In Nigeria there is yet to be any government policy that covers the welfare and care of the elderly.
Largely it is the family unit that takes on the responsibility of caring for their elderly.
How this is done:
1) Children send monthly allowance as they are enabled to their aged parents for upkeep.
2) Siblings, Nephews and Cousins of an elderly person also lend their support as well. This works well if it had been a closely knitted family and if the elderly person does not have his/her own children.
3) Young neighbors who live close by to such an elderly person also help out by fetching water, cleaning and running errands for them. This is possible because of our culture of communal living and respect for those older than us. An elderly person also has to be friendly to those loving around them.
4) Sometimes children can have their aged persons living with them.
5) Children and families of the older person pay their hospital bills when they are sick. This can be a great burden if it is a health condition that requires a lot of money to manage.
6) Maids are employed to either come in everyday or live with the elderly person in order to handle cooking, domestic chores, run errands and as well keep their company. Family members and children often live in other cities far away from their aged and so these Maids also help to solve the problem of Loneliness.
7) Grandchildren go on holidays to grandma and grandpa’s place. This refreshes the elderly and memories are made that remains with the elderly after their grandchildren leaves. These visits keep the Aged happy and emotionally balanced as they feel they are a part of their grandchildren’s life.
It is hoped that government will take seriously the importance of caring for the elderly.
There is need for a policy that will cover the welfare of senior citizens. Many older persons live in abject poverty and are suffering especially if they have no family members to care for them.
Sometimes children are still struggling to make ends meet therefore it becomes difficult to even send money to support their aged parents. Government has to consider this all important issue!!
We all pray to grow old. Take care of the elderly now because one day you will be putting on that same shoe. How would you like to be treated then?
Adebisi Adetunji (C)
Care of the Elderly Nigeria 
In these days of recession it is becoming increasingly difficult for children to cater adequately for the needs of their parents. Children on their own part suffer from a feeling of inadequacy leading to frustration and depression. Some parents on their part can’t understand why a child so much was invested on cannot meet up with obligations to parents at a time that is supposedly ripe. There is therefore a gradual erection of communication brickwall which if care is not taken may continue for so long except the situation changes. Here is where children must learn how to reach out in communication to break the wall down. Truth is aged parents inspite of the economic situation are not happy when you retreat
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