Lived Experiences of the Elderly in Ghana: Analysis of Ageing Policies and Options for Reform

Kpessa-Whyte, Michael; Tsekpo, Kafui

doi:10.1007/s10823-020-09401-z

Cited by 39 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The role of healthcare professionals in improving health outcomes of elderly persons in Ghana cannot be underestimated [22]. However, several studies indicate that healthcare workers in Ghana lack the necessary knowledge in the care of the elderly [11,13,23,24].…”

Section: Fundingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Older people’s challenges and expectations of healthcare in Ghana: A qualitative study

Atakro

Atakro²,

Aboagye

et al. 2021

PLoS ONE

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Background The increase in the number of elderly persons in developing countries has not had a corresponding increase in social and health care support systems for the elderly. There is a substantial difference in the quality of healthcare received by older people in developing and developed countries. Elderly persons in developing countries including Ghana are increasingly becoming marginalised and isolated. There is, however, limited evidence of healthcare challenges and expectations by elderly persons in Ghana. This study explored healthcare challenges and expectations of elderly persons to inform policy that could lead to improved quality of life for elderly persons in Ghana. Materials and methods Qualitative exploratory descriptive study design was used in conducting this study. Semi-structured interviews were used in collecting data from 30 participants from three regions in Ghana (10 from each region). Data analysis was carried out through content analysis. Results Four themes were extracted from data. These themes were: 1. Inadequate information from health workers regarding care of the older person. 2. Queuing frustrations. 3. Financial burden. 4. Focused elderly care demand. Conclusion The elderly in Ghana experience challenges of healthcare which include inadequate information, queuing frustrations and financial burdens. Elderly persons also have expectations of healthcare which include having dedicated professionals and units that will attend to them during their hospital visits. Academic and clinical gerontology experts could collaborate and help improve gerontology knowledge of health workers through workshops and conferences. Improving knowledge of health workers in gerontology may be a positive step towards meeting healthcare expectations of older Ghanaians.

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Section: Fundingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Older people’s challenges and expectations of healthcare in Ghana: A qualitative study

Atakro

Atakro²,

Aboagye

et al. 2021

PLoS ONE

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“…Half of participating graduating nurses stated older people in Ghana consider their health to be good or excellent (see Table 3 , Question 45). However, recent research reports ( Adatara & Amooba, 2020 ; Atakro et al., 2021 ; Kpessa-Whyte & Tsekpo, 2020 ) found Ghanaian older people are confronted with many health challenges in the Ghanaian health system. Challenges include high cost of healthcare, long waiting hours in accessing healthcare, poor attitudes from health staff, lack of drugs from the healthcare facility, inadequate information from health staff, and lack of specialist care ( Adatara & Amooba, 2020 ; Atakro et al., 2021 ; Kpessa-Whyte & Tsekpo, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, recent research reports ( Adatara & Amooba, 2020 ; Atakro et al., 2021 ; Kpessa-Whyte & Tsekpo, 2020 ) found Ghanaian older people are confronted with many health challenges in the Ghanaian health system. Challenges include high cost of healthcare, long waiting hours in accessing healthcare, poor attitudes from health staff, lack of drugs from the healthcare facility, inadequate information from health staff, and lack of specialist care ( Adatara & Amooba, 2020 ; Atakro et al., 2021 ; Kpessa-Whyte & Tsekpo, 2020 ). These challenges are due to governments prioritisation of paediatric, maternal and family planning services over care of older people ( Kpessa-Whyte, 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The population of older people in Ghana has increased from 4.92% in 1960 to 6.34% in 2020 ( Ghana National Population Council, 2014 ; Ghana Statistical Service, 2014 ). Even though older Ghanaians provide various forms of support to family and communities, several studies reveal Ghanaian older people experience various health challenges such as long waiting hours in accessing healthcare, poor attitudes from health staff, and inadequate information from health staff ( Adatara & Amooba, 2020 ; Atakro et al., 2021 ; Dovie, 2019 ; Kpessa-Whyte, 2018 ; Kpessa-Whyte & Tsekpo, 2020 ). Older people admitted for non-life threatening conditions usually develop hospital related adverse events such as pressure ulcers and aspiration pneumonia and consequently die from these events due to poor healthcare within Ghanaian hospitals ( Donkor et al., 2017 ; Volta Regional Hospital, 2018 ).…”

