TUMAINI UNIVERSITY

IRINGA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPERTIMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

ASSESSMENT OF THE CHALLENGES FACING AGED PEOPLE IN

ELDERS’CARE CENTRES: A CASE STUDY OF MOROGORO MUNICIPALITY

BY

MOHAMEDI MIRAJI

FAUSTINO SWAI

MERINA SHAIDI

A RESEARCH REPORT SUBMITTED IN THE PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT

July, 2012

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 TUMAINI UNIVERSITY

IRINGA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPERTIMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

ASSESSMENT OF THE CHALLENGES FACING AGED PEOPLE IN

ELDERS’CARE CENTRES: A CASE STUDY OF MOROGORO MUNICIPALITY

BY

MOHAMEDI MIRAJI

FAUSTINO SWAI

MERINA SHAIDI

A RESEARCH REPORT SUBMITTED IN THE PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT

July, 2012

i
 CERTIFICATION

The undersigned certifies that he has read and hereby recommends for acceptance by

Tumaini University, Iringa University College. A research paper titled; Assessment of the

challenges facing aged people in elders’ care centres. A case study of Morogoro

Municipality.

Signature…………………………….

Mr. O.SHIRIMA

Date…………………………

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 DECLARATION

We Mohamedi Miraji, Faustino Swai and Merina Shaidi; hereby say publicly that this

research is our own original work and it has not presented and will not be presented to any

other College and University for the similar or any other awards.

Candidates signatures:

Mohamedi Miraji ………………………..

Faustino Swai ………………………..

Merina Shaidi ………………………..

Date……………………….

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 COPYRIGHT© 2012

Copyright ©2012, Mohamedi Miraji, Faustino Swai and Merina Shaidi.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, restored in any retrival

system, or distributed in any form or by any means: Electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the authors, or Tumaini

University on behalf.

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 DEDICATION

We dedicate this research work to Parents for their supports toward the

accomplishment of University studies may Almighty God bless them. Also we would

like to dedicate our closely associates Laurie A. Abdullah, Seif Mohamed ,Omari

Mahanyu, Hamidi Haji, Adelina Mwaikugile, Peter Silayo, Maulid S. Mkumba ,

Lucy Swai, Grace Swai, Melchiory Swai, Daudi Msangi, Mwatumu Miraji Answary

and Warda Msangi as well as all members of group discussion for their closely

support in all durations in Tumaini University-Iringa University College.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thanks our Almighty God for his blessings to us during the study’s time

here at Tumaini University- Iringa University College.

Also we have the honor to give sincere thanks to our supervisor Mr. Omary Shirima of

Tumaini University-Iringa University College for his dedicated support and supervision as

well as constructive ideas that have greatly contributed to the quality of this research, for

this we do feel highly indebted

We wish to express our thanks to instructors of Community Development and our fellow

students BACD 3 of the Tumaini University- Iringa university College, MOROPEO staffs,

Mgolole and Fungafunga Elders’care givers, leaders and elders for their mutual support

toward the fulfillments of the study findings.

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 ABSTRACT

The study title was, Assessment of challenges facing Aged people in elders’ care centres.

A case study of Morogoro Municipality. The study aimed at assessing on the challenges

facing aged people in elders’ care centres, identifying causes and measures to be taken to

address the particular challenges as well as perceptions of MOROPEO institution on

elders’ care centres in Morogoro Municipality.

The research was conducted in Morogoro Municipality, where by the only available

elders’ care centres were involved namely Fungafunga and Mgolole. The researchers

involved such as elders, Elders’ caregivers, Government and Centres’ leaders as well

as MOROPEO staffs. Data collection was done through questionnaire, focus group

discussion, interviews, observation and other secondary data from internet and library

books. However the data analysis was done manually and presented by tables.

The study findings found that the challenges facing aged people in Elder’s care centres in

Morogoro Municipality includes inadequate basic needs, poor access to information,

insufficient water supply and poor health services. The causes of the challenges were; poor

Government support, low participation of elders in decision making, unqualified

caregivers, poor centre management, underprivileged community support and bad

traditional believes.

On the other hand the study found that MOROPEO institution perceived ECC’s as prison

to elder, some of their leaders make centres as source of their income and Government

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disvalue the ECC’s. This implies that other organizations dealing with elders do not

support elder care centers program and have negative perception towards them.

Therefore the researchers suggested the following measures; effective and efficient

involvement of elders in decision making, establishment of elders care centers,

implementation of elder care guide policy and establishment of Ministry for elders’ affairs.

