials of these sources in relation to need and challenges arising from population aging and elderly persons wellbeing are highlighted
Keywords:Eldercare, Population Aging, Informal Social Support, local Traditional practices

Downloads

Published

2020-05-18

Issue

Section

Articles