Abstract
Starting in December 2019 in Wuhan China, the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) disease has reached 216 countries with 6, 140, 934 confirmed cases and 373, 548 deaths as at 2nd June, 2020 globally Ghana, with an estimated population of 31,014,508 has recorded 8, 297 confirmed cases, 2, 986 recoveries and 38 deaths with 5, 273 active cases as at the same date. All but one of the 16 administrative regions have recorded confirmed cases with the highest case numbers in the more urban regions of the country. Considering that one of the highest risk populations in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak is the elderly population, this brief essay examines the state of elderly care in Ghana in relation to this pandemic. The paper reflects on the state of care needs for the elderly, current elderly care systems, inadequacy of data on elderly population and social work practice in Ghana. It also raises questions on the preparedness of current elderly care systems and general social work practice in Ghana amidst COVID 19. The paper recommends professionalization of geriatric care and formalization of community-based care for the elderly in Ghana as the way forward.
Highlights
In one of the earliest studies on elderly care in Ghana, Apt (1993) acknowledged that care for the elderly is influenced by socioeconomic conditions
Respect and reciprocity are the central motivations for elderly care in rural Ghanaian communities if not the whole country
How would the at-risk elderly population wallowing in poverty find refuge in the face of a pandemic like this? These questions deserve even greater consideration taking into account the wide range of care needs of the elderly matched against the inadequacy of available formalized support in a country like Ghana
Summary
Keywords Older adults, family caregiving, social work practice, COVID-19, elderly care, extended family Those with no child or who have not lived responsibly faced more challenges in meeting their care needs sustainably. Ofori-Dua (2014) emphasized the vulnerability of the elderly by explaining that because of poor economic situations and difficulties in saving against the future, low education and the resulting challenge in accessing social security interventions, old age and poverty are associated especially in rural Ghana.
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