Effects of Diminishing Family and Community Ties on the Elderly in Ghana

Abstract

Over the years, family and community ties in Ghana have been a major guarantor of support provision for older persons, especially those who reside in rural areas. While the support provided by family and community members has proved to be vital in enhancing the well-being of older persons, it is also clear that the ties that exist between these sources of support and older persons are gradually diminishing. This paper highlights some implications that come with the gradual decline of communal and familial bonds for older adults.

Psychological and physical factors related to social integration of older adults in Ghana

“…Furthermore, the findings of this study show that females had higher social integration than males. Due to their important function in both family and community life, older women frequently take on caregiving tasks, which leads to the development of close social bonds [ 22 ]. Conventional responsibilities, like taking care of family members, support larger social networks and exchanges.…”

“…Conventional responsibilities, like taking care of family members, support larger social networks and exchanges. Older women actively engage in local initiatives, religious groups, and community activities in many traditional societies, which opens doors for social integration through community participation [ 22 ].…”

“…Being ever married (married, separated/divorced, widowed) had higher odds of high social integration. A core family unit is established by marriage, and spouses are essential providers of emotional support [ 22 ]. Ever married people may find grounds for strong social integration inside their own family, particularly in countries like Ghana.…”

“…The confounders selected for the study included a range of demographic factors such as sex, age, marital status, education, ethnicity, residence, ecological zones, perceived health, work status, and income. These confounders were chosen based on evidence of their potential influence on the relationship between psycho-physical factors and social integration [ 16 , 17 , 22 ]. In the Ghanaian context, controlling for these factors is crucial due to their important impact on social integration.…”

“…Overall, social integration is a key factor in fostering healthy ageing, with strong associations observed with life satisfaction, perceived health, and physical well-being [ 20 , 21 ]. Recent studies in Ghana show the impact of social protection initiatives, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty, pensions, cultural perceptions of witchcraft, and happiness, on the integration of older adults [ 22 – 25 ].…”