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 Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE..................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................1

1.1 Historical background..................................................................................................1

1.2 Statement of the problem and Justification.................................................................3

1.3 Significance of the study..............................................................................................4

1.4 Objectives of the study................................................................................................4

1.4.1 Main objective......................................................................................................4

1.4.2 Specific objectives................................................................................................4

1.5 Research questions......................................................................................................5

1.6 Conceptual framework................................................................................................5

1.7Definition of the key terms...........................................................................................6

CHAPTER TWO.................................................................................................................8

LITERATURE REVIEWS.................................................................................................8

2.1Conceptual model.........................................................................................................8

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 2.2 Values of aged people in Tanzania.............................................................................10

2.3 General overview of challenges facing Aged people in ECC’s.................................10

2.4 The causes of the challenges facing Aged people.....................................................12

2.4 Measures taken..........................................................................................................13

CHAPTER THREE..........................................................................................................15

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................15

3.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................15

3.2 Research design.........................................................................................................15

3.3 Study area..................................................................................................................15

3.4 Sample and sampling procedures..............................................................................16

3.4.1Sample size..........................................................................................................16

3.4.2 Sampling procedures and techniques..................................................................16

3.5 Types of data collected..............................................................................................16

3.5.1 Primary data........................................................................................................16

3.5.2 Secondary data....................................................................................................17

3.6 Methods of data collection........................................................................................17

3.7 Data analysis and processing.....................................................................................18

CHAPTER FOUR.............................................................................................................20

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION........................................................................................20

4.1 Overview...................................................................................................................20

4.2 Demographic characteristics of the respondents.......................................................20

4.2.1Age of the respondents.........................................................................................20

4.2.2 Gender of the respondents..................................................................................21

4.2.3 Marital status of the respondents........................................................................21

4.2.4 Occupation of the respondents............................................................................21

4.2.5 Education level of the respondents.....................................................................22

4.3 The challenges facing aged people in ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality.................22

4.4 Causes of the challenges facing Aged people in elders’ care centres in Morogoro

Municipality.....................................................................................................................23

Table: 4.0 Percentage rates of the causes of challenges facing aged people in ECC’s in

Morogoro Municipality...................................................................................................27

4.5 Measures to be taken to mitigate the challenges facing aged people in ECC’s.........27

Table 4.1. Measures to be taken to mitigate the challenges facing aged people in ECC’s

in Morogoro Municipality................................................................................................29

CHAPTER FIVE...............................................................................................................32

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS...........................................................32

5.1 Conclusion.................................................................................................................32

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 5.2 Recommendations.....................................................................................................33

APPENDIX 1: DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPONDENTS

.............................................................................................................................................35

REFERENCES..................................................................................................................36

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Historical background

Traditionally elders care has been the responsibility of family members and was provided

within the extended family home. Increasingly in modern societies, elders’ care is now

being provided by Government or private centres. The reasons for this change include

decreasing family size, the greater life expectancy of elderly people, the geographical

dispersion of families, and the tendency for women to be educated and work outside their

homes. Although these changes have affected European and North American countries

first, it is now increasingly affecting Sub-Saharan countries including Tanzania.

Aged care programme was first established in Great Britain during the last quarter of

seventeen century (17th century).During this period aged people, laziness and disabled

were given a privileges of being cared by the government until the period of poor law

amendment act in 1834 in which the government amended the act concerning the aged,

disables and laziness. At this time the Britain government decided to reduce dependent

groups by minimizing budgets and evicting all lazy people from the centers and remained

with aged and disabled people. After several movements of marginalized people toward

their rights in Great Britain such as Luddism and Chartism movements some elders’ care

centers were established to improve the living standards of aged people. These centres

were held by private owners, although some of them still being under assistance of the

government. (T. J. Owston, 2009.)

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As the time went the ideas of elders’ care centres spread and adopted in other countries

including Tanzania. The growth and adoption of elders’ care centres in Tanzania was

mainly due to the outcomes of a document, “a Political Declaration and Madrid

International Plan of Action, 2002” in second World Assembly on Ageing.(second World

Assembly on Ageing, 2002).

This committed Tanzania government to meet the challenges of ageing population and

provided the policy makers with a set of 117 concrete recommendations, covering three

main priority directions: older persons and development, maintaining health and well-

being into old age and ensuring enabling and supportive environments for the elderly.

(Second World Assembly on Ageing 2002). Furthermore, the second World Assembly

promoted a new recognition that ageing was not simply an issue of social security and

welfare but of overall development and economic policy. (Second World Assembly on

Ageing 2002).

Indeed, this gave Tanzania a challenge to develop a policy on the ageing called “The

National Policy on Ageing 2003” issued out in September 2003 (URT, 2003). Among the

aims of the policy was to open access of establishing ECC’s in order to ensure social,

economic and political security of elders. For example several elders’ care centres were

established and recognized in various places main land and Islets among those includes

“Nyumba za wazee sebuleni” in Zanzibar, Mgolole and “Fungafunga” in Morogoro

municipal (Main land) which will be our study area.

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1.2 Statement of the problem and Justification

Despite various efforts of the Government and private sectors to improve the living

standards of aged people in ECC’s through launching of national policy on ageing, little

action has been undertaken with respect to its implementation. Since little national studies

related to elderly have been conducted, limited information is known on the status

especially on the challenges facing aged people in ECC’s. For example of studies

conducted include “A Help Age research” which was conducted on social service

accessibility in 12 villages in Magu district and Mwanza region in 2000.

To date aged people are still facing many challenges in ECC’s that Government and

private sectors has been trying to address since 2002 apart from shortage of funds to

support ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality there might be other factors that influencing

those challenges. This situation therefore create a need of carrying out a research to

determine challenges facing aged people in ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality that have not

been done earlier in order to find accurate information and solutions.

For that reason study will make an important contribution to the understanding of the

challenges facing aged people in ECC’s specifically in Morogoro Municipality and the

practical measures which needed to be encountered. It intends to provide the correct

information about the challenges facing aged people in Morogoro municipality and the

adaptation mechanisms of the particular people at the study area.

