Exploration of service centres for older persons in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.
Ntsikelelo Pefile, Bomkazi Fodo, Seyi Amosun
PMID 35169651WHAT IT FOUND
Most older people attending these rural centres were independent and socially active, but few had access to health screening.
Managers lacked formal training, and only one centre had on-site nursing staff.
Key findings
01The majority of surveyed members were women, reported adequate social support, and engaged in regular community activities like worship and social clubs.
02Health screening services were scarce, with less than 40% of centres offering checks for vision, hearing, falls, cholesterol, or blood pressure, and only one centre having on-site nurses.
03Centre managers reported insufficient funding and lacked formal training, with over half receiving only unstructured instruction on topics like conflict management and home-based care.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used convenient sampling for members, recruiting only those present on the day of data collection, which may have excluded frailer individuals or those with risk behaviours. Data collection was stopped early due to a motor vehicle accident and fieldworker withdrawal, resulting in only 25 of the 88 selected centres participating. The sample represents a very small fraction of the total older population in the province, limiting generalizability. Self-reported health data, particularly regarding falls, showed inconsistencies that may reflect reporting error or misunderstanding of questions.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these centres provide adequate healthcare monitoring. The study found that most lacked basic health screenings and nursing staff, meaning reliance on these centres for medical oversight is unsafe.