The Nation Newspaper

Tag: elderly

  • Council lifts elderly

    Council lifts elderly

    Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area has donated cash and gifts to the aged and elderly citizens in the area.

    The beneficiaries also underwent free medical screening.

    The council’s Executive Secretary, Mrs Oluwafunmilayo Akande-Muhammed, promised to continue the exercise.

    She said: “It will be sustained and whatever is given now is just a token of our love for you and the desire to cater for your welfare.

    “The scheme is designed to recognise our old ones who have reservoir of knowledge and wisdom as they have seen a lot in life and should be made happy to pass such to the upcoming leaders of tomorrow. Being elderly is a blessing and not a curse. I want our senior citizens to treasure their lives. Senior citizens still play a big role, as they have been doing, in bringing up children, hence the old needs to be recognised”.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Alhaji Adebayo Sarumi hailed the council chief for the initiative.

    “It is not only the benefits given to the people that matters, but the way she has been transforming the area to enhance people’s belief that democracy truly works,” Sarumi said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Emmanuel Olushola, thanked the council for the gifts.

  • Abuse of the elderly

    SIR: All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights, and have the right to age with dignity, respected by their families and communities, free of neglect, abuse and violence – Ban Ki-moon

    In 2002, the World Health Organisation (WHO) brought international attention to the issue of elder abuse or elder mistreatment which it describes as a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. The core element to the harm of elder abuse is the ‘expectation of trust’ of the older person towards their abuser for example a spouse, partner, friend, family member or neighbor. Some forms of elder abuse are same as domestic violence.

    According to the United Nations, around four to six percent of elderly people have experienced some form of maltreatment at home, and UN states that the global population of people aged 60 years and above will increase from about 542 million in 1995 to about 1.2 billion in 2025. Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.

    Elder abuse involves physical, sexual, psychological, financial, domestic violence and of course neglect and self-neglect. Older persons that are abused deal with physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences and the incidence of the abuse in later life is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapid ageing populations. However, irrespective of age, abused persons have shorter life expectancies than non-abused persons. The personal losses associated with abuse can be devastating and include the loss of independence, homes, life savings, health, dignity and security.

    Until recently, this serious social problem was hidden from the public view and considered mostly a private matter. In some societies, elder abuse continues to be a taboo, mostly ignored across the world. However, there is increasingly sufficient proof that elder abuse is an important public health and societal problem.

    In some traditional societies, older widows are subjected to forced marriages, while in others; isolated older women are accused of witchcraft. And in some Nigerian cultures, widows are unjustly accused of killing their spouse and coerced to drink the water used in bathing their dead spouse. Measures to define, detect and address elder abuse need to be placed culturally and also considered alongside specific risk factors.

    The Federal Government should fast-track the implementation of the Social Security Act so as to ameliorate the pain and agony of Nigerians – especially the elderly, who are out of job as a result of ill-health, feebleness or age. The Social Security Act which is a poverty safety net is meant to prevent Nigerians from falling below the poverty line, through payment of stipulated stipends to Nigerians who have no visible means of survival.

    Both primary health care and social service sectors need to be well equipped so as to identify and deal with the problem. Although the extent of elder abuse is unknown, its social and moral significance is obvious, and as such demands a global multi-faceted response which focusses on protecting the rights of older persons.

     

    • Anthony Ajegwu

    Lagos.

  • Fayose and the elderly vote

    Fayose and the elderly vote

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, increasingly sounds like a man who has started something and is clueless how to finish it. He has blundered badly but is too ashamed to admit it. There’s no dignified way for him to pull back, so he keeps pushing out silly attack adverts against Buhari and signs them off with a line claiming he has ‘No Apology.’

    Fayose has this false notion that at 70 people become physically and mentally incapacitated. Some of Nigeria’s most celebrated leaders are in that age bracket. Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) – one of the world’s fastest growing Pentecostal congregations just celebrated 73. His schedule which includes grueling travels around the world is more than some presidents undertake.

    Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) – an energetic man of God is over 70. Fayose’s colleague, and chairman of a faction of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Plateau’s Jonah Jang, just turned 71. He has not quit office yet. If anything he’s running for Senate on March 28!

    Fayose’s feverish verbal assaults against the APC presidential candidate for committing the offence of aspiring for office at 73, suggests that he may not be too keen to live to that age of ‘incapacitation.’

    The governor drove the drama to a new low in Lagos last week when at the parley between PDP governors, the media and civil society, he announced to all gathered that his mother aged 72 uses Pampers. What sort of character will subject his mother and family to such indignity and public humiliation? This was too much information for those gathered as the embarrassed giggling that followed his disclosure showed. Clearly, high office doesn’t automatically make a man classy!

    In his depiction of septuagenarians as useless Fayose risks turning a huge segment of the voting population against his chosen candidate. In most countries the elderly represent a powerful demographic that politicians court assiduously at election time.

    His disrespectful denigration of those 70 and above has not made Buhari less popular. Instead it will drive the offended in this age bracket to embrace one of their own. And PDP has ‘Mr. No Apology’ to thank for that.

  • ‘Caring for the elderly means a lot to me’

    ‘Caring for the elderly means a lot to me’

    Morayo Oladele had her first degree in Health Sciences and went on to do her masters in Public Health in Canada.  In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about her passion caring for people, maternal mortality and how she decided to take care of the needs of senior citizens with a centre called Neriah’s place.

    WHAT do you do for a living? I am a public health person and I just like people, caring for them and I know that whatever you do, you just have to work with people. Interestingly, my mother is a very outgoing person but I do not regard myself as outgoing. My dad is like that too, but as a man you won’t notice it that much. However, those care means a lot to me.

    Which was the first job that you did?

    My first job was at an immigrant study centre in Canada. There we helped new immigrants to integrate into the community. I also did some work on people on the streets; those who were into drugs, reproductive health, as well as HIV and AIDs. The experience was good and you learn a lot. It also made you thankful for who you are and where you are.

    You run into so many people who have gone through so much, having to find their way back again. It just makes you realise that you are glad to be where you are. We tried our best for this people but we helped them to rediscover a new life.

    What do you do here in Nigeria?

    I work with an organisation called Save the Children. We have educational and health programmes and my areas specifically are on maternal health and new born babies. We work with women that are about to deliver and babies that are about 28 days old. What we do is to work with health workers, the community and we try to support government to make sure that all the labour facilities are good. In addition, we make sure that the workers are trained on emergency deliveries and saving new-borns that have complications.  We also go into the community to let people know that they need to go to the health facilities; they need to be checked out by professionals. Don’t just stay at home when you can get help and support from the facilities.

    Why do people avoid using the health facilities?

    I think there are a lot of reasons why they do this. Sometimes, you hear people say things like it is the attitude of the health workers that puts them off. Sometimes, it could also be culture or finance. This is usually common with the general hospitals where a lot of women are referred to. What we usually do is to sensitise both the male and the females in the community.

    There are also a number of women whose husbands would not allow them go to the facilities because of culture, religion and so many other personal reasons. It is sad because so many lives are lost and not even recorded.

    Have maternal mortality and morbidity rates reduced?

    It has gone down but not near the target set for 2015, the MDG goals. It is sad, but there was a lady I saw at a facility with a baby that was not okay. You won’t even believe that the baby is three months’ old. This was her ninth baby and she had lost two already. At three months, the baby was weighing 2.5kg which was what the baby should weigh at birth.

    What was responsible for this?

    She didn’t do ante natal and so did not take all the shots for measles, tetanus and others. She missed out on all these and had the baby at home. It could have been infection and so many other things. We work in other parts of the country like Gombe, where they have had bombings. We are there to make sure that education wise the children are not displaced. If they are in class, we also make sure that they are fit and healthy.

    What inspired you to do start a home for the aged?

