Mr Kofi Awuviry-Newton

Little research has been conducted to explore the functional status of community-dwelling older adults in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the functional status and the health-seeking behaviour of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. Utilising a descriptive qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 12 eligible older adults from southern Ghana. With the use of NVivo (v12), descriptive and focused coding techniques were employed to analyse the data. The following five themes were identified after the data analysis: (a) older adults' health status during COVID-19 pandemic, (b) feeling limited, (c) feeling of unhappiness for being inactive, (d) striving to be active and (e) seeking healthcare during COVID-19 pandemic. This study revealed the unique health and social-related needs of Ghanaian older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study's findings draw attention to the urgent need for the state to devise practical health and social-related initiatives to support older adults during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges neglected older adults experience and the strategies they employ to cope. A Phenomenological qualitative approach was adopted. Employing criterion purposive sampling, 12 older adults were recruited from a community in Winneba in Ghana. A semi-structured interview guide following focus group discussion was used to explore the challenges and the coping strategies of older adults. Thematic data analysis making use of descriptive coding was employed. The study revealed that neglected older adults experience financial challenges, health issues, and social isolations. They lacked decent accommodation, nutritional food and were prevented from determining the kind of food they want to eat. These neglected older adults survived by adopting internal and external coping strategies. This study offers a better understanding of the needs of neglected older adults and the nature of their coping strategies. It is recommended that financial and social care should be available for older adults.

As Ghana's older population increases in number and proportion, the social and healthcare needs of older adults and their caregivers become more critical highlighting the relevance of social workers¿ contribution in assisting older adults and their caregivers. The purpose of this study was to explore social workers¿ contributions, discussed against the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Policy on Ageing and Older Person framework. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach making use of semi-structured interviews to collect information from eight social workers at the Social Welfare Unit in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Themes and codes were developed from the interviews using thematic analysis, employing In-vivo and descriptive coding, and N-Vivo v12 as a management tool. Analysis of interviews revealed three interrelated themes; (a) ¿We provide it accordingly¿: Talking about their contributions as systematic, (b) ¿I think we can do more¿: Talking about their contributions as insufficient, and (c) ¿Our efforts are being hampered¿: Complaints of inadequate resources for working with older adults and their caregivers. The study offers areas of opportunities for social workers per the IFSW policy framework to reflect and examine their current knowledge and skill to address the challenges population ageing presents in Ghana. While social workers contribute towards helping older adults seeking healthcare and their caregivers, their needs cannot be ignored. The findings draw attention to effective policies and programs that can provide social workers with the needed resources to be independent and be able to devise novel approaches unique to older adults and their caregivers.

The purpose of the study was to explore how neglected older people describe the factors contributing to their state of neglect. A Phenomenological qualitative approach making use of a semi-structured interview was adopted. Purposive criterion and snowballing sampling were employed to recruit 12 older people facing neglect from Winneba in Ghana. Thematic data analysis making use of in-vivo and focussed coding was employed. Four major interrelated themes were identified. The themes are (a) ¿Since the death of my husband¿: neglect as a function of a natural cause; (b) ¿I did not plan well by then¿: neglect attributed to the self; (c) ¿They do to all of us¿: neglect resulting from the failure of government institutions; and, (d) ¿Our family do not even come to see us¿: neglect attributed to the breakdown of the extended family system. Application of the ecological theory in the discussion improves our understanding of holistic factors depriving older people of care and protection in Ghana. The findings draw attention to programs and policies, taking into consideration the personal, health and environmental factors to meet the needs of older people in Ghana.