Healthcare for Older Persons, A Country Profile: Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian population is undergoing demographic transition, with an increasing population of older people. Nuclear and extended family members traditionally care for older persons at home. We have observed changes in home living conditions due to reduced family size, and urban migration for economic reasons are likely to affect the care of older people. The inadequately funded healthcare system has placed little emphasis on the care of older people because there are more-pressing health problems and funding for older people is limited. This paper advocates improved attention to the health needs of older people through improved budgetary allocation, revision of the training curriculum of all cadres of health staff to include geriatrics, and utilization of primary healthcare facilities.

HIV infection in older adults in sub-Saharan Africa: extrapolating prevalence from existing data

“…39 Common misconceptions about sexual activity among older people remain. A study in Nigeria dismissed older people as no longer being sexually active, 40 confirming what Ory et al called "ageist assumptions about sexual behaviour". 33 These attitudes limit the development of appropriate responses tailored specifically to older adults.…”

Profile of clinically-diagnosed dementias in a neuropsychiatric practice in Abeokuta, South-Western Nigeria

“…35 Although the majority (>95%) of patients in this study lived with relations, especially children, current trends show that the traditional multi-generational extended family system is already being eroded as a result of increasing urbanization and globalization. 27,28 It is therefore pertinent to evolve policies and strategies to care for the increasing population of the elderly, especially, in the developing economies of Africa. New approaches to the delivery of basic, accessible, affordable and appropriate geriatric health care are needed.…”

Low education and lack of spousal relationship are associated with dementia in older adults with diabetes mellitus in Nigeria

“…Across the world ageing is associated with both dementia and T2DM . However, in sub‐Saharan Africa, ageing and its associated diseases are occurring while the region is still experiencing the huge burdens of widespread infectious disease, poverty, and lack of specialized care facilities for older adults …”