Fostering Elderly Healthcare Through the Use of Geriatric Social Care Givers in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The commencement of the training of Geriatric Social Care Givers (GSCGs) in Nigeria (Sept 2024), was preceded by the training of Quality Assurance Assessors (QAAs) by the National Senior Citizens Centre, Abuja, under the auspices of the National Board for Technical Education – Centre of Excellence, Kaduna. This research aimed to unearth the place of the GSCGs in the care of elderly patients with a view to evaluating the demands of the elderly in enhancing their care.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey involving 211 consenting subjects (NHREC/07/10/2012). was conducted in the Geriatric Clinic of the Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used. A test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.8 was attained to ensure the validity of the questionnaire as a working instrument. Data were analysed using the statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize variables and results were expressed in tables as percentages, means and standard deviation. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, using chi-square test and Fisher's exact test where necessary.

Results: Statistically significant relationships were found between expectations and participants' age group (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.001), level of education (p < 0.001), tribe (p < 0.001) and occupation (p < 0.001). Those who were married, lived in far urban residences and those with longer duration of illness had high levels of expectations.

Conclusion: In this study, the expectations of the elderly about healthcare services were high with significant association when compared with socio-demographic variables (age, gender, level of education, tribe and occupation). Healthcare providers should keep these expectations in mind during their clinical encounters with geriatric patients.