    I was inspired by the way my grandfather related with me on certain issues. He has been living with us for some time now. When I came back from Canada, he liked the attention that I gave him because I was always around. Each time I went out and came back, he complained that he was really bored and that nobody had come to see him. He usually felt bad that we all just left him alone.

     I realised that he was always like that even though he has his own personal caretaker. There are times that I check on him before going to work and he would ask where I was going, is it morning already and all that? He’s been married several times and all his wives have passed on. He was alone before coming to our place, but even here, everyone gets up to go to work early in the morning. You can imagine how many families with elderly people cope with their work schedule.

     After sometime, I realised that what he misses, the boredom he complained about was not because there was no one around but what he needed was someone who understood what he was saying, someone who grew up in his own time and all that.

    When did you decide to start the home for the elderly?

    One day, my mum and I were talking in the kitchen and I said how I wished that I could find a wife for my grandpa. I knew some old women and I was thinking of how to bring them together, so that they could keep each other’s company. Then she said: “you know we could actually start a home, a place where he could start the social interaction that he needs.” My mother then told me about an empty house she had in Omole Estate in Lagos and I decided to renovate the place and bring old people together. After the discussion with my mum, I also sold the idea to my father and he asked me to write a proposal and see how feasible it would be. I wrote it and he supported me with the initial funds.

    I did my research, checked out for other facilities doing the same thing and it opened my eyes to a number of things. First, I went to the government’s old people’s home at Lancaster, Yaba, Lagos. I found two or three more on the island doing a wider range of things for the elderly. That also motivated me and I discovered the potential. Even though it may not be as popular as a school or crèche, there was actually a need. The name of the centre is Neriah’s place. It means the lamb of God and it is actually my niece’s name and people just kept asking me why I chose it. The first reason is that I sent six names to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and that was the one that they chose. I also think it’s simple and nice.

    How have you been reaching out to your targets?

    We have reached out and we are getting response. I am on the social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and BBM. The facility is a four-bedroom space. There are two different categories and the first are those who want to be resident and secondly we have those who can go and come back, like a day care. We handle their transportation. We pick them from their homes in the morning, you know how difficult it is finding your way around Lagos.

    However, we are just doing surrounding areas for transportation to make it easy for us now. Those who are non-resident have the same activity as those in residence. The routine is supervised by our matron who has done years in gerontology. The package also includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  • Her day with the elderly

    Her day with the elderly

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central District) has feted the senior citizens in her constituency, reports PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

    It was not Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s first dialogue with her Lagos Central District people. Neither was it the first time she would assist the senior citizens.

    But that Wednesday, it was the first time she would gather the young and the old in one place for a dialogue.

    It was to give account of her stewardship and also celebrate with them in the spirit of Yuletide.

    Venue was the Eko Hotel, Ocean View marquee, with a 1500 capacity. The hall was filled, with the young making room for the old to sit.

    Yet, scores of the elderly sat outside the hall, which Mrs Tinubu said was disheartening to her.

    Although she planned to fete 1300 old people, about 2000 came.

    The event coincided with her 13th Town Hall meeting with the people and the third edition of the Elderly People Assistance Scheme (ECAS).

    Dressed in a long and flowing traditional outfit, with an head-gear and ipele to match the colour of the day – green, white, red, blue – representing the colours of her party, the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Mrs Tinubu on sighting the elderly who could not get seats in the hall, quickly went round apologising to them and ensuring they were comfortable.

    The event which started about 10am, was moderated by comedian Gbenga Adeyinka.

    Senator Tinubu said the gathering was one of mixed feelings for her considering the turnout of the elderly.

    She supervised activities at the town hall meeting, ensuring that the elderly were comfortable. She danced with them and hugged them.

    After the National Anthem came the opening prayer and an opening remark by APC state leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, who extolled the Senator for bringing together people of about 70 years and above in a society where the old are not considered important.

