THE ELDERLY PEOPLES’ PERCEPTION REGARDING THEIR PSYCHOSOCIAL WELLBEING IN SELECTED MAINSTREAM CHURCHES IN AFFLUENT KAREN-LANGATA, KENYA

Abstract

There is a global concern about the exponential growth of the aging population, which must be put into perspective. By 2019, there were one billion people who were 60 years of age or older. This study investigated the elderly peoples’ perception of their subjective wellbeing in selected mainstream churches in affluent Karen-Langata, Nairobi, Kenya. The study used a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach. Purposeful sampling method was used to select 11 respondents in the in-depth interviews and 12 respondents in the focus group discussions (FGDs). The population of the study was the category of the young-old who were 60-75 years old. Verbatim data was transcribed, and descriptive themes were generated to show individual perspectives. The study established those changes in family relationships, elderly autonomy, and environmental mastery impacted the elderly perception of their psychosocial wellbeing.  Some older children who lived with their parents supported them financially and with daily tasks, this had a positive effect on their psychosocial wellbeing. The National government should spearhead policies that ensure workers are given financial education to help them set goals while in employment to prepare for old age. To help the elderly improve their psychosocial wellbeing, mental health professionals like psychologists, counsellors, and marriage and family therapists should be availed to them. The church can organize talks and forums on healthy aging, healthy grieving mechanisms, and setting up structures and programmes for better support to the elderly.