Towards long-term care systems in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO series on long-term care on healthy ageing

Overview

In sub-Saharan Africa, families provide the majority of care for older adults. The number of older people in the region, will more than triple from 46 million in 2017 to 165 million in 2050. There is a growing need to develop long-term care systems to enable older people to receive the care they need and live lives with dignity. Organized care services can be compatible with cultural values, retain family involvement and respect norms of family obligation. The first report in the long-term care series discusses a range of models that can be considered and outlines practical next steps that countries can take. This report stems from a regional conference, held in December 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, on setting agendas for the development of sustainable and equitable long-term care systems in sub-Saharan Africa.