    In her address, Senator Tinubu  reassured the people of her love, saying the gesture was as a result of her upbringing.

    She said: “I was raised by an elderly father, my father had me when he was in his 60s so I am used to elderly wisdom and knowledge. So I grew up with that and I always felt that my father lived very well and was well taken care of.

    “I know that at your twilight years, for some elders, they are stricken with illness, so it’s not a fun time for the elders. Having lived abroad too I have seen the way elderly people are being taken care of, so coming to Nigeria, I started looking at what happens to me when I become old? Apart from having the money to take care of myself, what about those who don’t have? What happens to them at old age?

    “Looking at the situation of things in the country now, you will find great number of youths unemployed. How do you expect a youth that cannot take care of himself to take care of an elderly person?

    “It is quite difficult but when they have money coming in monthly, even if it is little, they can decide to at least give them a roof since they have little money, so it’s not going to be a big burden.

    “Those are the things I was thinking about, and thought that even if my bill does not scale through; looking at the situation with the austerity measures that is quite obvious right now, what can I do as an individual?”

    To her, offering the 1300 aged persons N10, 000 each, which she has done for the three editions of ECAS, was her little way of telling them to keep hope alive.

    “But government should take it a step further because this is just from one individual and I am also imploring people to also take care of people around them because we can’t really lump it on government, though it is government’s responsibility to take care of its people.

    “That is what democracy is about; we should put measures in place to take care of the unemployed, to take care of the elderly people, handicapped, and other segments like that. But the elderly ones and the handicapped are the most vulnerable. So those two areas, when we look at social security we should be able to attend to first. And then we start looking at the widows and the single mothers.

    “It will continue like that and the fire will catch on and as a Christian, I believe that, when you have a light, put it on the table so that it will be a light to other people. I am not showing off but trying to say that others can also help, even if it is just one person around you,” Senator Tinubu said party leaders, who spoke in Yoruba, sent their goodwill messages. Gifts were presented to the elderly including cash, as they danced and prayed for their benefactor.

    Appreciating the Senator for  showing concern for the elderly, the Baba Eto of Lagos, Chief Folarin Coker, described her as a rare, humble and helpful person.

    As the gift bags were being distributed, one-time Lagos Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Edun, gave the vote of thanks.

    In attendance were wife of Lagos Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola; Omoba Murphy Adetoro; former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and culture, Alhaji Ibrahim Balogun.

  • Ex-deputy governor to aid elderly

    Ex-deputy governor to aid elderly

    Former Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere has promised to institute a welfare scheme for the elderly, if elected governor next year.

    Ekere, who is one of the leading governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the scheme would care for people aged 65 and above.

    Addressing a crowd yesterday at Ikot Abasi, he pledged to build on the “world-class infrastructure” put in place by Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    Ekere said he had an industrialisation blueprint for the state, adding: “We have built infrastructure, now is the time to build our people.”

    He said he had consulted far and wide on the possibility of running for governor and the outcome was positive.

    Ekere said he had not started campaigning because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not given the go-ahead and thanked stakeholders of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency for adopting him as their sole candidate.

    He pledged to do them proud.

    The member representing Urue Offong/Oruko Constituency in the House of Assembly, Bassey Etienam, declared his support for Ekere and urged the people to support him.

    His Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo counterpart, Uduyok Aboh, and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Deputy Chairman Johnson Essien Ibok also pledged their support for Ekere.

    The Chairman, Steering Committee of the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Project (AKCP), Joseph Effiong, said Ekere enjoyed massive support of

    Akwa Ibom people, urging Ikot Abasi people to remain united in supporting their son.

  • Giving a helping hand to the elderly

    Giving a helping hand to the elderly

    A non-governmental organisation, Ewenla Socio-Cultural Foundation recently extended a helping hand to the elderly in Ode Remo, Ogun State through its ‘care for the elderly project’,  ERNEST NWOKOLO was there.

