Assessment of Family Care, Housing, Gender, Daily Activities, and Physical Wellbeing of the Elderly in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper investigated housing condition, gender differences in activities of daily living and the link between care, daily activities, housing condition and physical well of the elderly with a view to examine the quality of life of elderly in Ibadan, Nigeria. The data used in the paper is from a cross-sectional survey of 721 households systematically carried out in Ibadan, Nigeria. The analysis focused on 191 households’ subgroup in which women and/or their spouse (if any) aged over 55 years. Simple frequency analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and regression statistical techniques was used to analyze the data. The result shows that majority of the elderly are living in a deplorable housing condition. Analysis of daily activities of the elderly revealed that they are generally more involved in service to others, followed by domestic chores, household maintenance and social activities. In the categories of domestic chores, household maintenance and service to others more elderly women are involved than elderly men. In the category of social service more elderly men than elderly women are found to be involved. There is significant variation in elderly family care (F = 5.79; p <  0.01) and physical well being(F = 3.25; p < 0.05); there is significant relationship between: (i) elderly housing condition and physical well being (r = 0.12; p < 0.01); (ii) elderly daily activities and physical well being (r = -0.19; p < 0.05); and (iii) elderly family care and household income ( r = 0.23; p < 0.01), elderly age (r = -0.60; p < 0.01), age of the youngest child in the household (r = -0.24; p < 0.01). Policy implication suggests that quality of life of elderly could be improved through the socio-economic empowerment of families and provision of efficient and effective social welfare/health, amenities and services.