| dc.description.abstract | This study aimed at investigating the nature and extent of resilience among older persons in Kayunga Town Council, Kayunga District. The study specifically sought to: (i) assess the various factors that enable older persons to remain resilient amidst old age challenges and life adversities, (ii) describe the nature of resilience and establish the different resilience strategies that older persons employ to navigate through old age, (iii) identify the constraining factors to resilience efforts of older persons, and (iv) examine the roles played by different stakeholders such as NGOs and government in keeping older persons resilient.
The study involved a sample of 60 older persons, 5 care takers, 3 local leaders, 1 agency representative and 1 Community Development Officer from Kayunga Town Council Kayunga District. Data was collected using an interview schedule, interview guide and key informant guide. Data in quantitative form was analyzed using SPSS and qualitative results were presented in a narrative form.
The findings showed that family support is among the most important factors that help in enhancing the resilience of older persons. Other notable factors that influence resilience of older persons were support of different organizations such as rotary and other community-based organizations, and finances from personal investments. The findings showed that the main challenges affecting resilience of older persons in Kayunga, are; the lack of enough government support, fear of deteriorating health, and inability to work and meet personal needs. Despite the lack of critically designed and evaluated resilience interventions, there are valuable learnings from aspects of resilience among older persons, such as the focus on expressing positive emotions, gratitude, and optimism, the role of social support, and coping with negative experiences by writing or talking about them.
About recommendations, Government should increase the funding for the Senior Citizens Grant under SAGE programme and also make timely release of funds so as to allow all older persons in the country to boost their resilience financially. Also more NGOs should focus and prioritise matters of older persons in order to make them more resilient in life amidst old age challenges for example by designing old-age friendly programmes like adult education for them since they are considered a forgotten and neglected age group. | en_US |
