INCLUSIVE ACCESS TO EFFICIENT HEALTH CARE AND SUSTAINABLE INCOME AMONG THE AGED POPULATION IN NIGERIA: PROBING THE CORE ROLE OF SOCIAL SECURITY IN PROMOTING LIFE EXPECTANCY

Abstract

Social security has been a big challenge facing Nigeria as a democratic society,especially among the aged population. So far, there is a dearth of scholarlyinquiries on inclusive health care, particularly with a focus on the possible role ofcare homes in offering quality health care service to the aged population – retiredfederal, state, local governments and private individuals. This research gapinformed the desire to carry out this review work. This study, therefore, aims atinvestigating the role of care homes in providing quality and social welfare forthe aged and elderly groups in the Nigerian society. The study adopted ex postfacto design. It is anchored on the social assistance theory. The study revealedthat most of the aged population in Nigeria is at risk of social service –deterioration of health, poor feeding, challenges of family dynamics, increaseddemand for medical services, decreased functional independence, governmentneglect, absence of an effective national health policy and increased economicstress among others. Based on the findings, the study recommends among others,that government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and privateindividuals should provide effective care homes for the vulnerable aged in therural, urban and city centres across the states in Nigeria, including the FederalCapital Territory (FCT), Abuja. They should also employ competent healthpersonnel, care givers and social workers to can man(age) the care homeseffectively for optimum inclusive health development in Nigeria.