    Succour came the way of the elderly – men and women, of the seedy Ode Remo community in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State recently as no fewer than 1000 of them benefited from the ‘care for the elderly project’ of the Ewenla Socio – Cultural Foundation (ESCF), a non – governmental organisation.

    For over six hours, they were the centre of affection and care at the Ode Remo Town Hall where they were hosted. Scores of the elderly men had their hairs neatly barbed free of charge by tested barbers in the community while their women counterparts also had theirs plaited or weaved by stylists and hairdressers that made a good number of them wore younger looks than the true age.

    Food items, detergents, toiletries among others were also packaged and given to each as take – home.

    Many of the elderly women and men also received free medical tests and treatment.

    Among the medical tests conducted by the medical teams from University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) include test for HIV, visual acuity, screening for cataracts and glaucoma – and no fewer than 40 of them were found to be suffering from cataracts.

    And while they savoured light food in wait for the real thing, health workers from UCH and OOUTH, using local language sensitized them on how to care or manage old age, save their eyes from going blind with age and on cancer awareness.

    Dr. Adedayo Afolabi of the Department of Public Health, OOUTH, who spoke on cancer,  advised the women to check their breasts for early detection of cancer of the breast at the early stage.

    Afolabi explained that if cancer is detected early, it would be easy to get rid of it quickly and warned that if allowed to linger in the body, it could result in a terminal health challenge.

    He said: “Let all women stand before the mirror and examine their breasts frequently at least once a month. Run your left hand on the right breast and vice versa to check if there is any lump. If you detect any strange thing, report to the doctor in the hospital.”

    He also pointed out that men too could detect on their own if prostate cancer is developing in their male organ, saying should they begin to experience strain in the urinary tract or finding it difficult to urinate, they should quickly see a surgeon for medical check-up.

    The Chairperson of ESCF, Chief (Mrs.) Folashade Filani, a philanthropist, who facilitated the programme in conjunction with the Ode Remo Development Council (ODC), presented awards to eight aged people for excellent and meritorious performance in their various trades and professions within the community.

    Those conferred with awards are the octogenarian, Alhaja Sauli Sonuyi, a traditional midwife, Pa Olagade Oluyide (Bricklayer of old times) and Alhaji Adebisi Bello (Posthumous award, Butcher of old times).

    Chief Filani said she set – up the Foundation to empower the indigent members of Ode Remo community irrespective of their ages, including giving of scholarship to students, and advised the wealthy and corporate bodies to lend helping hands.

    Citing the case of 40 people having cataracts, she said it cost an average of N15,000 to carry out a surgery for the removal of the problem from a sufferer, adding that if more persons support the cause, the operation could be performed to restore the sight of the affected people.

    The town’s traditional head, Oba Adetunji Osho (Owadaniyan11), who chaired the event, urged his subjects home and in the Diaspora, to use their God – given wealth to bless the less fortunate members of the community.

    Osho lauded Mrs Filani for “bringing succour to the elderly,” making them to once again feel loved and have a sense of “belonging to the rest of the active members of the community.”

    Oba Osho said: “whatever blessing or wealth God gave you, use it to empower others. You are only a custodian of God’s gift of wealth in your hand. When you use it to develop others, you gain more blessings.”

    In the reckoning of the monarch, the woman philanthropist should not only be “emulated,” but also supported by individuals and the government to impact more on the indigents.

    Also, billionaire hotelier, Prince Buruji Kashamu, who was a special guest, enjoined those who aspire longevity, to cultivate the habit of caring for the aged members of the society.

    Kashamu who was represented by Mrs Ibilola Osilaja, said the aged are mothers and fathers of the younger ones, whose prayers are potent force that could attract more blessings and long life for those who care for them.

    The chieftain of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP) who supported the project with food items, said there was the need for the young ones to attend to the needs of the aged, especially those who can’t help themselves.

