Abstract:
Sub-Saharan Africa population is increasing in age with little acknowledgement
on the consequences of the issues of ageing. Aim: To explore and describe
evidence in published literature on care given to the aged at home and
how they prepare for their ageing. Method: The study applied the Preferred
Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA)
framework for systematic literature reviews using the population, intervention,
comparison and outcome (PICO) method to track the eligibility of research
questions. This method was the most appropriate for use in exploring
the current position in available literature for that of Ghana. The research was
performed using five electronic databases from January to July 2017 taking
into consideration the set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only studies written
in English were considered and a total of 18 articles met the study criteria.
Reviewers extracted primary studies comprising quantitative, qualitative and
critical reviews. Result: The literature review showed shortcomings in care
for the aged at home. From the search, six core themes were generated: neglect
of aged care; aged care for the younger generation; aged living arrangements;
government neglect; preparedness; and care of the aged in Ghana.
Conclusion: This review offered significant insight into care for the aged in
their homes. The inclusive nature of the rigorous approach used provided a
good understanding of underlying issues on the needs of the aged. Challenges
for future are broadened in scope for more research and effective awareness
for interventional projects, services on care given to the aged.
