Determinant of Self-Rated Satisfactory Quality of Life for older women (70+) in South-Eastern Nigeria: Preparing an Early Intervention

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue IV, April 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Determinant of Self-Rated Satisfactory Quality of Life for older women (70+) in South-Eastern Nigeria: Preparing an Early Intervention

Atumah Oscar. N.
Department of Sociology, University of Abuja, FCT Nigeria

Abstract: – Quality of life for older adults is crucial to successful aging, and has formed a part of global goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A survey was administered to collect data from 30 women who are 70 years and above. Through multiple regression analysis, using self-rated satisfactory quality of life as the criterion variable, and access to housing, food, and healthcare as the predictor variables, this paper attempted to predict self-rated satisfactory quality of life for women 70 years and above. The intention is to have data backed information that will enable policy makers to plan an intervention for older adults, particularly the women. Findings revealed that access to food was the strongest predictor as it received the greatest weight in the standardized regression equation, and was also highest in terms of squared structured coefficient, accounting for about 86% of the total effect. Access to housing also received a sizeable beta weight, but did not out-perform access to healthcare substantially with respect to the observed effect. Implications include community partnership with universities to boost food production, to enact policies that will oblige government to subsidize the cost of food for adults above 70 years, and to emphasize the multidisciplinary nature of gerontology to aging professionals.

Keywords: Care giving, aging, housing, food, healthcare.

I. INTRODUCTION

Aging in Africa used to be a thing to be proud of, and a period of joy, in part, due to the fact that it was strictly the responsibility of the family to take care of their aging relatives. On the other hand, the family had all that were required to fully meet the obligations inherent to caring for their aged loved ones. Those who lived to be more than 70 years old often expressed their quality of life as satisfactory, knowing very well that they could count on their family for housing, food and healthcare. Unfortunately, women are witnessing a decrease in child production which consequently is reducing mortality rate, and a likelihood that more women will live to be older. Some argue that the increase in the number of older persons will result in an increase in the need for health care, citing dwindling financial resources [1].

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