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1.3 Significance of the study.

This study will be helpful to the community in the sense that the communities will know

the challenges facing aged people and how can the problem be eradicated or minimized.

Also informs the policy makers (the government, NGO's and CBO's) about the problem in

order to formulate measures for solving and controlling challenges facing aged people.

Furthermore the result of the study reveal various social, political, economic and cultural

issues dominant in Morogoro municipality, and their contribution to challenges facing

aged people .

The study also is useful to other researchers who will develop interest on doing the same

study topic on the same area or other areas. The results of the study are of overstated

significance due to fact that aging is a national issue as it hinders various government

initiatives towards economic growth and poverty eradication.

1.4 Objectives of the study

1.4.1 Main objective

The main objective of this research was to assess the challenges facing aged people in

elders’ care centres in Morogoro municipality.

1.4.2 Specific objectives

i) To identify the causes of the challenges facing aged people in elder’s care centres.

ii) To identify measures to be taken to mitigate the challenges facing aged people in elders’

care centres.

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iii) To determine the perception of MOROPEO staffs on elders’ care centres.

1.5 Research questions

i) What are challenges facing age people in elder care centres in Morogoro Municipality?

ii) What are the causes of the particular challenges?

iii) What are the perceptions of MOROPEO on elder care centres?

iv) What can be done to mitigate the challenges in particular centres?

1.6 Conceptual framework

The major aim was to assess the challenges facing aged people in ECC’s in Morogoro

Municipality. This was based on independent, dependent and background variables. There

is inter-relationship between demographic, social, political and cultural factors towards the

challenges facing aged people in ECC’s at the study area.

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Figure: 1. The relationship between background, independent and dependent

variables
Background variables Independent variables Dependent variables

Demographic factors Political factor Social and Cultural factors

 Age  participation in  Water supply

decision making
 Marital status  Health services
 Implementation of
 Occupation elders’ policy  Basic needs

 Education level  Accessibility to

information

 Traditional beliefs

Challenges facing Aged people in ECC’s.

1.7Definition of the key terms

Elder refer to anyone who has reached a certain age and in some cases is used

interchangeably with the term "senior" as in senior citizen. (S. Kaur. et al 2007)

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Aged people can be determined through different phenomena such as physical changes,

demographic changes, life expectancy as well as psychological aspects. All people who

fall under this circumstances are referred aged people (old ages).

Therefore boundary between middle age and old age cannot be defined exactly because it

does not have the same meaning in all societies. As people can be considered to be old

because of certain changes in their activities or social roles. Examples: people may be

considered old when they become grandparents, or when they begin to do less or different

work retirement.

Elder care refers to fulfillment of special needs and requirements that are unique to senior

citizens. It comprises services such as assisted living, adult day care long term care,

nursing homes, hospital care and in-home care.

Elders’ Care centers these are government or non government institutions which are

constructed to provide help and assistance to the aged people. For example assistance on

getting basic needs such as food, clothes and shelter.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEWS

This chapter provides the researcher with an opportunity to review what other scholars

explained about the concept and challenges facing Aged people in ECC’s as well as

measures taken to eradicate the particular challenges in different areas.

To conduct the literature review, the researchers searched terms that reflect conditions and

services that might challenges aged people in elders’ care centres. The study was done for

each term or combination of terms for the years 2011/2012. The researchers also reviewed

reports from the websites of various organizations (such as Family Caregiver Alliance)

that have summarized literature or research in non-peer reviewed publications.

2.1Conceptual model

Elderly age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings,

and thus the end of the human life cycle. Euphemisms and terms for old people include

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seniors (American usage), senior citizens (British and American usage) and the elderly. As

occurs with almost any definable group of humanity, some people will hold a prejudice

against others in this case, against old people. This is one form of ageism.

S. Kaur. et al (2007)

Ageing is a biological process which has its own dynamic, largely beyond human control.

The age of 60 years and above, roughly equivalent to retirement ages in Tanzania, is said

to be the beginning of old age” (URT, 2003).

Old age is observed as an ineluctable, undesirable, problem- ridden stage of life that we all

are compelled to live, marking time until our final exist from life itself. (D. John and J.

Traver 1994).

An elderly person who is able to fund their own retirement is called a retiree. This means

they had a job that paid them enough superannuation. Someone who is unable to fund their

own retirement, and is paid welfare money by the government is called a pensioner.

Pensioners may have difficulty affording medications or groceries on their allowance,

especially if they are very sick, or have to pay rent. (Journal of Age and Aging, 1998)

Care for the elderly can take place in their homes or centres. Groups such as Meals on

Wheels deliver nutritious food for a small fee and centre care programs, clean houses for

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those elderly people who are unable to do it themselves. These services may be non-

existent in rural areas. If elderly people cannot take care of themselves, and their families

are unwilling or unable to care for them, they have to find care centres. The conditions can

be rough, especially if you do not have a lot of money to spend. Availability is also a big

problem, since we have an aging population and nursing homes do not receive enough

government funding. (Journal of Age and Aging, 1998)

2.2 Values of aged people in Tanzania

According to TNAP. (2003) “the government realizes that older people are a resource in

the development of our nation. The existence of Tanzania as a nation is an evidence of

older people’s contribution in political, economic, cultural and social arena. Besides

protection and care services emphasis will be put on involving older people in national

development and incorporating them in the national development plans.”

