Evolutions of family supports for elders with functional disabilities living at home in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso): attempt to construct a theory of adaptive solidarities in the contexts of the donor and done

Autor: Abdramane BERTHE, Blahima KONATE, Maimouna SANOU & Lalla BERTHE/SANOU
Jazyk: German<br />English<br />Spanish; Castilian<br />French
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Akofena, Vol 07, Iss 12 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2706-6312
2708-0633
DOI: 10.48734/akofena.n012.vol.7.16.2024
Popis: Abstract: Many studies on family support for the seniors suffer from being cross-sectional, focusing only on financial or material support, and concluding that this support is either declining or increasing without considering the context of the donor and the recipient. This study, conducted in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), aims to analyze the evolutions of family support (financial, material, emotional, informational, service) for the seniors. It is a two-year longitudinal study involving 25 families with a senior. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with each senior people and 2 or 3 of their relatives. This study highlights the multifaceted and dynamic nature of family support for the seniors. The results show that financial and material support, mainly provided by children and grandchildren, varies according to available resources and socio-economic contexts. These supports can increase, decrease, or remain stable. Emotional, informational, and service supports, such as assistance with personal hygiene, meal preparation, and accompaniment to medical appointments, are generally provided by cohabiting family members and tend to increase or remain stable, particularly during periods of illness or functional incapacity of the seniors. The dynamics of family support are influenced by various factors, such as the increase in financial resources of caregivers, the marriage of children, cohabitation with the seniors, illnesses, deaths, and the perception of the seniors as vulnerable. Conversely, factors such as the reduction in financial resources of caregivers, inflation, lack of reciprocity, incapacities of caregivers, and family conflicts can decrease these supports. The family remains the main support for the seniors, adapting forms of solidarity according to contexts. The proposed "theory of adaptive solidarities to contexts" stipulates that family support for the seniors and intergenerational solidarity represent perpetual links, constantly adjusting to the needs of donors and recipients. Supports fluctuate according to resources and contexts, demonstrating their adaptive nature rather than a decline. Keywords: Elderly, Family support, Solidarities, Intergenerational solidarity, Caregiver resources
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals