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Aging in Ghana: The Cultural & Societal Implications Awaiting A Country’s Newest Demographic

Aging in Ghana: The Cultural & Societal Implications Awaiting A Country’s Newest Demographic. Latrica E. Best Social Demographer Department of Pan-African Studies & Department of Sociology University of Louisville, USA. “Africa Ageing: Beyond Madrid +10”.

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Aging in Ghana: The Cultural & Societal Implications Awaiting A Country’s Newest Demographic

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  1. Aging in Ghana: The Cultural & Societal Implications Awaiting A Country’s Newest Demographic LatricaE. Best Social Demographer Department of Pan-African Studies & Department of Sociology University of Louisville, USA

  2. “Africa Ageing: Beyond Madrid +10” • Aging & Population Shifts in Ghana • Largest increases in elderly population are in developing countries • Ghana: one of highest proportions of 60+ population in Sub-Saharan Africa (Mba, 2010) • Adds additional concerns to a nation that still struggles with high maternal & infant mortality rates • Policy standpoint • Current brainstorming & planning before becomes a burden

  3. Research Questions: Assessing Burden • Within the last 10 years of literature: • How is old age perceived? • What are the cultural perceptions of • Disability? • Caregiving?

  4. Methodology • NarrativeReview • Research with primary focus on • Theoretical concept of Old Age • Disability • Caregiving • Physical Library & Online Library Searches • Key searches

  5. Perceptions of Old Age • Old Age • Two key articles by van der Geest of Kwahu elderly in rural Africa (2002, 2004) • Knowledge as a form of respect • Old age as a blessing and a curse • Old age signifying wisdom • Irritated when younger family members do not seek out their wisdom

  6. Perceptions of Disability • Disability • Use of self-assessed health, functional limitation measures • Themes • Disability Rights Bill (2006) • Growing concern and acceptance of disability • Support of more assistance, but no consensus on what type of support (Reynolds, 2010)

  7. Perceptions of Caregiving • Caregiving & Intergenerational Transfers • Modernization increases, family support & well being of elders typically decreases • Little research on this in Ghana (few exceptions) (Aboderin, 2004; 2008) • Availability of care & Types of care may change (Mba, 2010) • Gender disparities in age structure

  8. Concluding Thoughts • Policy Matters • Non-academic research not solely based on core subjects (old age, disability, caregiving) • Aging from an ancillary standpoint • Old Age • Human Resources (e.g. training) • Shama Women of Western region of Ghana (HelpAge Ghana) (Apt 2012) • Community development approach to health & caregivingacross the life span • Linked lives • Maternal health, child health, family & community health AND relationships

  9. Implications For The Future: Key Points • Issues Defining & Conceptualizing Theories • Intergenerational Differences in Perception of Old Age & Aging • Communication differences between age groups (Giles et al, 2005) • Rural-Urban Differences • Re-Tooling Methodology: Marriage of Data & Indigenous Knowledge

  10. Select Bibliography • Aboderin, I. (2004). Decline in material family support for older people in urban Ghana, Africa: understanding processes and causes of change. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 59(3), S128-S137. • Aboderin, I. (2004). Modernisation and ageing theory revisited: Current explanations of recent developing world and historical Western shifts in material family support for older people. Ageing and Society, 24(1), 29-50. • Anthony, J. (2011). Conceptualising disability in Ghana: implications for EFA and inclusive education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 15(10), 1073-1086 • Apt, N. (2012) Older People in Rural Ghana: Health and Health Seeking Behaviours.Aging and Health in Africa, 103-119. • Debpuur, C., Welaga, P., Wak, G., & Hodgson, A. (2010). Self-reported health and functional limitations among older people in the Kassena-Nankana District, Ghana. Global Health Action Supplement, 2. • Giles, H., Makoni, S., & Dailey, R. M. (2005). Intergenerational communication beliefs across the lifespan: Comparative data from Ghana and South Africa. Journal of cross-cultural gerontology, 20(3), 191-211. • Mba, C. J. (2010). Population ageing in Ghana: research gaps and the way forward. Journal of Aging Research.

  11. Selected Bibliography • Reynolds, S. (2010). Disability culture in West Africa: qualitative research indicating barriers and progress in the greater Accra region of Ghana.Occupational therapy international, 17(4), 198-207. • van der Geest, S. (2002). From wisdom to witchcraft: Ambivalence towards old age in rural Ghana. Africa, 437-463.  • van Der Geest, S. (2004). “They Don't Come to Listen”: The Experience of Loneliness Among Older People in Kwahu, Ghana. Journal of cross-cultural gerontology, 19(2), 77-96.

  12. Questions? Thank you! Contact: latrica.best@louisville.edu

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