The ability of the oldest old to manage themselves is either minimal or not existing. Due

to this fact the society has the responsibility of providing them with care and support.

However the family will remain the basic institution of care and support for older people.

Institutional care of older people will be the last resort. (TNAP,2003)

2.3 General overview of challenges facing Aged people in ECC’s

As the aged population increasing year after year, the government and private sectors

decided to establish elders care centres in Tanzania. Virtually this successful strategy

managed to hospitalized elders. Among the centres established includes Fungafunga

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Government Centre for Elders and orphans as well as Mihayo Government Elders’ Centre

in Morogoro region which are under assistance of the Government, also there are centres

which are under assistance of private sectors like, Mgolole mission centre.

Throughout the world the issue of aged people (elders) in elders’ care centres has being a

critical aspect that challenges most of the spheres of lives. “Acute and chronic health

problems will increase as the population ages. Among persons age 65 and older, more than

half have some form of disability; the rate of reported disability increases with age.

Race and ethnicity are also important factors; African Americans and Hispanics age 65

and older report higher rates of disability than non-Hispanic Whites. Most care in care

centres after hospitalization is provided in elders’ care centre. Family members provide

over two-thirds of home care.” (Administration on Aging, 2004).

When it comes to the lives of older people in elder’s care centres we have to look far for

repeated references to troubles such as how to fund inadequate care in later life, neglect

within the health service or financial struggles. In fact, the list of challenges facing many

older people elders’ care centres is a very long one made even worse by cuts to services.

But sometimes it's the things we don't hear much about that are deserving of attention.

Things that don't always focus on older people as helpless or as a financial strain to

grapple with but rather as a diverse, engaged and even dynamic sector of society.

(O'Hara,2009)

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The challenges which older people experience in elder’s care centres are; failure to meet

their basic need, and the lack of support, both affect their health. The current health care

offered to older people in care centres is problematic, although statistics to support this are

limited. Access to health services is limited, especially to older people, whose ability to

pay for these services is incomplete. As mentioned before, exemption mechanisms for

health care services do exist, but their effectiveness is imperfect. Therefore the aims of

elder care center are to sufficiently help the older people and advance them, maintaining

health and well-being into old age and ensuring, enabling and supporting environments for

the elderly (Second World Assembly on Ageing 2002).

According to Forrester 1999 in a study on the situation of older people in the context of

Tanzania came across widespread beliefs on witchcraft in Kagera Region as a challenge to

elders in ECCs. (URT, 2002)

However the Tanzania government does not expect to establish older people’s long term

care institutions in order to provide care for older people. (TNAP, 2003)

2.4 The causes of the challenges facing Aged people

Forrester 1999 in a study on the situation of older people in the context of Tanzania also

came across widespread beliefs on witchcraft in Kagera Region. Other key findings of his

study were:

Diminishing importance of the traditional role of the elderly within their communities. In

the past, older people were considered to be responsible of advising the younger

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generation, so that they grew up according tribal ethics and morals. Except for the Masai,

most tribes face a decline in the traditional way of life. As both Forrester and the Labour

Force Survey show, older people are more than passive and dependent. Especially in rural

areas even at very old ages they are still active in a range of economic activities, like

farming, fishing and small businesses. (URT, 2002)

Laws do not protect older people; the current social and legal system does not provide

adequate protection and security to older people as a special group. Consequently, they do

not receive deserving care and older women are denied their right to own and inherit

property. (TNAP, 2003).

2.4 Measures taken

In the early 1990s Tanzania introduced the cost-sharing principal in the health sector,

meaning the introduction of user fees for hospital services. The introduction of user fees

was officially extended to basic health care facilities as of July 2003. Implementation

however was left the district councils’ discretion. To divert the cost burden for vulnerable

groups, including elderly, exemption mechanisms have been set up. However, the

effectiveness of these mechanisms has been limited

In its mid-term expenditure framework for 2001/02-2003/04, the Ministry of health

specified 8 priority objectives of which the first one is reduction of morbidity and

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mortality also focused on elderly, next to infants, children and women of reproductive age

(World Bank, 2003).

The National Ageing Policy recognizes human rights as stipulated in the Tanzanian

constitution of 1977 as amended in 1984 and 1995 respectively. Moreover the policy has

taken into consideration the United Nations Organization declaration No. 46 of 1991 on

the following older people’s rights: Independence, Participation, Care, Self – fulfillment

and Dignity. (TNAP, 2003)

Furthermore, the government does not expect to establish older people’s long term care

institutions. In order to provide care for older people; Families and the society in general

will be mobilized/sensitized to care and support older people; Older people will be cared

for in their respective community;

The government through Local Government and Voluntary Agencies, will continue to

provide institutional care to older people and others who have no one to care for. (TNAP,

2003)

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 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

This chapter describes various research terms and plan. The methodologies which were

used in this research include study area, research design, sample and sampling techniques,

data collection and data analysis methods.

