Financial Incentives to Support Family Care-Givers of Older Adults in Nigeria: a Policy Consideration

Abstract

Ageing has become a global phenomenon and indeed a critical policy issue receiving some recognition by governments of developed countries where it is reflected in the government’s vital document of economic and social development strategy. Globally, the greatest increase in the number of older people is occurring in the developing and middle income countries and Nigeria is not an exception. All over the world, family caregivers continue to be the primary source of care-giving for elderly people, and their own care-related stress, financial strain and compromised health – is often overlooked.  However, many developed countries have implemented a number of policies that directly or indirectly target family carers of elderly persons. This is based on the fact that they realise that care-giving is associated with a significant reduction in employment and hours of work, especially for individuals providing a high intensity of care. This paper therefore is an attempt to propose one way of supporting and maintaining the supply of family care in Nigeria so  that this very important societal resource is harnessed. The paper present what is happening in other countries and based on that suggest what could be done in Nigeria to support care givers of elderly people.

Keywords: care-giving, financial, incentive, family, elderly