Abstract:
There is evidence of the inability of older people in Nigeria, Ghana and other developing countries to
sustain themselves through savings, assets or pensions. This situation highlights the minimal benefit of pensions,
savings or assets as income sources for older people; old age very often brings poverty and disability.
Methodology: A qualitative interpretive design informed the study. The study area was categorized into three distinct
ecological areas namely urban, periurban and rural areas. Twenty interviews and three focus group discussions with
68 elderly persons were conducted in ten sub-districts in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The forty-eight elderly
individuals were put into groups of 8, 20 and 20 for the focus group discussions. Data was thematically analysed.
Results: Four major themes and subthemes were identified to reflect the pertinent issue of exploring and defining the
preparedness of people for their retirement and ageing. There was evidence that preparing for old age is not an active
precedent for the people of Cape Coast and they still believe in the traditional system of caring where it is the sole
responsibility of the family to care for its own aged members.
Conclusion: It is evident that formal care is not practiced in Ghana and that the aged therefore find the idea
bewildering. They want to experience this care, but existing norms expect the family members to single-handedly
provide care for their aged.
