Presenter(s):

Lowna Gie, North-West University, South Africa

Abstract

As the share of older persons rises in South Africa (SA), quality long-term care (LTC) services that are sufficiently funded and staffed are needed to support and supplement family care and to strengthen formalised LTC. At the same time, youth unemployment remains a major development challenge. Although typically considered separately, these two issues could be addressed together to contribute towards developing a LTC economy that meets older persons’ care needs and increases access to decent work for women and men in the LTC sector. In recent years, the first iterations of policies in this direction have emerged in SA. However, little is known about whether unemployed youth are interested in LTC work.

Our study aimed to explore the aspirational motivations and attitudes of unemployed youth (aged 18–34 years) in a resource-deprived community (Orange Farm) in Gauteng, SA, regarding their willingness to work as paid social care workers for older persons (PSCWs). We conducted a quantitative study using a co-created, study-specific questionnaire developed with input from academic experts, local youth, and relevant literature. Fifteen youth from Orange Farm were trained as fieldworkers. A combination of non-probability and quota sampling was used to recruit participants. The same procedures were followed for both the pilot (15 participants) and final (237 participants) questionnaires. Fieldworkers recruited participants, screened them for eligibility, obtained informed consent, and administered the questionnaire. Data collection was completed within five days. The data were subsequently entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using Stata. Ethics approval was obtained from North-West University (NWU) (ethics number: NWU-01124-21-S7-01).

Results showed that 91.1% of participants were willing to consider working as PSCWs. No significant gender differences were found, suggesting that willingness may transcend gender. Participants also appeared to be highly motivated to work in the sector. In terms of attitudes, nearly all participants (strongly) disagreed that only women should care for older persons and (strongly) agreed that men can work as PSCWs. These findings are unexpected given the challenges of recruiting and retaining PSCWs and the highly feminised nature of the LTC sector. However, they provide an initial indication that both male and female youth in Orange Farm may be willing and motivated to work as PSCWs. This suggests a potential supply of human capital to meet the growing demand for LTC and highlights the opportunity to invest in quality LTC services and workforce development in the area.

However, such development risks leading to exploitation if precarious working conditions in the sector are not urgently addressed. Adequate investment by government and the private sector could help develop the LTC economy by creating decent work opportunities for PSCWs – especially for youth – while also meeting the LTC needs of older persons.

Bio(s):

Ms. Lowna Gie is passionate about contributing to the well-being of older persons and their caregivers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). After completing her MSc, she worked for approximately 15 years in the non-profit sector, with a focus on the rights and well-being of older persons. In 2021, Ms. Gie enrolled in a PhD in Social Science (Ageing and Development) at North-West University (NWU), South Africa. Her PhD research explores how the motivations and attitudes of unemployed youth considering work as paid care workers for older persons may inform understanding of the long-term care (LTC) economy in Gauteng, South Africa.

Additionally, Ms. Gie works as a consultant. She has served as a project manager and researcher on NWU–Gauteng Government collaborations, including the development of the first iteration of the Gauteng LTC Economy Strategy and a study on the housing needs of older persons in the province. She has also worked as a research assistant for Project ISCA, which investigates infrastructures of care created for and by older persons in SSA.