| Summary: | Older persons as the fastest growing group form part of the vulnerable population
groups in the North-West Province of South Africa of whom some are infected, but
mostly affected by HIV/AIDS that yields them vulnerable due to biophysical-, socioeconomic-
psychological-, environmental- and lifestyle factors. The researcher,
active in the community, observed that support to the older persons is neglected. To
provide sustained support to the older person in the world of HIV/AIDS is an
enormous challenge for the local organisations in the community. In spite of existing
structures and the ideal of joint efforts between the formal health services and the
informal community structures, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is increasing with a
tremendous influence on the older persons as caregivers and the main supporters in
their households. This should alert all communities and organisations at local level to
initiate planned action towards forming partnerships within the community. It means
stakeholders in the health services and the community of the older persons works
together in an effective manner. There should be a partnership-relationship between
the older persons in the community as key stakeholders and the local community based-,
faith-based-, non-governmental organisations, public as well as private
community sectors as the other stakeholders who aim to generate a suitable climate
where the older person's point of view is valued with the negotiation of key decisions.
The aim to explore the understanding of community-based collaboration for the
support of the older person in the world of HIV/AIDS crystallised through the
exploration and description of the needs and expectations of the older persons
infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS as well as the facilitating and impeding factors
the older persons experienced in their households. To fulfil the aim ultimately, it was also necessary to identify and describe the existing networks and support programs
available as well as the perceptions of the different stakeholders involved in
mentioned networks and support programs on community-based collaboration.
A quantitative survey was executed to explore and determine the health profile of the
older persons in the community and a qualitative research design was chosen to explore, describe and interpret human experience. The older persons, as well as the
different stakeholders in the community, express meaning to the researcher about
their lived world of HIV/AIDS to assist the researcher in the quest to understand what
community-based collaboration to support the older persons in the world of HIV/A1DS
should entail. Data was collected through personal research interviews and focus
groups during which unstructured and semi-structured questionnaires were used.
The findings in the study presents the reader with a summarised and clear
understanding into the health profile, their needs, expectations, and experiences of
existing strengths and impediments in the households of the older persons. The
explored and described perceptions of the different stakeholders identified in the
community on collaboration, contributed to the conceptualisation and formulation of
guidelines to operationalise community-based collaboration to support the older
persons in the world of HIV/AIDS. === Thesis (Ph.D. (Nursing))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.
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