Reach

Southern Africa to the World

We are a team of 35 researchers working in seventeen research sites across four different countries in Southern Africa. The place of care shapes the experience of care, and it allows us to make sense of what care means in context.

South Africa

Our research team in South Africa is based primarily at the University of Cape Town. South Africa has approximately 5.4 million people over the age of 60 who make up approximately 9 percent of the population. This is projected to increase to 20% (approx. 11.5 million older persons) by 2050. The vast majority, almost two thirds of black and coloured older persons live in multi-generational households.

Projects

Family Caregiving of Older Persons in Southern Africa

Transforming Elder Care through Collective Policy Action

GAPA: Mapping Elder Care in Informal Urban Settings

Accessing Social Grants

Malawi

Our research team is based at the University of Malawi in partnership with The University of Cape Town. Malawi has a population of approximately 18 million people, 52 percent are considered to be living in poverty. Eighty-four percent of Malawi’s population live in rural areas (NSO 2019), the vast majority working as smallholder farmers depending primarily on self-sufficiency in maize production for survival.

Projects

Family Caregiving of Older Persons in Southern Africa

Transforming Elder Care through Collective Policy Action

Botswana

Our research team is based at the University of Botswana in partnership with the University of Cape Town. Botswana has a population of just over 2.5 million people. Older persons in Botswana represent approx. 7 percent of the population in 2020 but this is predicted to increase to just under 15 percent by 2050. There is widespread receipt of state pensions in Botswana. The state has a National Focal Point on ageing and a national strategy / plan on ageing.

Projects

Family Caregiving of Older Persons in Southern Africa

Transforming Elder Care through Collective Policy Action

Namibia

Our research team is based at the University of Namibia in partnership with The University of Cape Town. A country with the second lowest population density in the world, Namibia is a vast country, with a population of approximately 2.6 million people. Only seven percent of the population is age 60 and older but this will increase to approximately 12 percent by 2050. Almost three quarters of all older persons are living in a rural area.

Projects

Family Caregiving of Older Persons in Southern Africa

Transforming Elder Care through Collective Policy Action