Exploring the Nature of Loneliness among Older People in Rural Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to explore the experiences of loneliness among older people in rural Emmena - Ghana. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 10 older people living at rural Emmena. Some reasons for loneliness were rural-urban migration among adult children, death of friends and family members and retirement. It emerged that the Ghanaian government should implement policies and develop Emmena just as it is in the cities to reduce loneliness. This study adds to the literature concerning how religious ideals influence loneliness among rural older people.

Keywords:

• Thematic analysis
• stigma
• rural-urban migration in Ghana
• rural older people
• religious ideals
• loneliness

Acknowledgment

Many thanks to Dr. Rosalind Willis (Faculty Director of Graduate School, University of Southampton) for her excellent supervision and training in qualitative research methods. Many thanks to all participants for their time and contribution to this study. Not forgetting the recognition of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (UK), as this project was of an MSc. Scholarship. Many thanks to Diana Frimpomaah Fenning.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.