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Impact of Elderly Social Support Centres on Social Participation among Older Adults in Nigeria

Abstract

Social participation is an important component of healthy ageing and may contribute to emotional wellbeing, social connectedness, functional independence, and quality of life among older adults. Older adults may experience social isolation and reduced participation in community activities because of retirement, loss of spouses or friends, physical limitations, chronic health conditions, financial difficulties, changes in family structures, and reduced opportunities for social interaction. Elderly social support centres provide structured environments where older adults can participate in recreational activities, peer support groups, health promotion programmes, skills development, cultural activities, counselling, and community engagement. However, limited availability of such centres, inadequate funding, transportation challenges, low awareness, and insufficient trained personnel may affect their accessibility and effectiveness in Nigeria. Against this background, this study investigates the impact of elderly social support centres on social participation among older adults in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Activity Theory of Ageing, Social Support Theory, and Social Ecological Model. Activity Theory of Ageing proposes that continued engagement in meaningful social, recreational, and community activities contributes to satisfaction and wellbeing in later life. Social Support Theory emphasizes the importance of emotional, informational, instrumental, and companionship support in maintaining social connectedness and coping among older adults. The Social Ecological Model emphasizes the interaction between individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and environmental factors in shaping opportunities for social participation. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how elderly social support centres may influence social participation among older adults in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise adults aged 60 years and above residing in selected urban and rural communities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, local government areas, communities, elderly social support centres, and eligible older adults. Elderly social support centres will be assessed using indicators such as availability of social support services, frequency of centre activities, accessibility of facilities, recreational programmes, peer-support groups, health promotion activities, counselling services, cultural and social activities, skills-development programmes, community engagement opportunities, transportation support, and availability of trained personnel. Social participation will be assessed using indicators such as frequency of participation in social activities, attendance at community events, participation in religious and cultural activities, involvement in recreational activities, interaction with peers, participation in volunteer or community service, engagement in group activities, maintenance of social networks, and perceived social connectedness. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, validated social participation and social support instruments, centre attendance records, programme registers, and relevant community documents. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, utilization of social support centres, and patterns of social participation. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the impact of elderly social support centres on social participation. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, social participation scores before and after participation in centre programmes may be compared to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that elderly social support centres have a significant positive impact on social participation among older adults in Nigeria. Older adults who regularly participate in activities provided by social support centres are expected to demonstrate greater involvement in social, recreational, cultural, and community activities than older adults without access to such centres. Peer interaction, organized group activities, counselling, recreational programmes, and community engagement opportunities may reduce social isolation and strengthen social networks. Accessible centres may also provide older adults with opportunities to develop new relationships, maintain existing social connections, share experiences, and participate in meaningful activities. However, physical mobility limitations, transportation difficulties, financial constraints, low awareness, cultural expectations, inadequate facilities, and limited availability of social support centres may restrict participation. The study therefore expects accessible, affordable, inclusive, and well-organized elderly social support centres to contribute significantly to improved social participation among older adults in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on elderly social support centres, social participation, healthy ageing, social isolation, social connectedness, older adult wellbeing, community-based ageing services, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, National Senior Citizens Centre, state ministries and agencies responsible for social welfare, local government authorities, community organizations, healthcare providers, non-governmental organizations, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for promoting healthy ageing. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for expanding elderly social support centres, improving accessibility and transportation support, strengthening recreational and peer-support programmes, increasing community awareness, training personnel in older adult support services, and integrating social participation initiatives into community-based healthy ageing programmes across Nigeria.

Keywords: Elderly social support centres, social participation, older adults, healthy ageing, social support, social isolation, social connectedness, community engagement, older adult wellbeing, Nigeria, public health.