This study explored the lived experiences of older caregivers in Botswana, focusing on their coping mechanisms and the impact of caregiving on their health and well-being. A total of 30 older adults (aged 60–81 years; 83% female) were recruited using snowball sampling for in-depth interviews, with data saturation reached at 18 participants. Caregivers were drawn from both rural and urban districts, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

 

Findings revealed that older adults assumed caregiving roles out of a deep sense of cultural duty, as traditional Setswana values emphasize intergenerational care and family responsibility. Many participants cared for grandchildren due to the absence of their adult children, often caused by unemployment, urban migration, or diaspora relocation. While caregiving provided emotional fulfillment and reinforced their role as family anchors, it also resulted in physical and mental health strain, with many caregivers reporting exhaustion, stress, and worsening chronic conditions.

 

To manage these challenges, older caregivers employed various coping strategies, including seeking support from religious organizations, neighbors, and extended family. Some relied on traditional practices and community-based networks for emotional and material assistance. However, the erosion of extended family support systems due to modernization and economic pressures left many struggling with financial hardships and limited access to healthcare.

 

The study highlights the urgent need for culturally responsive policies and support programs that enhance the well-being of older caregivers. Strengthening community-based care, improving healthcare access, and providing financial and psychosocial support will be essential in ensuring that older caregivers in Botswana can sustain their caregiving roles while maintaining their own health and quality of life. Recognizing and integrating indigenous caregiving practices into formal support structures can further bridge the gap between traditional expectations and contemporary caregiving realities.

Magen Mutepfa is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences, at the University of Botswana, where she teaches psychology and public health courses. She is a registered psychologist with over a decade of cross-disciplinary experience in psychotherapy support services, research, and policy advocacy.

Previously, she was a teaching assistant in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney (NSW) and a recipient of the Australian International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and the Australian Postgraduate Award.

Her primary research interests include health and well-being, HIV and AIDS, abuse, aging, with a current focus on Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) in older adults with HIV.

Magen has received three prestigious research awards:

1. Master’s Dissertation Award (2001) – University of Zimbabwe.

2. Graduate Scholar Award (2014) – Presented by Aging and Society, Manchester, UK.

3. National Research Excellence Award (2023) – Mental Health category older adults, awarded by the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge, and Technology, Botswana.

She is the co-founder and director of Ageless Inspirations Botswana, a UN-accredited charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of older adults. Through her research, advocacy, and mentorship, Magen remains committed to shaping policies and interventions that enhance the well-being of aging populations.