Psychosocial Challenges of Informal Caregivers of Older Persons with Age-Related Disabilities in Ghanaian Rural Communities

Abstract

Most research on informal caregivers has focused on European, Western, urban, and palliative-care contexts. This study explored psychosocial challenges of informal caregivers of older adults with age-related disabilities in three rural Ghanaian communities. Using a qualitative case study design, fifteen (15) caregivers were purposively sampled and interviewed. Caregivers reported psychological challenges-stress, anxiety, depression-and social difficulties, including loneliness, social isolation, financial hardship, and family conflict, worsened by communal norms and limited healthcare access. Findings emphasize the need for targeted social work interventions supporting the physical, mental, and social well-being of caregivers and their care recipients in rural settings.