Ogun Commissioner Urges Establishment of Elderly Care Homes to Prevent Premature Death and Isolation
The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, has called for the widespread establishment of elderly care homes across the state, stating that such facilities are essential for improving the lifespan, health, and social well-being of senior citizens.
Decline of Traditional Support Systems Hurting the Elderly
Adeleye expressed concern over the eroding culture of community-based caregiving, where older citizens were once nurtured within extended family networks. Speaking on Sunday at the commissioning of Bayink Care-Home in the Adigbe area of Abeokuta, she warned that the neglect of the elderly is leading to serious issues like dementia, loneliness, and even untimely death.
“We are a community-based society where everybody used to care for each other,” she said.
“But now, with parents going to work and children chasing livelihoods, the elderly are often left alone and unattended to. It’s affecting their mental and physical health.”
Big Houses, Empty Lives: A Cultural Shift with Consequences
The Commissioner criticized the current trend where families build large houses for their aged parents but fail to provide meaningful companionship or care.
“We think building a big house for our aged parents is enough. But what happens when they’re there alone with a teenage house help who can’t relate to their stories, emotions, or experiences?”
According to Adeleye, elderly care homes offer an environment where older people can engage with peers, share stories, and stay socially and emotionally active.
“Being Old Doesn’t Mean Life Has Ended” — Bayink Founder
Founder and CEO of Bayink Care-Home, Mrs. Olayinka Odumosu, echoed Adeleye’s concerns. She emphasized that old age should not mean the end of a purposeful life.
“Our aged parents still have rich memories, valuable stories, and the need for companionship,” she said.
“We must cherish them while they’re alive, not just throw grand parties when they’re gone.”
Odumosu urged Nigerians to prioritise intentional care, affection, and attention toward elderly family members, noting that a supportive, social environment can drastically improve the quality of life in their later years.
Looking Ahead: A Wake-Up Call for Nigerian Families
With Nigeria’s population of elderly citizens steadily growing, the call by Adeleye and Odumosu highlights the urgent need for formal support structures especially in urban and semi-urban communities where traditional systems are fading.
Establishing elderly care homes may soon become a critical public policy issue, not just a private family choice.
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