By Elizabeth Ajamu RN, MSN
The definition of old age is not agreed upon in many places across the globe. The standard of living and the environment plays a role in the numerical age and the biological age. In western countries old age is usually defined based on the age of retirement which spans from the age of 60 (WHO,2015). According to Togonu-Bickersteth, old age is affected by many factors such as a person’s cultural belief system (1987). Whichever the definition, we know that the population of older adults is increasing drastically in developing countries, it is projected by the World Health Organization that the elderly population in developing countries is expected to increase by about 240%.
The need to help is paramount in this population. There is a barrier to seeking health care providers. In a survey of 1,125 elderly done in Nigeria, a developing country in Africa, from June to August of 2004, about 69% of respondents had never visited health facilities, and the other percentage of those who did only saw the doctor about once a year. Medical doctors were the least seen health care providers, this is not alarming because the main barrier in this study to seek health care is poverty and level of education. The health care providers that were commonly sought were “trained nurses, community health extension workers, and village health workers” (Abdulraheem,2007). The survey found that poverty increased the use of family home remedies and patent drug sellers (Abdulraheem, 2007).
The mission of Miracle Touch Nursing (MTN) is to provide high-quality nursing care by giving the aging population better access to holistic nursing care that enables them to live a healthy, safe, and comfortable life. In addition, we provide health awareness, clinical-care, and supportive home health services. MTN understands that the lifestyle of the elderly is changing and this is because their children are moving into the urban areas and they are often left behind in rural communities to fend for themselves. Our goal is to support them and connect them with community resources that is affordable for their health needs. We want to teach and educate them so that they engage in healthy practices that will provide them with a better quality of life.
According to the World Bank Development Prospect Group Report in 2012, remittance to developing countries was $351 billion in the year 2011 and it is expected to grow at an increasing average percentage of about 7.5% yearly. Remittance to Nigeria from abroad alone in 2011 was $11 billion, the highest in Africa. World Bank Report continued to say that these recipients depend on this money for their health, education, survival, and livelihood (2012). A lot of these resources may be misused and sometimes not reaching its appropriate recipients due to different interpersonal issues between family members who may keep the funds for themselves and not for its rightful usage. Issues like these have been seen firsthand by the founders of Miracle Touch Nursing. We want to help those African immigrants who need to have their elderly taken care of. There will be no more middleman. We will take care of your elderly loved one and make sure that the care you want for them is appropriately delivered.