Experience of Christian Congregation on Older Persons Care and Support Using Internal Capacity in Addis Ababa: Case Study of Semen Meseret Kirstos Congregation.
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Date
2016-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Populations are growing older throughout the world. This makes the case of older people an
emerging concern for policy makers, decision makers, and implementers globally. According to
2007 census, the proportion of older people in Addis Ababa was 5.1%. All International,
regional, and national documents have acknowledged scarcity of knowledge in the area and
recommend for researches. And similarly these documents primarily suggest community based
arrangements for elderly care.
Semen Meseret Kirstos congregation (SMKC) has been taking care of 125 older persons through
mobilizing purely internal resources. The objective of the study is to assess the experience of
SMKC, Addis Ababa Region, on older people care and support using the internal capacity of the
congregation. A qualitative, descriptive case study method with non-probability purposive
sampling technique was used. In addition to the secondary data, four key informants, 15 clients
have been interviewed using semi-structured guidelines. Observer participant method also used
to attend five home visits, two coordination team meeting, and one shelter renovation
programme.
The major findings of this research are the congregation has understood the situation of elderly
in their locality and also able to recognize and mobilize the internal capacity. The study also
reveals that the whole programme is built around voluntarily gathered coordination team. The
admission criteria lacks standardized written document and the programme do not consider
dependents under the elderly. The research has implied further investigation on the role of local
associations on elderly care and support, it also implicates the social work education and practice
to involve in community based elderly care and support programms. This paper primarily
recommends for bridging role to be played by the congregation
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Social Work