Doctor Urges Better Care for Ageing Parents

As Nigeria’s demographic landscape evolves and life expectancy gradually improves, medical experts are issuing a clarion call for families to adopt structured, proactive healthcare plans for their ageing relatives. Dr. Akinlawon Olamide, a medical practitioner and the Medical Coordinator at the Victoria Island Medical Centre, OneHealth by AXA, has strongly advocated for a paradigm shift in how geriatric care is approached, emphasizing the need for holistic, preventive strategies over reactive, emergency-based interventions.

In a recent interview, Dr. Olamide highlighted the growing phenomenon of the "sandwich generation"—working adults who find themselves simultaneously responsible for raising their own children, advancing their careers, and providing care for ageing parents. He noted that the responsibilities of elder care extend far beyond the occasional hospital visit. Modern caregiving often requires meticulous management of daily medications, coordination of multiple specialist appointments, continuous monitoring of chronic health conditions, and the navigation of complex healthcare systems.

“Families naturally want the best for their ageing parents, but many are also managing careers, raising children, and fulfilling other important responsibilities,” Dr. Olamide observed. He warned that without a structured approach, these compounding demands can lead to caregiver burnout and, more critically, overlooked health deterioration in the elderly.

To mitigate these risks, Dr. Olamide emphasized that geriatric care must be fundamentally holistic. Ageing inherently brings more complex healthcare needs, particularly for individuals managing chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or arthritis. Therefore, regular, comprehensive health assessments are not merely optional; they are vital. 

“Geriatric care should look at the person as a whole,” he explained. “We have to consider not only their medical conditions but also their mobility, nutrition, mental well-being, medication management, and the broader support system available to them.” 

He stressed that routine evaluations enable healthcare providers to detect subtle changes in an older adult’s cognitive function, physical stability, or nutritional status long before they escalate into severe, life-threatening emergencies. “Regular health assessments are important because they help us understand changes in an older person’s health and identify concerns early, before they become more serious,” he added.

Recognizing the practical challenges faced by modern families, Dr. Olamide announced that the Victoria Island Medical Centre, OneHealth by AXA, has introduced a specialized Geriatric Wellness Package designed to alleviate this burden. The comprehensive package is tailored to provide structured, end-to-end healthcare support for older adults. It includes vital signs and anthropometric measurements, detailed medical and functional wellness evaluations, targeted laboratory investigations, and age-appropriate cancer screenings. 

Furthermore, the package incorporates social support assessments to evaluate the patient’s living environment and caregiver capacity, followed by thorough post-test reviews and specialist consultations. To enhance accessibility for families with demanding schedules, the package also integrates telemedicine services, allowing for convenient follow-ups and continuous monitoring without the stress of frequent physical travel.

Dr. Olamide’s overarching message is one of proactive empowerment. He advised families to resist the common cultural tendency to only seek medical intervention when a crisis occurs. “Families should not wait until there is an emergency before they begin planning for the healthcare needs of their ageing parents. Preventive care allows us to act early and plan better,” he urged.

By embracing structured geriatric care, families can ensure that their elderly relatives maintain their dignity, independence, and quality of life for as long as possible. For the caregivers, it provides peace of mind and a clear, manageable roadmap, transforming the daunting task of elder care into a supported, informed, and deeply rewarding family endeavor. As Nigeria continues to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare, prioritizing the wellbeing of its senior citizens remains a profound measure of societal maturity and compassion.