Don Seeks Training Centres For Elderly Persons’ Welfare

A university don, Prof Ibraheem AbdulRaheem, has called for the establishment of dedicated geriatric training centres across the country to prepare health workers for the unique requirements of the elderly people.

He also emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen geriatric care as the nation’s ageing population grows.

AbdulRaheem of the department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin, made the call while delivering the 294th inaugural lecture of the university titled, “Multifaceted Complexity of Ageing: The Need for Strengthening Geriatric Care.”

He warned that the country must act decisively to address the multidimensional challenges facing older adults.

AbdulRaheem emphasised that ageing presents complex medical, social, and economic demands which require coordinated national action.

“Improving public awareness is crucial for enhancing geriatric care and promoting healthy ageing,” he said.

He also called for sustained advocacy to help Nigerians better understand the needs of the elderly, stressing that effective care for older persons cannot rely on a single discipline.

“A multidisciplinary approach is indispensable because the needs of older adults are multifaceted and require the expertise of various healthcare professionals,” he noted.

He called for the integration of geriatric curricula into medical and allied health training programmes.

“To ensure our healthcare system can care for an ageing population, specialised knowledge in geriatrics must be increased through targeted curricula that improve understanding, develop skills, and reduce the concerns of medical and nursing students,” he explained.

Highlighting the increasing prevalence of multi-morbidity among the elderly, AbdulRaheem urged Nigeria to adopt collaborative care models that bridge health and social support systems.

“The complexity of need that characterises the older population requires collaborative care models. Greater integration across healthcare sectors increases consistency and quality of care,” he stated.