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3.2 Research design

Research design can be referred as the arrangement of conditions for collection and

analysis of data in a manner that aimed to combine relevance to the research purpose with

economy in procedure. (C.R. Kothari, 2004).The study included both quantitative and

qualitative research methods. The qualitative research design included unstructured

interviews, focus group discussions amongst others. Quantitative research design includes

observation, structured interviews, questioner and recording. Quantitative aimed at

collecting data informs of numbers and statistics while the qualitative included statements

which helped in writing the final report of this research.

3.3 Study area

The study was conducted in Morogoro municipality which is located on the eastern side of

Tanzania Mainland. Morogoro municipality is found in Morogoro region which informally

known as "Mji kasoro bahari," that translates as 'city short of an ocean/port'.The

municipality lies between latitudes 5058’ and 10000’ South of the Equator and between

longitudes 35o25’ and 38o30’ East of Greenwich. It is bordered by seven

regions.Morogoro municipality has a total population of 206,868 (2002 census).

3.4 Sample and sampling procedures

3.4.1Sample size

Simple random and purpose sampling were used to select respondents in the study area.

The total of 50 respondents were interviewed which included elders, elder care givers,

Moropeo staffs and Government and centres leaders.

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3.4.2 Sampling procedures and techniques

In this study the selection of sample was important as it was impossible to test the whole

population. Hence the study included simple random and stratified sampling techniques.

Random sampling was used to collect data from elders and care givers while purposive

sampling was used to collect information from Moropeo staffs, Government and ECC’s

leaders.

3.5 Types of data collected

In order to ensure easier accomplishment of the research objective, two kinds of data were

collected during the study. These were:

3.5.1 Primary data

Researchers have gathered information directly from respondents. These primary data

were gathered through different methods such as interviews and questioners in which open

and closed questions were used.

3.5.2 Secondary data

Researcher reviewed various books, news papers, journals, articles and other materials

from internet sites which were corresponding to the research topic for the purpose of

obtaining more insights and broader understanding on the topic.

3.6 Methods of data collection

The main methods of data collection used in the study include questionnaires, observation,

interviews and focus group discussion.

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a) Questionnaires

The method was administered to all respondents. The questionnaires consisted both closed

and open-ended questions (see appendix 2,3 and 4). In addition to that questionnaires were

translated into Swahili language to enable respondents confidently to express their feelings

and views concerning challenges facing aged people in ECC’s, the causes of those

challenges, measures to be taken to eliminate them as well as perception MOROPEO

staffs on ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality.

b) Focus group discussion

The researcher used this method to form group discussion with aged people and care

givers in Fungafunga and Mgolole ECC’s. Each group consisted of five respondents of

different sex.

c) Observation

This method was used for:

i) Checking the existing situation of the centres, particularly shelters, food,

clothing, environmental cleanest and health care services.

ii) Investigating the mood of respondents, mainly during discussions.

iii) Investigating community accountability towards betterment of elders lives in

ECC’s.

xviii
d) Interviews

The respondents were requested to participate in formal and informal interviews. Formal

interviews were designed in the way that the respondents were asked to give answers to

the questions asked face to face. The answer helped the researcher to come up with

information which addressed and described challenges facing aged people in ECC’s. The

interviews intended for all categories; age, gender, occupation, marital status and

education level. Informal interview were oral and face to face conversation between

researchers and respondents. The researchers decided to use these techniques because

same of the respondent do not know how to read/write, such respondent includes elders.

Also it provides more information in greater depth and helped the respondent to be

him/her self when express his/her views without the influence of other people.

3.7 Data analysis and processing

Data analysis is a body of methods that help to describe facts, detect patterns, develop

explanations, and test hypotheses. All collected data through questionnaire, interview,

observation and focus group discussion where transcribed analyzed translated interpreted

and edited in order to write a report. Wangusa (2002) suggest that “when all the required

data is finally” in, however, checking and editing of the entire lot takes place, as the very

first stage of data processing”. He also says that, “the reason for checking the data is to

test its completeness, accuracy and uniformity, to eliminate obvious discrepancies and

other mistakes in the recording and to reduce the amount of detailed data to the

xix
manageable proportions”. To simplify the processing of data Statistical Package for Social

Science Programme (SPSS) was used. Finally data were edited for the final report.

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Overview

This chapter analytically presents the results obtained from the research based on

challenges facing Aged people in elders’ care centres in Morogoro municipality. The study

xx
employed a sample of 50 people, where 50 questionnaires were administered to the

sampled population by the researchers and both were filled making a response rate of 100

percent. Thus by analyzing the results some common challenges facing aged people in

ECC’s, as well as causes, effects and measures towards the challenges were given in this

chapter.

4.2 Demographic characteristics of the respondents

The research study involved a sample size of 50 respondents. The researchers divided the

respondents into different demographic characteristics such as age, gender, marital status,

education levels and occupations in order to get different ideas and avoiding biases.

4.2.1Age of the respondents

The age of the respondents are as shown in appendix 1; where a large proportion of

respondents of about 68% were at age of 50years old and above , 24% were between 36

and 50 years of age also 8% of the total respondents were between 18 and 35 years of age.

Therefore in relation to the age of the respondents’ rates the objective of the study became

successive for 100% because nearly all of the respondents were elders whose in most case

provided actual and accurate information related to research objectives.

