Between desire and distaste: perception of persons near and above retirement age in South Western, Nigeria towards old people's homes

Abstract

Background: Due to urbanization, modernization and financial constraints, there has been older people abuse and neglect. Study assessed the level of awareness about old peoples' homes, willingness to retire therein and factors influencing such among persons near and above retirement age.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Ikeja and Lagos Mainland Local government areas (LGA), Lagos state, Nigeria among 385 people aged ≥50years selected via a multi-stage sampling technique. Data collection tool was a pre-tested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and SPSS version 17.0 soft-ware was used for data analysis with level of statistical significance set at p-value <0.05

Results: There was high level of awareness (68.1%) and willingness to retire into old peoples' homes (69.9%) by the respondents. Participation in religious activities alone was significantly associated with both awareness (p<0.001) and willingness to retire therein (p<0.001). Neither sex nor age of respondents significantly predicted willingness to retire into old people's homes. Respondents with perception of old age as a period of economic insecurity (p=0.47), loneliness (p=0.08), with old people's home as places meant for the sick (p=0.32) were less likely to retire into old people's homes than those who perceived it as a period of relaxation (p<0.001).

Conclusion: There's a fairly high level of awareness about old people's homes and willingness to retire into same in order to receive better care and enjoy companionship among respondents in the LGA studied. . However, there's need for proper stakeholder engagement and improved strategies to increase demand for old people's homes.

Keywords: Awareness, Willingness to retire, Elderly, Old People's Homes