HORIZONS PROJECT
A Pilot Community-based Intervention Program to Address the Needs of Elderly Caregivers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Research has shown that HIV and AIDS is placing a substantial burden of care on the elderly. The South African Medical Research Council, Age-in-Action, and the Horizons program are conducting an eight-month study of elderly caregiving in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, in order to develop and test interventions to mitigate the effects of HIV and AIDS on the elderly as well as those for whom they care.

Formative research examined the scope of caregiving by the elderly, and the social, psychological, and economic factors that facilitate and inhibit their ability to provide high-quality care. Based on formative findings, a pilot intervention project is exploring and testing whether a package of services feasibly and effectively leads to:

• Improved care and support offered by elderly caregivers.
• Improved psychosocial outcomes for the caregivers themselves.
• Increased capacity on the part of service providers.

This package of services includes workshops, meetings, and training for the elderly on:

• HIV prevention, stigma and discrimination, reproductive health, sexual violence issues, and improving intergenerational communication.
• Psychosocial issues (e.g., how to support their peers, manage their own dependents, reduce stress).
• Utilization of existing services (e.g., awareness of social support services provided by governments and other groups).

Data currently are being collected from an intervention and comparison group. Results are expected in late 2007.

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Location

Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Duration

March 2006–May 2007

Horizons and Population Council researchers

Katie Schenk, Eka Esu-Williams

Non-Council collaborators

Priscilla Reddy (South African Medical Research Council)

Age-in-Action

Donor

US Agency for International Development

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Related Project

• The Elderly as HIV/AIDS Caregivers: An Assessment of the Burden of HIV/AIDS Caregiving on the Elderly in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

See Also

• South Africa

• Horizons Program

• HIV and AIDS

• HIV and AIDS/Consequences for Individuals, Families, and Society

• HIV and AIDS/Orphans and Vulnerable Children

• HIV and AIDS/Prevention

• HIV and AIDS/Stigma and Discrimination

• Gender and Family Dynamics

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