4.2.2 Gender of the respondents

The gender characteristic of the respondents is shown in appendix 1; where large

proportions of the respondents were female constituting 52% of the overall respondents.

Also 48% were male. In this circumstance most of the informations were obtained from

female compared to male. Most of these female obviously belongs to the group of ages

xxi
above 50 years old. Therefore the findings concluded that the majority of the affected

people in elders’ care centres in Morogoro Municipality were female.

4.2.3 Marital status of the respondents

The marital status of the respondents is shown in appendix 1; where the respondents of

about 36 percent were widowers. The findings also show that 28% of respondents were

widows while singles constituted 16%. Moreover 10% of the respondents occupied by

divorced where as married taken the rest 10%. Through these results the researchers found

that larger percent of aged people in ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality fall on widowers,

widow or divorced characters as nearly every one of them belong to one among the

demographic characteristics elucidated above.

4.2.4 Occupation of the respondents

The respondents interviewed were engaged in various productive activities while others

were not. The appendix 1.Shows the type of productive activities occupied by the

respondents. The study found that 50 percent of the respondents did not have any

occupation, 32 percent of the respondents were employed and 14 percent were peasants

while 4 percent of the respondents were entrepreneurs. The researchers confirm that most

of aged people in ECC’s do not have any occupation. This conveys the need of community

and Government awareness towards the aged group within their care centres.

4.2.5 Education level of the respondents

Respondents’ levels of education were also considered during the study. Appendix 1 shows

that 30% of the respondents did not acquired any level of education. 26% attended

xxii
primary education only. Also the findings show that 20% of the respondents acquired

secondary education and 16% were at diploma level. Degree level which constitutes small

percent (8%) is acquired by few respondents who obvious are the employed one. These

findings reflect that most of the aged people in ECC’s do not acquire any education level

and others ended at primary level. Therefore the consequences of illiterate among the

community members are also being reflected at elderly stages

4.3 The challenges facing aged people in ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality

Poor health services, according to the respondents health services is one of the challenge

that facing elders in ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality. Since most of the elders blaming

that after going to the hospital, they observe that there is no drugs for their treatment so

they were ordered to buy drugs by their own cost in pharmacy instead of receiving them

free from dispensary, health centers, and also government hospitals as the policy passed by

the government to offer pregnant women and children under five years due to inability

without any cost, so they due to misconception o aged people in Government’s fair eyes

the elders fail to access freely of charge on health services.

Poor basic needs, according to respondents the basic needs also is one of the challenge

facing elders in ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality, including food, clothes and shelter.

Most of them blame that they have unbalanced diet which is not good for their health as

elders who need proper nutrients intake, for example at Fungafunga Government center,

elders proved to researchers that they eat one time per day which is afternoon or evening

while in Mgolole mission center elders eats twice a day but all elders do not get a balanced

diet. Also in all centers have few beds, mattress and rooms enough for all elders and few

clothes hence they are forced to wear one clothes for 3 days or more.
xxiii
Poor water supply, according to the respondents water supply is also a challenge in

ECC’s. The canters have poor water system which in most case results in unclean and

unsafe water. In addition due to delaying in paying water bill sometimes water supply

become scarce within the particular centers. This situation affects the general living

conditions of elders within the centres. There is a need for the Government and other

community development agents to play a great role to evacuate the elderly group, mainly

those in ECC’s

Poor access to informations, according to respondents poor access of information too

were found that is the problem to elders in ECC’s, since they were not aware of most daily

news happen in our country due to poor accessibility of information in their centers like

television, news papers and radio, due to financial problem and poor centers management,

for the reason that through getting access of information it can help them to know different

issues happen in our country, compared to the situation occurred nowadays in their

centers.

4.4 Causes of the challenges facing Aged people in elders’ care centres in Morogoro

Municipality

Poor Government support, the results shows that 98% of the respondents claiming that

poor Government support contributing to the challenges that facing elders in ECC’s in

Morogoro Municipality daily. This circumstances lead most of elders in ECC’s to remain

with no support in attaining their basic needs like food, shelter and clothing. More over the

situation results them into suffering particularly in seeking recovery of the situation. These

results imply that most of the elders in ECC’s are isolated by the Government by making
xxiv
them as prisoners within the specific care centres. Also the results show that the

Government only consider the current productive ages such as the youth as well as the

future productive ages like children. This is mainly seen in the essence of consideration of

their potentialities by establishing ministry of Labour, employment and youth

development as well as ministry of community development, gender and children. All

these substantiate that the government neglects elders group. The result is shown on table

4.0 below.

Poor participation of elders in decision making, 92% the findings from the study

indicates that life hardship of aged people in ECC’s particularly in Morogoro Municipality

is contributed by poor involvement of elders in decision making, mainly on matters

concerning elders’ affairs, in steady most of matters concerning elders’ affairs are being

discussed by the youth and middle ages group. The incidence lead the Government and

other stake holders fail to tackle the actual problems facing elders within ECC’s. The

results imply that the rest members of the community involve much in making wrong

decisions on elders’ affairs. Under this circumstance the core challenges facing elders

group do not gets accurate resolutions. The survey results are descriptively shown in table

4.0 below.

