Conscientious care for the elderly

The United Nations marks the International Day of Conscience on April 5. Nigeria has to improve its treatment of the elderly. Life comes in a natural cycle. There is conception, birth, childhood, adulthood and then old age. Each of these stages is marked by its peculiarities and uncertainties, together they make for all that is […]

The United Nations marks the International Day of Conscience on April 5. Nigeria has to improve its treatment of the elderly.

Life comes in a natural cycle. There is conception, birth, childhood, adulthood and then old age. Each of these stages is marked by its peculiarities and uncertainties, together they make for all that is unpredictable about life.

In a developing low-income country like Nigeria, where life is much tougher, negotiating each stage of life comfortably or otherwise depends on the level of support one has. The stronger one’s support network, the easier it will be to surmount many obstacles and keep going.

The cycle of life sometimes abandons its cyclical shape to become linear. At both ends are found the two stages where every human being is most vulnerable: childhood and old age.

The predicament of children in Nigeria is well documented. In Nigeria—a country where 20 million children are out of school—many children have their childhood stolen from them before they are old enough to savour it. Many set out on a life of pain that meanders all the way to old age, where end-of-life challenges mount.

Life expectancy is low in Nigeria. Popular Nigerian culture regards old age as a blessing, and it is for those who survive many life-threatening situations in Nigeria to make it.

Those who do are often powerless to avoid the friction that comes from a resentment of the old by the young in Nigeria.

How can Nigeria ensure that its elderly people are treated conscientiously? First, we must strengthen the legal framework that protects the elderly and ensure that they live their last days with dignity.

Elderly people have the right to be free from discrimination. This right means they can enjoy education, own property, work and participate in government.

On February 10, 2021, the Federal Executive Council approved a national policy on the care of the elderly with the objective being a society where senior citizens are guaranteed security, independence, participation, comprehensive care, self-fulfillment and dignity.

Earlier, in 2018, Buhari had signed into law the National Senior Citizens Act 2018 which established the National Senior Citizens Centre to cater for the needs of senior citizens.

The fear however in a country where so many policies and laws have not prevented impunity is that the elderly risk falling through the cracks despite the legislations that seemingly protect them. This must be addressed with urgency.

A country that aspires to prominence in the comity of nations must be seen to be doing all it can to ensure that all those at each spectrum of life are as comfortable as possible.

Treating the elderly conscientiously means treating them with respect and dignity. It means discarding the distasteful and disruptive narrative that holds that the elderly are expired and have nothing to offer.

Conscientious treatment of the elderly means teaching children and young people that every member of society matters especially those who may be close to the end of their lives.

It takes commitment to care for the elderly; it takes serious finance and watertight legislations. Nigeria has to do more of that.

 

Ike Willie-Nwobu, Coordinator/President International Federation on Ageing-Nigeria (IFAN)