Perspectives of elderly blacks on institutional care

Abstract

This article reports on the perspectives of black elderly persons regarding where they believe persons such as themselves should stay, where they themselves would like to stay, and where their families and children would like them to stay. Their knowledge of alternative care and their consideration of ever living in an old-age home are also discussed. It was found that the indigenous support system for caring for elderly people in their communities by their children is still practised and preferred by the elderly, but not significantly so by the younger generation. It became clear from the study that old-age homes were still a rather new and largely unacceptable concept to elderly black persons.