Unqualified caregivers, Elders’ Caregivers refers to the people who are professionals

trained on how to assist and take care elders welfares. 90% of the results shows that ECC’s

in Morogoro Municipality have unqualified caregivers. The particular caregivers are not

trained on matters relating to elders’ care. The results provide evidence that elders are

being jeopardized by misallocation of responsibilities within the community. This

xxv
discussion is supported by one of the care giver at Fungafunga who said that she is a

professional nurse about hospital matters but she has no any training on elders’ care

services. Therefore this does not only create big challenges to care givers but also horrify

living conditions of elders within the particular centres. The actual rates of the findings are

in the table 4.0 below.

Poor centres’ management, the results shows that 84% of the respondents claimed over

poor management of their centres. The research team found that most of the claims were

directed on service delivery, where by donations from donors, Ngo’s, FBO’s and other

community based organizations does not reach the targeted victims (elders).The centers’

leaders have made the centre as the means of earning income from donors. The research

team witnessed in Fungafunga elders’ care centre, where the elders demanded in front of

certain donor to be given amount of sugar on their own rather than to get it indirectly from

the centres leaders. This implies that either the particular leaders are being given very low

wages which create a need to recover it through elders aids or it just lack of patriotism

against elders challenges. The results are descriptively shown in table 4.0 below.

Poor community support, the results indicates that 72% of the respondents condemned

the community by being providing poor support on their survivability. The respondents

argue that unawareness of the surrounding community in Morogoro Municipality have

huge contribution to the challenges that affects them directly and indirectly. Most of them

blamed the seasonal, minimal and delayed (especially during religious festivals) support

being provided by the community to earn their living resources. Therefore the results

xxvi
confirm that the autonomy of elders in nowadays community has been depleted compared

to the past generation in which elders had been privileged opportunity at the entire

community. The descriptive results are shown in table 4.0 below.

Bad traditional beliefs, the study reveal that 64% of the respondent accepted that

traditional beliefs within the ECC’s like witchcraft incidences have also a contribution on

the challenges facing aged people in ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality. Some respondents

argued that the challenges that face them like diseases, lack of income as well as general

life hardship contributed a lot by witchcraft carriers among themselves within the centres.

The findings bear out that the elders in one way or another they are indecisive to convey

their problems for resolution due to believe that the particular problems are resulted from

witchcraft practices. Under this perception it becomes difficult for the community aid

agents to determine the actual challenges and implement measures to address them. The

descriptive of the findings is shown in table 4.0 below.

Table: 4.0 Percentage rates of the causes of challenges facing aged people in ECC’s in

Morogoro Municipality.

Causes Frequency Percentage

YES NO YES NO
1. Poor Government support 49 1 98 2
2. Poor participation of elders in decision making 46 4 92 8
3. Unqualified Caregivers 45 5 90 10
4. Poor centres' management 42 8 84 16
5. Poor Community support 36 14 72 28
6. Bad traditional beliefs 32 18 64 36
xxvii
4.5 Measures to be taken to mitigate the challenges facing aged people in ECC’s

Effective and efficient involvement of elders in decision making, the research team

found that involvement of elders in decision making mainly about theirs affairs is more

important with 82% of the respondents indicating that to be involved in making decision

matters that deals with them directly could be reduced if not to eliminate the challenges

that encounters them directly. This was particularly true when the research team heard

some respondents condemned against top down approach kind of decision.

The result shows that involvement of elders in decision making will enable them to expose

the actual challenges that affect them in different spheres of their life. Therefore the

community, NGO’s, Government and other related organizations should be at frontline to

involve elders in decision making, on development activities that obviously will boost up

their living standards. The description of the findings shown on table 4.1 below.

Establishment of caregivers training centres, The results (80%) shows that availability

of caregivers training centres in Morogoro Municipality will help to provide qualified

caregivers who will solve elders’ challenges equivalent to unavailability of qualified

caregivers. Therefore the community based organizations and the Government should

establish training centres to rescue the elderly social group within the ECC’s. The findings

are shown in table 4.1 below.

xxviii
Effective implementation of elders’ guide policy, 74% of the respondents agreed that if

the 2003 elders’ policy will be implemented the vulnerable living condition among the

elders will be depleted. Most of the elders among the respondents argue that the

government pretend to love and care them by establishing elders’ care policy in 2003

while is no longer to become a law. In order for a policy to be a law must be implemented

within three years after, from being enacted. Therefore under this circumstance the elders’

care policy of 2003 is no longer viable rather it is toothless. The Government should enact

and implement effectively another policy that will promote elders care and protect elder’s

right. Also the Government should establish subsidiary laws that will privilege the elders

in different spheres. The results are in the table 4.1 below.

Establishment of ministry of elders’ affairs, the results shows that 64% of the

respondents suggested that if the Government could establish a specific ministry that will

consider elders’ affairs in broader perspective their problems will be mitigated. As

showing in the table 3.0 below, the research team found that the elders are ambitious to be

under their ministry that could oversee their needs, wants and interests. Therefore it’s the

duty of the Government to establish ministry of elders’ affairs like Ministry of Labour and

youth development as well as ministry of gender, women and children affairs. The results

are shown in the table 4.1 below.

Table 4.1. Measures to be taken to mitigate the challenges facing aged people in

ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality.

