Social and health problems of the elderly in the city of Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo

ABSTRACT : This study was conducted with the objective of exploring the effects of home-based careby family members on the life satisfaction of elderly people in the city of Bunia. It was carried out using anobservational method in a mixed-method design, supported by a cross-sectional survey technique based oninterviews by questionnaire, combining a quantitative and a qualitative approach.The City of Bunia was thelocation for this study, whose population was made up of elderly people aged 65 and above. The results ofthis study showed that the elderly people who had support from their family members were satisfied withlife and even those with disorders and conditions that came with old age were satisfied. However, thosewithout access to medical covers were less satisfied in life because they were not able to afford thetreatments in the hospitals, which lowered their quality of life. Also, the elderly people feared being aburden to their families whether physically, financially or emotionally. Thus, in order to improve the effectsof home care by family members on the life satisfaction of the elderly in Bunia city, it is desirable toestablish a system of autonomous home care by the family that can provide support to families that haveelderly people with problems or in need of care.

KEY WORDS : Home care, family members, life satisfaction, elderly people