African Sociology of Aging (Sociology focus) | 27 November 2002
One-Year Emergency Room Visits Reduction Following Implementation of Community-Based Elderly Care Models in Lagos, Nigeria: An Analysis
C, h, i, d, e, r, a, O, k, o, c, h, a
Abstract
Community-based elderly care models have been implemented in various parts of Nigeria to address the increasing burden on healthcare systems due to an aging population and inadequate resources. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from healthcare records and qualitative insights from interviews with community leaders and beneficiaries was employed to assess the effectiveness of the models. Emergency room visits among elderly residents in Lagos decreased by approximately 18.5% within one year following the implementation of these care models, highlighting their potential to improve access to essential health services. The community-based elderly care models significantly reduced emergency room utilization rates, suggesting a promising avenue for enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality specifically for elderly populations in Lagos. Policymakers should consider scaling up these successful models across other regions of Nigeria to further reduce emergency room visits and improve overall health outcomes for the elderly population.