MEASURES Frequency Percentage

xxix
 YES NO YES NO

1.Effective and efficient involvement of elders in decision 41 9 82 18

making
2. Establishment of Caregivers' training centres 40 10 80 20

3.Effective implementation of elders' guide policy 37 13 74 26

4.Establishment of Ministry for elders' affairs 32 18 64 36

4.6 Perception of MOROPEO institution on ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality

The research team visited MOROPEO institution that also involves in elders caring

processes but mainly home-based care support. MOROPEO is a private institution that

most of its workers are aged people (retired ones). The study also extracted the findings on

the perception of aged people in ECC’s particularly in Morogoro Municipality. The

findings were elucidated as follows:

Elders’ care centres are like prisons to elders, the study found that most of MOROPEO

leaders perceive the ECC’s in Morogoro Municipality as the special prisons of the elders.

In this case they refer those elders in ECC’s as prisoners without guilty. Therefore the

elders are no longer trust the Government if will not take measures to rescue this age

group in all affairs encounters it in all spheres. As a part of the community not only the

Government that supposed to liberate this group but also the entire community is

responsible to take care of elders staring from the family level.

xxx
Government do not value ECC’s, the findings shows that MOROPEO views ECC’s as a

project that established accidentally by Government and private organization for the

isolated group in the community. Due this accidental establishment that why the

MOROPEO argue that, the Government disvalue ECC’s.

Moreover the MOROPEO leaders propose for the Government to close those ECC’s to

eliminate the imprisonment of elders group in the community. In this perception the

Government should form responsive sight to the elders so as to return hopes of this

excluded social group by introducing betterment living conditions to them.

Some ECC’s leaders make centres as their pockets; also the MOROPEO leaders are

trustless to ECC’s management. Most of them argued that the ECC’s leaders have turned

the centres into their means of earning resources like income, food and others. This

perception is supported by the research team which found that when the community cares

agents came with various Aids most of the elders demanded to acquire it directly from the

provider rather than acquiring them indirectly from the ECC’s leaders.

Therefore the government and community agents should also improve the living standards

of the elders’ caregivers so as to reduce or eliminate the incidence of embezzlements at the

centres.

xxxi
 CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusion

The study results support some generalization that could have some important

implications for the study area and the nation at large. The main focused groups on this

study were aged people ranging from 50 years and above in ECC’s. The study results

prove that this social group encounters many challenges.

The challenges facing aged people in ECC’s were very much knowledgeable by large

number of the elders although the community and Government seem to be blind on the

particular challenges. As the findings of data analyzed reflects that most of elders in

xxxii
ECC’s face many challenges in different spheres of life such as poor accessibility of basic

needs, poor chances in decision making, poor access of informations, poor water supply

and poor health services.

Although elders face these challenges but poor community awareness, poor Government

support and unqualified caregivers are the major causes of the challenges. The researchers

recognized the suggested measures to address the challenges namely; Establishment of

ministry of elders affairs, effective and efficient involvement of elders in decision making,

effective implementation of elders guide policy as well as establishment of elders care

givers training centres.

Additionally, the researchers found that there is unrelated number of ECC’s compared to

number of elders in Morogoro municipality who need assistances. As the researchers

found that there are only two ECC’s which are insufficient to accommodate this social

group.

5.2 Recommendations

The study sort to assess the challenges facing aged people in ECC’s in Morogoro

Municipality. According to the data collected by the researchers recognized that aged

people in ECC’s at the study area are facing many challenges. Hence there is a great need

to reduce or to eliminate these challenges, therefore the researchers suggested some

remedial ways to the challenges such as:

xxxiii
 I. The Government should establish a ministry concerning elders’ affairs so as to

regulate all affairs dealing with elders including formulation and implementation

of effective and accessible elders care policy. In additional, the Government should

widen opportunities for NGO’s and other donors to effectively intervening elders

care services. Also the Government should value the contribution of ECC’s in

capacity building and promoting development within the community.

II. The community should effectively struggle in promoting and maintaining elders’

rights, mainly rights to access basic needs and other social services. Also the

community should play part in discourage poor perception of some community

members toward the elders. The community should keep in mind that elders care is

traditionally the duty of the community members as whole. Therefore should abide

to its responsibility.

III. The elders in Morogoro Municipality should mobilize among themselves and

creates social groups that would enable them to have a common voice to the

Government and the rest community about their rights. With the social groups also

the elders will be in a good position to help each other, to easier access of support

and help from donors, to establish economic projects, to open business so as to

ensure social economic security.

xxxiv
 APPENDIX 1: DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPONDENTS

Distribution of respondents by age Frequency Percentages

18-35 4 8.0
36-50 12 24.0
51 and above 34 68.0
Distributions of respondents by gender
Male 24 48.0
Female 26 52.0
Distributions of respondents by marital status
Married 5 10.0
Single 8 16.0
Divorced 5 10.0
Widower 18 36.0
Widow 14 28.0
Distributions of respondents by occupations
Peasants 7 14.0
Employee 16 32.0
Entrepreneur 2 4.0
None 25 50.0
Distributions of respondents by education level
xxxv
Primary level 13 26.0
Secondary level 10 20.0
Diploma level 8 16.0
Degree level 4 8.0
None 15 30.0
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