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The changing role of older people in African households and the impact
of ageing on African family structures
Tavengwa
M Nhongo, HelpAge International’s Regional Representative for Africa
August 20,
2004
http://www.uaps.org/confageing/tavengwa.pdf
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Introduction
The role of older people in African households has changed significantly
over time. Traditionally, their role was to advise, direct and lead their
families and societies in those practices, rituals and ceremonies that
ensured their survival, existence and continuity.
They were involved
in the socialisation of society and ensured the attainment and passing
on of society’s knowledge, values and norms. The advent of formal education,
the Church and a modern way of life meant a change in the roles played
by older people. However, the onset of HIV/AIDS has added another dimension
to the whole scenario. Its devastating impact coupled with the effects
of population ageing, means that older people are now key to the survival
of an increasing number of orphaned and vulnerable children and those
adults that are sick from AIDS. Older people play this very difficult
role with no resources at their disposal and absolutely no recognition
for their efforts.
Defining older
people
It is important that the definition of older people be understood, as
there are many factors that may complicate the issue. The United Nations
defines older people as those aged 60 years and above, but there are huge
issues around the definition of older people. The chronological definition
alone presents immense problems in Africa because of the following reasons.
- Many older people
do not know exactly when they were born and tend to use events to determine
their ages. That leads to their ages being estimated.
- Different societies
define their older people differently. In some cases, these definitions
are based on what people have achieved in life, their wealth, the
number of wives and
children, the number of grand children, the ability to give birth, etc.
- Physical features
are sometimes used – colour of hair, the stoop while walking, wrinkled
face, etc
- The knowledge that
one has of important events, rituals and traditional processes
- Retirement ages
are also used to define older people. In Africa, these range from around
45 to 65 years.
Clearly, therefore, issues
regarding the definition of older people are still critical in Africa. The
Organisation of African Unity Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Ageing
recommends that Africa also uses the UN definition of 60 to define its older
people. That will certainly simplify operational issues but not the targeting
of the needy. As of now, many needy older people are left out of programmes
because their registration papers suggest that they are younger, and indeed,
others are included when in fact they are younger (Nhongo, 2000; Kamwengo,
2004). A big question still remains though, about what happens to the age
group between 40 and 60, or even that between 50 and 60 whom no body is
studying but who are classified as older people whenever situations to deal
with employment redundancies or retrenchments do arise.
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