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Knowledge of Ghanaian Graduating Undergraduate Nurses About Ageing

Atakro

2021

SAGE Open Nursing

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Introduction Knowledge on ageing has an impact on the quality of care provided to older people. Although older Ghanaians provide various forms of support to family and communities, many of them experience poor nursing care in the Ghanaian health system. There is, however, dearth of evidence regarding knowledge of ageing among Ghanaian nurses. Objective This study therefore used a descriptive survey approach to investigate knowledge of graduating undergraduate nurses on physiological, and psychosocial changes in ageing. Methods Seventy graduating undergraduate nurses were surveyed to identify their knowledge on physiological and psychosocial changes leading to care needs of older people in Ghana. Three undergraduate nursing programs with gerontological nursing courses were purposively selected for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data in order to present quantitative descriptions of variables in this study. Results The response rate in the study was 42%. Findings of the study show graduating undergraduate nursing students have inadequate knowledge on ageing. Several gaps in knowledge regarding ageing were identified. Although undergraduate nursing schools had gerontological nursing courses in their programs, over 90% of participating graduating nursing students indicated pain, anxiety and depression are normal aspects in the ageing process. Conclusion It is imperative to improve the current curricula content on gerontological nursing in Ghanaian nursing schools to equip nurses with knowledge and skills needed to provide quality healthcare to older people in Ghana. Improving knowledge on ageing through evidence-informed gerontological nursing curricula content will lead to better nursing care of older Ghanaians. Providing educational opportunities for improved quality nursing care of older Ghanaians is in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims at providing equal and quality healthcare to all age groups by 2030.

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“…In the National Ageing Policy (Government of Ghana, 2010), it is proposed that programmes will be reviewed from time to time to factor the changing needs of older adults and also include older adults in the program’ planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation to meet their needs. However, evidence in Ghana shows that supports are usually inadequate, and there exist bureaucratic mismanagement to delay cash payments to eligible beneficiaries (Abebrese, 2011; Kpessa‐Whyte & Tsekpo, 2020) accessing Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (Government of Ghana, 2008), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) (Government of Ghana, 2003) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (Government of Ghana, 2007) cash programs. According to the social workers, the availability and the accessibility of financial aid for older adults and their caregivers will facilitate health social work practices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The roles and capacities of social workers in the lives of older adults seeking healthcare and their caregivers in Ghana

Awuviry-Newton

Tavener

Wales

et al. 2020

Health Soc Care Community

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As Ghana's older population increases in number and proportion, the social and healthcare needs of older adults and their caregivers become more critical highlighting the relevance of social workers’ contribution in assisting older adults and their caregivers. The purpose of this study was to explore social workers’ contributions, discussed against the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Policy on Ageing and Older Person framework. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach making use of semi‐structured interviews to collect information from eight social workers at the Social Welfare Unit in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Themes and codes were developed from the interviews using thematic analysis, employing In‐vivo and descriptive coding, and N‐Vivo v12 as a management tool. Analysis of interviews revealed three interrelated themes; (a) “We provide it accordingly”: Talking about their contributions as systematic, (b) “I think we can do more”: Talking about their contributions as insufficient, and (c) “Our efforts are being hampered”: Complaints of inadequate resources for working with older adults and their caregivers. The study offers areas of opportunities for social workers per the IFSW policy framework to reflect and examine their current knowledge and skill to address the challenges population ageing presents in Ghana. While social workers contribute towards helping older adults seeking healthcare and their caregivers, their needs cannot be ignored. The findings draw attention to effective policies and programs that can provide social workers with the needed resources to be independent and be able to devise novel approaches unique to older adults and their caregivers.

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Lived Experiences of the Elderly in Ghana: Analysis of Ageing Policies and Options for Reform

Cited by 39 publications

References 29 publications

Older people’s challenges and expectations of healthcare in Ghana: A qualitative study

Older people’s challenges and expectations of healthcare in Ghana: A qualitative study

Knowledge of Ghanaian Graduating Undergraduate Nurses About Ageing

The roles and capacities of social workers in the lives of older adults seeking healthcare and their caregivers in Ghana

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