- 340 - Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi The Journal of International Social Research Cilt: 8 Sayı: 36 Volume: 8 Issue: 36 Şubat 2015 February 2015 www.sosyalarastirmalar.com Issn: 1307-9581 PERCEPTION OF OLD AGE: ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CARE AND SUPPORT FOR THE AGED AMONG THE ESAN OF SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA Friday Asiazobor EBOIYEHI • Abstract Nigeria’s population is ageing rapidly. The combination of increasing longevity and the accompanying change in young caregivers’ perception of old age and the aged is having negative impact on care and support for the aged. Yet, there is little or no scholarly work in Nigeria to determine how perception of old age affects elderly care and support. This paper examines how the perception of old age affects care and support for the aged among the Esan people of South-South Nigeria. The study relies on qualitative methods namely; in-depth interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). In all 32 IDIs and 12 FGDs were conducted on the aged and their caregivers in both urban and rural areas. The results show that the traditional care and support for the aged in the study area is diminishing due to the way the younger generation perceives old age and the aged. The change in perception of old age and the aged is linked to Western influence which is gradually eroding the traditional/cultural belief where the aged were seen in positive light. There is need for cultural re-awakening. This may be carried out within the framework of a creative multi-track social policy intervention that would enable families to continue being the main care providers of the aged. Keywords: The Esan of South-South Nigeria, Perception of Old Age. Introduction Like many developing countries in the world, Nigeria is currently witnessing rapid ageing of its population. This growth has brought with it many social, political and economic challenges and those problems associated with health in older ages. This makes old age to be perceived as a “problematic” phase of life. As people live longer and begin to have health challenges, provision of care and support becomes more important. Literature on family care and support for the aged has consistently found that all societies engaged in some level of intergenerational relationships (Udegbe, 1990). Most of these literatures confirm that throughout the developing world, the family has been the key institution for the aged, their living arrangements as well as a determinant of their well-being (Cowgill, 1986; Albert and Cattel, 1994). In traditional African societies, intergenerational relationships exist where the younger and older generations live in sustained mutual cooperation and coordination that benefit members of each of these generations (Newman, Ward, Smith, Wilson and McCrea, 1997). The younger generation sees the aged as those who are weak, need care and support from the younger generation. It was not surprising that the old-old were not allowed to engage in hard work. There were strong relationships between the aged and the young adults. These relationships do not necessarily have to be familial as they cut across families and communities. In these societies, children provide care and support for their aged parents “as a means of repaying the tremendous debts … owed their parents for producing and caring for them in infancy and childhood (Lamb, 2000:46). Much like the young, the aged tend to require support for instrumental (i.e. functional) tasks such as cooking and shopping, as well as material and psychological support to ensure their survival in old age. When they are no longer capable of • Centre for Gender & Social Policy Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University.