Care in the Silver Years: Academics Perception of Institutional Care for the Elderly in Ghana

Population trends are indicative that by 2050, 10% of Ghana’s population will be above 60 years. Yet, only a minority live with a relative that might provide care and support for them. This suggests that there is a need for an alternative care option for the majority who might need care and support but will have no relative capable or available to provide such care, probably the solution will be institutional care that will provide the needed care services. However, there is a gap in the literature as to how Ghanaians might accept such an option. Using a qualitative research design, this study aimed at exploring the views of academics on institutional care as an alternative care option for Ghanaians. The findings revealed that majority of the academics shared the merits of having such an institution but the major concern was adequate care and how it will be managed. It was concluded that in other to demystify the concept of institutional care, day care centres for the elderly should be introduced, training of more personnel in gerontology for them to have the requisite skills to attend to the elderly and the encouragement of private-public partnership to ensure efficient and effective provision of care services for the elderly. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s4p22