The impact of hiv/aids on elderly people in Tanzania: a case study of Kilimanjaro Region

HIV/AIDS has huge social and economic impacts to the elderly in Tanzania. Traditionally, adult children have supported their parents in the old age. Because of HIV/AIDS, this role has been reversed. Therefore, this study focused on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the elderly. In carrying this study, data were collected by using self-administered questionnaires, documentary review and informal discussions. The sample for the study included two strects of Moshi urban and two villages of Moshi rural which the elderly were selected randomly. The study found that increasing number of elderly people are not only losing the support that they are expecting to receive from their adult children, but are required to care for their sick adult children and support orphaned grandchildren. This new responsibility put huge pressure on elderly people who must sustain income, nurse the sick and care for the young at high cost to their own livelihoods, health and wellbeing with deteriorating health, low income, and limited information and without any support from their community. The study recommends that support to elderly people must be given to enable them to manage the impact of HIV/AIDS. Addition to informal support networks, professionals and religion can help elders/caregivers explore their feelings and offer support More formal support groups can also be organized for elder caregivers, providing an outlet to counter isolation and share feelings and experiences. Elderly needs to be involved in HIV/AIDS fighting programmes and especially important is for the elder caregivers to be educated about how to prevent themselves when taking care of the infected person so that they can avoid the risk of new infections, and protect themselves and others from HIV itself.