Unmet Needs for Support in Activities of Daily Living among Older Persons: The Effects of Family and Household Structures in a Low- and Middle-Income Context

The unmet need for assistance in activities of daily living (ADLs) accentuates older persons’ risk of falls, ill health, hospitalisation, and mortality. In Nigeria, the family arrangements through which older persons derive support are changing due to modernisation, migration, and economic challenges. How the family dynamics explain the unmet needs is poorly understood. This study investigates the influence of family and household structures on older persons’ unmet needs in ADLs in southwestern Nigeria. The study analysed the data of 827 older adults aged ≥65 years selected from Oyo State, southwestern Nigeria, using a multi-stage sampling design. Associations were examined using the Poisson–logit hurdle regression model. From the results, 65% of older persons with difficulties had unmet needs in instrumental ADLs and 59% in basic ADLs. Increased unmet needs were associated with older persons living with non-family members (β = 0.19; p < 0.01; 95% C.I. = 0.05–0.32) and widows (β = 0.27; p < 0.01; 95% C.I. = 0.13–0.42). Conversely, unmet needs decreased with higher family size (β = −0.06; p < 0.001; 95% C.I. = −0.08–−0.03), living in rich households (β = −0.29; p < 0.001; 95% C.I. = −0.42–−0.17), not being the household head (β = −0.27; p < 0.001; 95% C.I. = −0.40–−0.15), close family bonds, and proximity to children/caregivers. The study recommends alternative or complementary home-based support mechanisms for seniors with vulnerable family settings in southwestern Nigeria.