ATTITUDE TO AGING AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS IN NIGERIA

Attitude to aging and the aged was surveyed in three groups of Nigeria ns, 1) caregivers living at home with the elderly, 2) various categori es of hospital workers, and 3) the general public. Based on scores of an eleven-hem questionnaire the best attitude was in caregivers, and t he poorest in hospital workers. Years of education had an overall nega tive effect on attitudinal measurement. An inference from this study i s that the elderly are still valued, but caregivers could be under som e stress and would appreciate assistance. It is important for developi ng countries like Nigeria to begin to think seriously of what types of public assistance the elderly and their families would need.