Factors Influencing The Placement Of Old Persons In Homes For The Aged In Kenya: A Case Of Sagana Home For The Aged In Kirinyaga East Sub county: Kirinyaga County

Abstract

As population in Kenya increases the utilization of homes for the old is an area of concern. In Kenya the number of older persons, 60 years and above has risen dramatically, from a modest number of 270,000 1949 to 1.9 million in 2009. The demographic shift towards increased older persons in society has been accompanied by rapid urbanization, shifting attitudes within communities and population movements. In particular, the increased movement of younger persons from rural to urban areas in search of employment has led to major changes in family structures, resulting in the breakdown of the extended family support systems to older persons in society with its in-build traditional social protection systems. On the other hand rural urban migration has also created a segment of older persons in urban areas who face peculiar challenges. Therefore this study investigated the factors influencing placement of old persons in homes of the aged in Kenya. The study was carried out in Sagana home for the aged in Kirinyaga East in Kirinyaga County. The study focused on; health, family structure, access to caregivers and income of the old persons and how they influenced placement of old persons in homes for the aged. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population under study was all the 109 people who are in Sagana home for the aged including the old persons, the social workers and the committee members. The study was conducted on the entire population. Data was collected by use of structured interview. The data was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively and presented using frequencies, and regression analysis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used to aid in generating a summary of results which were represented in form of charts and tables. The study found out that 50% of the members of Sagana home for the aged said that old person were placed in the home due to disability. The study found that old peoples’ health explained 25% of the placement of old persons in home for the aged, income explained 1.3%, access to caregivers 2.9% and family structure explained 14.6% of placement of old persons in homes for the aged. The researcher recommends that there should be a policy to facilitate allocation of funding to homes for the aged since the homes are taking care of the elderly disabled with no support from the government.