integrating culturAL values in designing specialized institutional care for the elderly in Nigeria

Ottong, Joseph Gabriel; Bassey, Antigha Okon and Bassey, Augustine Eze

Department of Sociology

University of Calabar, Calabar

E-mail: antigha2k4@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The teeming number of the aged in Nigeria is the central concern of this paper. The paper examines various methods of institutional care of the aged applicable globally and their possible application in Nigeria. The paper also focused on cultural values in Nigeria and its influence on institutional are for aged, presenting various strategies if overcoming socio-cultural impediments in designing specialized institutional care for the elderly. It recommended social mobilization, sensitization and advocacy, legislation among others as remedy to cultural impediments in designing institutional care for the elderly in Nigeria.

Key words: Elderly, Institutional Care, Culture, Value