KENYA: “Lack of Adequate Personnel” among the challenges facing Religious Institute taking Care of Elderly Sisters
A section of participants during Hilton Foundation convening
Sr. Anne Henriette Owino, FSSA
Concern for elderly care is one of the topics shared during the two – day conference convened by consecrated women in Nairobi, Kenya under the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for Catholic Sisters Initiative and the research done by the Center for Research in Religious Life and Apostolate (CERRA) and CARA Research Partnership across 4 countries; Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and Uganda show that a number of religious institutes lack enough finances to take care of their elderly sisters.
“Priority challenges faced by religious institute in Kenya, Zambia, Uganda and Ghana in their care of elderly sisters include financial constraints needed for basic needs, proper medical care and proper diet, lack of adequate personal and infrastructure equipped to meet the needs of elderly and sick sisters.”
Fr. Tom Gaunt, SJ the director of Center of Applied Research in Apostolate, Georgetown University and Sr. Dr. Candida Mukundi, ASN the director, CERRA – Africa shared with the participants why a number of religious women are not in active ministry.
“The summary finding shows that in Zambia 32% of sisters are not in active ministry since they are elderly and weak, in Kenya the finding shows that 91% are retired while others with old age health are 89%, in Uganda 53% of sisters are not in active ministry since they are students and 40% of sisters are experiencing health challenges and in Ghana 43% and 30% of sisters are not in active ministry due to retirement and health challenges respectively”, the research shows.
A case study on elderly done by the two partners also indicates that Kenya has hire number of sisters from the age bracket of 41 – 50, followed by Zambia 30 – 40, then Uganda has 31 – 40 and finally Ghana with 31- 40.
In order to solve the problem of elderly sisters in various institutes the research recommends that religious institutes need a “financial support, training of personnel in the care of elderly and sick sisters, possibility of a home to reduce on cost of living and advisory committee to deliberate on priority needs”.
In conclusion, the research partners suggested that their next step is to “expand the research to other countries in Africa, initiate research in India, Vietnam and elsewhere and finally the foundation support for programs to better care of elderly sisters and assist Religious institute to build up their financial resources to care for their elderly members”.
