Book

Description

Ageing remains a mystical area which many human societies tend to ignore yet they still have to deal with the challenges faced by elderly people especially with regards to health issues. Often societies have to grapple with health issues of elderly people which could be prevented by taking preventative actions. This study showed that lack of resources played a critical role in decision making concerning health seeking by elderly people. Lack of adequate formal education limited their comprehension of emerging illnesses, resulting in them failing to take appropriate actions at the appropriate time. There was belief in that there were two main kinds of illnesses: those attributed to indigenous causes, and those of modernization. It was believed that appropriate treatment methods needed to be utilized for each type of illness. So it was believed to be prudent for a sick person to seek for solutions to their health problems at the most ‘appropriate’ place in relation to the illness experienced. The study concluded that the elderly people were largely a neglected group in their health needs as the state had no definite policy on provision for health needs of the elderly. This left the elderly to rely on whatever health service was available and convenient for them. The study recommended that the state should enact health and social policies that promote the health welfare of the elderly in a comprehensive way. It was also recommended that regular research on the health issues of the elderly be carried out using, for example, the health assessment tool developed by different International and other organisations and states.