  • Youths shower love on elderly

    Youths shower love on elderly

    Those who think the elderly around them cannot be appreciated may need to ask the youths of Assembly of God, Kings Cathedral Parish, Mile 1 Dioub, Port Harcourt, how best to celebrate with the elderly ones. They will teach them how to love, care and appreciate our aged mothers and fathers.

    It was a day to honour the heroes and heroines of faith when the youth of Assembly of God gathered the elderly members between the ages of 60 years and above to shower them with the love and adoration they deserved.

    The programme was aptly tagged: “Indeed God is Faithful”.

    The youths were given the opportunity to tap blessing from the aging fathers and mothers and by so doing were also sowing seeds for their own old age. The elders prayed for their younger benefactors to live good lives that could sustain them with enough grace to get older than the celebrants.

    There was enough to eat for both the elderly and the youths, the celebrants were also given the opportunity to present special songs, dance and to declare blessings and favour upon the youths and children of the church.

    Speaking at the special service to honour the elders, Rev. Chigozirim Amadi, lamented that elderly in the society were made to beg on the streets to survive because of lack of care from the younger generation who they helped sustained.

    “I thanked God that the youths are honouring all of you here today. It is a good thing that the young ones recognize that our parents who have attained the age of 60 and above deserve recognition and appreciation. But I want to tell you something, I have discovered that why some old men and women beg on the street is because they did not live a good life, some of them were wicked and did not help anybody while they were young because if you are a good person even if you don’t have children somebody somewhere will make you his or her mother or father. “

    Rev. Chigozirim advised the youths to live good lives so that at their old age they will be favoured, love and cared for. He reminded the youths to know that how long they stayed on this earth depend on how they live their lives, adding that there is no other way to live a better life than to live a worthy life and be committed in the things of God.

    Dr. Chidi Agbarakwe, while speaking with the Niger Delta Report, noted that the elderly is an age at which functional capacities of systems are below installed capacity where chronic and non- communicable diseases are common.

    “This includes diabetics, hypertension, chronic, airway disease and cancer, the elderly that is happy to be old will live happy than one who lives with regret. Don’t forget the most common elderly illness is poor vision, dementia (loss of memory) urinary incontinence. The women may have problem with menopause which gives them night sweats, irritability, facial flush and labile emotion. Above all the elderly must endeavour to serve God with joy and gratitude in his or her heart in order to live happily here on earth and make heaven at last

    Some of the celebrant who also spoke to Niger Delta Report said they are delighted to be honoured by the young ones in the church. “I am happy that God kept me till today to be part of this programme. I want to thank the youths for recognising that we are still important for them by organising this programme to honour their mother and father. May the Almighty God continue to favour them and give them the grace to get older than me. Although many people did not witness this programme maybe because they are sick or not alive but at 75 years, God has continued to make me stronger” Mrs. Evelyn West said.

    Evangelist Oluchi Onyekwere, one of the celebrants said, “I am very grateful to be part of the celebrant today, the most thing that excite me today is that I am living a life that pleases God. That is the more reason why God is helping me and my family. Even my children are born-again Christians including my late father he gave his life to Christ after hearing the word of God many years ago. One thing in this life is that whatever God says you will be that is what you will be. I did not have the opportunity in life to go to school but today you can see me speaking English because I just concluded my elementary six this years.”

    Another celebrant, Awom Ishmael, said being honoured by the youths has increased his faith in God.

    “I am very happy more than ever before, since my life I have never been honoured this way. I am glad to be among the elders honoured here today by the youths, but what has happened here today definitely has increased my faith in God.”

    For Samuel Nwanka, the courage by the youths to celebrate the elders in the church makes him to feel younger, “I am not just happy I am glad to be honoured and I feel like a young boy today. Let me say this, in Assembly of God as a whole this kind of celebration has never happened before. To be sincere, this is the first time I am seeing this kind of things and the programme has taught me that the lives we live at the young age determine how we live at the old age.”

    The high point of the celebration was the cutting of the cake by the celebrants, and the presentation of souvenirs to all the celebrants.