The Changing Privileges and Challenges of Older People in Contemporary African Society (Published)
This study is an investigation of the changing privileges and challenges of older people in contemporary African society. Prior to the contact with the West, older people were highly valued in African society because of their accumulated knowledge and wisdom, which they used to settled disputes, integrates the society and educate the young. In return, they enjoyed many privileges in the society. However, changes in the structure of African society occasioned by the introduction of formal education by the West neutralized this traditional system of caring for older people as they are now facing many challenges. Modernization theory was adopted in analyzing the study. Data for this study were purposely collected through the secondary sources. The findings revealed that older people are facing the challenges of basic needs such as food, shelter, love and proper care. Depressions in older people are misdiagnosed or mislabeled as normal aspects of old age. Old age is sad accompanied by inevitable declined. Older people as other age categories need money weekly to provide for their needs and that of their household. It was therefore, recommended that elderly people should be cared for by their entire extended family system. In addition, African government should pay monthly allowance to both the retired and the unemployed elderly people to assist their family to take proper care of older people
Keywords: : Older People, African Society, Challenges, Changing, Contemporary, Privileges