ABSTRACT

Aging is a natural occurrence often associated with decline in body functioning and common health conditions. With the emergency of new diseases, vulnerable groups like older adults are prone and more possibly to be infected. In the era of COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, health management of older adults becomes demanding with increasing ill-health, morbidity and mortality. This paper aims to investigate caregivers’ lived experiences in health care management of older adults amid and post COVID-19 pandemic for quality of life and wellbeing in Nigeria. With the phenomenological approach in qualitative research, we sourced our data using focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDI) from 21 caregivers purposively selected from three health institutions based on their ownership in Nsukka. Data were analyzed thematically. Results revealed that though care-giving is perceived to be filial, it is no longer effectively provided owing to financial and health status of the care recipient. Other findings indicated that factors predicting responds to preventive measures in older adults’ health care include disregard of information, inadequate geriatric knowledge and noncompliance of health information. Suggestions to ease challenges in health care demand of older adults were brought to fore. Recommendations were on aligning geriatric professionals in health institutions and health care financing for all older adults in Nigeria.

摘要

衰老是一种自然现象，通常与身体机能下降和常见健康状况有关。随着新疾病的出现，老年人等弱势群体更容易被感染。在 COVID-19 大流行及以后的时代，随着健康状况不佳、发病率和死亡率的增加，老年人的健康管理变得越来越苛刻。本文旨在调查照顾者在 COVID-19 大流行期间和之后的老年人医疗保健管理方面的生活经验，以提高尼日利亚的生活质量和福祉。通过定性研究中的现象学方法，我们使用焦点小组讨论 (FGD) 和深度访谈 (IDI) 从 21 名护理人员中获取数据，这些护理人员是根据他们在 Nsukka 的所有权有目的地从三个卫生机构中挑选出来的。数据按主题进行分析。结果显示，尽管照料被认为是孝顺的，但由于被照料者的经济和健康状况，不再有效地提供照料。其他调查结果表明，预测对老年人医疗保健中的预防措施作出反应的因素包括忽视信息、老年医学知识不足和不遵守健康信息。提出了缓解老年人医疗保健需求挑战的建议。建议是关于协调卫生机构中的老年医学专业人员和尼日利亚所有老年人的卫生保健融资。其他调查结果表明，预测对老年人医疗保健中的预防措施作出反应的因素包括忽视信息、老年医学知识不足和不遵守健康信息。提出了缓解老年人医疗保健需求挑战的建议。建议是关于协调卫生机构中的老年医学专业人员和尼日利亚所有老年人的卫生保健融资。其他调查结果表明，预测对老年人医疗保健中的预防措施作出反应的因素包括忽视信息、老年医学知识不足和不遵守健康信息。提出了缓解老年人医疗保健需求挑战的建议。建议是关于协调卫生机构中的老年医学专业人员和尼日利亚所有老年人的卫生保健融资。