Exploring Older Adults’ Perception of Living in Residential Care Facilities as an Alternative Care Option: Tales from Older Adults in Southeastern Nigeria

The report that persons over 65 years of age are the fastest-growing age group and the projected potential effect of the growth rate on older adults’ support ratio has raised concerns globally, resulting in interventions targeted at promoting and establishing alternative care options, including residential facilities. Promoting alternative care options became more necessary with the reduction of traditional informal care, a significant source of care in many developing countries. However, while studies in developed countries documented the views of older adults regarding alternative care options, those in Nigerian settings majorly reported opinions of caregivers of older adults. This underscores the relevance of exploring the perception of living in residential care facilities from the standpoint of older adults who are the primary residents of the care facilities. A qualitative descriptive design was adopted in interviewing 20 older adults categorised as non-residents, residents in care facilities and adult day-care recipients. The participants were drawn from Enugu-East and Enugu-West senatorial zones in Enugu State. The data was coded with the use of NVivo 12 and analysed thematically. The results revealed that the non-residents majorly perceived care provided to the ageing population in residential care facilities as abandonment by selfish and irresponsible children. This perception was highly influenced by the people’s culture, which favoured the filial care option. Also, the people stigmatized-shamed those who accept alternative care options. With these, the study recommends culture reorientation through education and sensitisation to ensure the ageing population is knowledgeable about other care options as filial care continues to decline.