About Us

    The Family Caregiving programme is the first major programme dedicated to understanding family care of older persons in the Southern African region. This five-year programme aims to support family care by improving our understanding of how family care is experienced in the region.

    In working with academics, policymakers and NGOs from the region and beyond, we aim to improve the attention and support family caregivers and older persons receive locally and regionally. Our data will help us understand how family members’ social relationships shape care by examining the financial, social and health consequences of care. By investigating challenges to carers’ and care receivers’ relationships, we aim to better inform how the state, communities, NGOs and individuals can support family care.

    The Research Study

    The Family Caregiving  research study adopts a qualitative longitudinal explorative approach to understanding family care in the Southern African region.

    Our study explores caregivers and care receivers experience of family care of older persons in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Malawi.

     More specifically we explore the concept of ‘familialism’, by thinking about the intended and unintended consequences of familialist policies in a region where so much intergenerational family care takes place. We are interested in exploring the racial, class and gender dynamics that underlie caregiving of older persons.

    Key research questions

    • Who cares for older persons in terms of financial, practical, and social support and how does this vary across the region?
    • What forms of care do the different individual, familial, community and state actors provide?
    • How do older people and caregivers experience, contribute to or challenge family care in their everyday lives?
    • What are the key differences in care giving and receiving across the region and how does this vary along key social divisions.
    • How can family care be better supported?

    Research Design

    The research project is a multiple-case qualitative longitudinal study of family care of older persons across four countries in Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Malawi and Botswana). The study seeks insights into the experience of family care that is better suited to a longitudinal design which includes a prolonged engagement with older persons and their families. We will be running in-depth qualitative interviews with 80 families in each country. We will be interviewing caregivers and care receivers in each family and asking about their experience of giving and receiving care, how care was negotiated and how care is financed.

    Public Engagement

    An expansive public engagement and collaborative approach which builds partnerships with communities, NGOs, government officials and the wider media to increase awareness and increase attention on the issue of family care of older persons. A focus on public participation and knowledge production with older persons is a critical element of the programme. Previous research indicates that the role of the family in caring for older persons is critical for improving their wellbeing but it is often made invisible, hidden from public discussion and debate. The aim of the public engagement programme is to actively engage with the public through different local, national and regional organisations and media to ensure an open discussion and improved understanding of family care and wellbeing of older persons in Southern Africa.

    Researcher Development

    A researcher development focus which creates a supportive environment for researchers to progress in their careers. An essential part of the programme is to create an environment where all members of the team have the chance and space to develop their capabilities as social scientists. The research development programme aims to support the research and wider professional skills required by social scientists.

    Whilst the research is based in the areas of families, care and social protection, our approach to research development mirrors the interdisciplinary nature of the research team by combining different seminars, reading groups, workshops and meetings with the aim of supporting scholars in multi-dimensional ways of being a researcher in social science. Researchers on the team will have the opportunity in participating in writing workshops, methods training sessions, radio shows, community focus groups and workshops etc.

    All researchers will be invited to our regular seminar series and reading groups. At the same time, we will make sure that the type and support offered by the programme meets individual’s needs too.

    Workshop Series

    The workshops series is for all research members on the team and includes a wide range of interactive seminars, workshops and talks on a range of topics covering all parts of being a researcher such as writing fieldnotes to writing articles and funding applications, as well as designing curricula and supervising students.

    Reading Group

    The reading group will meet to discuss and cover key reading on African feminism and families, social protection and recognition, care ethics and Ubuntu as well as many more topics. Each session will be facilitated by a leading feminist scholars in the field.

    Press Room

    Are you a journalist seeking expert comment on family caregiving or older persons issues or The Family Caregiving Programme?

    MEDIA REQUESTS:

    A/Prof Elena Moore: elena.moore@uct.ac.za

    Vayda Megannon: vayda.megannon@uct.ac.za 

    (For non-media requests or general comments, visit Contact us)