Towards an “age-friendly-hospital”: Older persons’ perceptions of an age-friendly hospital environment in Nigeria.

Abstract

Abstract Abstract: Like any other country in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria’s elderly population too is increasing rapidly. In Nigeria, those aged 65 years and above (the elderly) make up 3.1% or 5.9 million of the total population of 191 million, which in crude numbers represents an increase of 600 000 during the 5 year period 2012-2017. Many older people in Nigeria are exposed to multiple health problems, to such an extent that there is a need for an extended health care programme and support for sustainable good quality of life. This study explored older people’s perceptions of an “elderly-friendly” facility based at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Edo state, Nigeria. Thirty participants were interviewed between the months of March and December 2018. With the help of a key informant who is also staff of the geriatric section of the hospital a purposive sampling technique was used to select 10 in-patients and 19 out-patients among older adults for the study. A qualitative content analysis was conducted. Elderly-friendly services, the expectation from government and hospital management, and health policy related to senior citizens were developed as main themes. Most of the participants were satisfied with the treatment by the health personnel. The study found that the geriatric unit has very few trained health personnel. Elderly-friendly hospital guidelines and policy were however not developed in the hospital. Older people health record folders, health insurance for the elderly, support and advocacy for older people’s health and benefit, and the hospital environment at large, lack elderly-friendly infrastructures. Some of the common concerns raised by the older patients include the absence of wheelchairs, lifts rails, comfortable beds, and readable signage displayed throughout the hospital to facilitate orientation of the hospital environment. Bed heights were reported as inappropriate for older persons, while the waiting areas were deemed uncomfortable for the elderly. Government policy on the elderly is seen as the main obstacle to promoting an elderly-friendly environment and health care services in UBTH. The facilities and infrastructure in the hospital, elderly-related health policies, elderly-friendly personnel and elderly-care advocacy, should be developed.