Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
(where siblings live independently without a co-resident adult relative)
(Samuels and Wells, 2009; Evans, 2011). Data from Demographic and
Health Surveys from 24 countries in sub-Saharan Africa indicate that
41 per cent of older adults (aged 60 or over) live with a grandchild
under the age of 15 years (Zimmer and Dayton, 2005). Of these grand-
parents, almost 14 per cent live with one or more grandchildren with-
out any co-resident adult children and most of these households are
headed by grandmothers living with young children in rural areas
(Zimmer and Dayton, 2005).
The number of skipped generation households is expected to increase
in the future because of the continuing impacts of AIDS-related
orphanhood and the intensification of negative shocks such as conflict,
natural disasters and emergencies associated with climate change
(Samuels and Wells, 2009). Older people may be disproportionately
vulnerable during crises because they are more likely to have chronic
illnesses and sensory, physical and cognitive impairments; are at risk
of abuse and neglect; and there is a lack of understanding of their rights
and entitlements (Samuels and Wells, 2009). Little research to date has
investigated the livelihoods and coping strategies of such skipped gen-
eration households, the role of community-based support structures,
and emergency preparedness and responses.
It is important to recognize, however, the active contributions that
older people make to society, including the transfer of wisdom, knowl-
edge, cultural values and skills to younger generations (Lloyd-Sherlock,
2004). Research suggests that in the context of stigma and changing kin-
ship responsibilities, grandparents - particularly grandmothers - play a
crucial role in caring for widows living with HIV and children who have
been orphaned by AIDS (Evans and Thomas, 2009; Nyambedha et. al.,
2003). Children and elderly grandparents living in skipped generation
households often share caring and domestic responsibilities and develop
close, loving relationships that enhance the emotional well-being of both
children and older people (Clacherty, 2008; Evans and Becker, 2009).
203
Older People's Participation and Rights
The important contributions that older people make to their families and
communities, and hence to development itself, has been acknowledged to
some extent in development policy and practice in recent years, due in
