From the Horse's Mouth: Two Old Men Talk About Their Aging Experience in Kenya

The aim of this study was to gain gerontological insight into the world of the old from the four perspectives of chronological aging, biological aging, psychological aging and social aging at a micro-level. This is intended to be used to enrich gerontological care policy in Kenya. The issue of the older population has generally been characterized as a problem. Pervasive ageist stereotypes of older people as uniformly frail, burdensome, and dependent are not supported by evidence and therefore limit society's ability to appreciate and express inherent human potential and social capital. The methodology will be purely qualitative and descriptive. Narrative interviewing/In depth interviews method will be used in collecting data from two old males living in Kisumu County, Kenya. While findings from this research may not be generalized due to the limited sample size, it will enrich the field of gerontological care in Kenya as gerontology becomes increasingly important. Results support the literature that contends that old people are not a homogeneous lot, and that each is unique. The need for choice and preference in service provision for the old is underscored. Policy should therefore be cognizant of the importance of choice in gerontological care.