Margaret Ellen Adamek

In November 2020 an outbreak of ethnically and politically motivated armed conflict started in Tigray and expanded to the Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia, bringing a devastating impact upon civilians and disadvantaged groups. Persons living in those areas, including older adults, were forced to flee and seek refuge at internal displacement centers. Given the lack of scholarship on aging and humanitarian contexts, this study investigated the challenges faced by older individuals fleeing the war zone and settling in internal displacement centers during Ethiopia's armed conflict. A qualitative descriptive study was used in this cross-sectional investigation. Data from the in-depth interviews with 13 older adults were supplemented with key informant interviews and observations. Interview data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the older adults escaping their homes and staying in the displacement center faced food shortages; inadequate shelter, clothing and bedding; lack of sanitation and hygiene supplies; inaccessible health services; social network destabilization; family disintegration; lack of care and support; and psychological stress, all of which negatively impacted their physical and psychosocial well-being. The findings call attention to the need for practical access to social and economic integration of older adults in the aftermath of the war as well as ongoing psychosocial intervention.

Despite rapid population aging, the situation of older adults in Ethiopia has received limited attention from policymakers, leaving older adults with little to no social protection. To understand the impact of the lack of a basic income benefit, this study explored the perspectives of retired pensioners on late life precarity in Addis Ababa. An exploratory descriptive study using interviews and focus group discussions was conducted with 31 retirees age 60 + . Data were analyzed thematically. The findings highlight five major life challenges of retirees leading to precarious lives in Ethiopia: unattended health issues and unaffordable health care; absence of recreational places; lack of respect and feeling disengaged; vulnerable livelihoods; and overlooked value and contribution of older adults. The findings underscore the need to employ intersectional perspectives in future studies for better understanding of inequality and inequity in aging in resource-poor contexts. Furthermore, the findings underline the need for national policies aimed at improving the well-being and quality of life of both retirees and all older adults. By implementing a social protection policy, creating elder-focused community centers, and implementing sustainable income-generating initiatives, Ethiopia can ensure that older citizens receive the necessary support needed to thrive and enjoy a fulfilling late life.

Loneliness emerged in previous studies as a challenge that negatively impacts older immigrants' physical and mental health. Despite the rapid growth of this population in the United States, there is limited knowledge about the loneliness experiences of older African immigrants. This study explored the loneliness experiences of older African immigrants living with their adult children in the United States. In‑depth interviews were conducted with nine participants aged 69‑84. The tape recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis. Findings show that loneliness is prevalent among older African immigrants, despite living with their adult children's family. Four major themes emerged from the study: 1) "Nowhere to go": Loneliness experience, 2) "It makes one sick if one is doing nothing": Consequences of loneliness, 3) "My grandkid makes me happy": Protective strategies, and 4) "If they ask older people to come. I will go there": Way forward in the community. This study provides evidence that living with adult children may not prevent the experience of loneliness for older immigrant parents. Interventions that promote social interactions and embeddedness into the United States community are needed to ensure a good quality of life for older African immigrants.

While several studies from the gerontology and lifespan development perspective address the well-being of older adults, studies that directly pertain to the subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults from a resource-poor context are lacking. This study was conducted to gain insights about older adults' conceptualization of their SWB in Ethiopia. We employed an exploratory qualitative approach to investigate older adults' perspectives of their well-being. Thirty-one participants, 20 men and 11 women, were purposively selected for the study. We used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to collect data. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. The analysis yielded six prominent themes: physical and mental health, family and social interactions, financial stability and security, optimism and autonomy, religious faith and practices, and the opportunity to work and contribute to the community. The study provided insights about older adults' conceptualization of well-being from a low-income country context. Older adults viewed their well-being holistically as a combination of physical, mental, family, social, financial, religious, and community dimensions. The findings point to a need for comprehensive and contextually-relevant psychosocial and economic interventions and rehabilitative plans to enhance older adults' well-being.

The global centenarian population is expected to reach 4 million by 2050, yet little is known about the health status of centenarians in Sub-Saharan Africa. A case study examined the health conditions and functionality of nine Ethiopian centenarians. In-depth interviews revealed that all nine were Orthodox Christians and lived with extended family; eight were male. Aside from minor health complaints, centenarians in rural Ethiopia perceived that their sensory/cognitive functionality was normal until their late 90s. Despite a lack of medical care, the centenarians included two survivors, four delayers, and three escapers. Centenarians in rural Ethiopia were embedded in closely knit, religious, multigenerational households and communities and aspired to live resiliently. These findings call for the consideration of the unique health status of centenarians in Global South nations in their own cultural context.

The global centenarian population is expected to reach 3 million by 2050, yet little is known about the health status of centenarians in Sub-Saharan Africa. A case study examined the health conditions and functionality of nine Ethiopian centenarians. In-depth interviews revealed that all nine were Orthodox-Christians and lived with extended family; eight were male. Aside from minor health complaints, centenarians in rural Ethiopia perceived that their sensory/cognitive functionality was normal until their late 90s. Despite a lack of medical care, the centenarians included 2 survivors, 4 delayers, and 3 escapers. Centenarians in rural Ethiopia were embedded in closely-knit, religious, multigenerational households and communities and aspired to live resiliently. Findings call for consideration of the unique health status of centenarians in Global South nations in their own cultural context.

Forced migration is associated with several challenges. The challenges that refugee women faced in their host countries were numerous. There has been a gender bias in Ethiopian literature on refugees. Refugees are homogenized in the existing studies. The gender differences among refugees have an impact on the challenges of forced migration that they encounter and how they handle them. Moreover, no study has been done on the adaptation challenges faced by Yemeni refugee women in Addis Ababa. This study's main objective was to examine the challenges that Yemeni refugee women faced in Addis Ababa. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to achieve that objective. Thirteen Yemeni refugee women were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide to understand their experiences. Purposive sampling was used to choose study participants. The data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis procedures. The study's findings revealed that refugee women encountered several challenges that were detrimental to their well-being, including language difficulties, limited income and job opportunities, unrecognized identity papers and price increases, and housing problems. Furthermore, refugee women faced social isolation and sexual harassment. The study concluded that the challenges that Yemeni refugee women faced in Addis Ababa had an enormous impact on their well-being, which demands immediate intervention.

The world’s population is aging with the fastest growth in the older population projected to take place in Africa. In this article, we present the challenges of the growing older population in Ethiopia, outline some key changes that are needed to address those challenges, and consider the opportunities that can come about when older adults’ basic needs are met and they are supported in contributing to their communities. Older adults in Ethiopia are faced with multidimensional challenges that call for collaborative efforts from different stakeholders at local, regional, and national levels. However, some measures should be given the utmost priority: combating negative attitudes toward older people, strengthening geriatric/gerontology and social work education and research, and developing aging-specific policies and services. Although the challenges faced by older adults in Ethiopia seem like a problem of aging compounded by poverty, the root source of the problem is a poverty of policy fueled by ageism. If income support and appropriate health care was provided to older adults throughout Ethiopia, health and well-being in late life would improve, food and housing insecurity among older adults would lessen, and all Ethiopians could anticipate a dignified late life.