International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)International Project Grant
Final ReportMay 2019
Collaboration for International field practicum for Social Work education in support ofelderly care in Nigeria
Executive Summary
The department of Social Work and Human Services through the Head of Department,
Augusta Y Olaore PhD, L.M.S.W submitted a proposal titled, ”Collaboration for International
field practicum for Social Work education in support of elderly care in Nigeria” in May 2016 toIASSW. The $4000 grant was awarded in August of 2017 with a first disbursement of $1500
received on September 22, 2017. The grant enabled two Social Work Students and afaculty from Babcock University Nigeria, to travel to Savannah State University, Georgia
USA to participate in a field practicum in agencies that provide care for the elderly. TheInternational exchange program was from January to May 2018. The students conducted
their final year research project in issues that pertain to the care of the elderly in Nigeria. Theinternational field placement enabled both faculty and student to gain exposure in bestpractices in care of the elderly and were motivated to enhance social services to seniorcitizens in Nigeria.
1. Co-ordinating and Delivery GroupDr Augusta Y Olaore (Babcock University, Chair Department of SWHS); Dr Roenia Deloach(Savannah State University, USA); Dr Uzo Anucha (York University, Canada); Dr Juliet Drolet(Canada)
A very special thanks to IASSW for the grant approval and what has been disbursed so far.
All monies were utilized to directly facilitate the project as proposed. Appreciation also goesto Babcock University for the additional support that enabled a second faculty to mentor thefield supervisor.
2. Rationale and purpose of the project
HIV/AIDS and poor quality of life of an increasing ageing population are two national social
problems in Nigeria (WHO 2003, UNAID 2015). The traditional structures of family
members caring for the aged is being eroded due to urbanization, competitive job markets,mobility etc (Okoye 2012). The aforementioned problem is further aggravated by the lackof skilled social work professionals with exposure to social aspects of HIV/AIDS in geriatriccare.
Social Work is a young and developing profession inn Nigeria. The Nigerian Social
Workers are still seeking governmental recognition and affirmation as a profession. This
reality has impacted the awareness and appreciation of the Social Work Profession in thecountry. Furthermore, the training and professional preparation of Social Workers throughHigher Educational programs also struggles for recognition in amongst other helpingprofession. Most Social Work Programs have been housed in other academic units suchas Sociology, Nursing, Public Heath etc. in Nigerian Universities with curricular that aremere adaptations of that of the host departments. It is only until recent times that the1National Universities Commission developed a minimum bench mark for the accreditationof Social Work programs. In spite of these realities Institutions such as Babcock University
and the University of Benin, strive for academic excellence for the existing Social Workprograms through collaborations with other schools outside the country. The goal is tobroaden the horizon of students through exposure to best practices both in Africa andglobal North. With field practicum being the pedagogy of Social Work Education, Babcock
University provides field placements for social Work Students that will provide hands onpractical experiences across the various areas of specialization. While there are quite anumber of agencies for medical, industrial, school, and forensic social work, there arelimited agencies for geriatrics Social Work practice. Babcock University in response to thestated social problem of poor quality of life for the Nigerian aged population sort for theIASSW grant for assistance in funding geriatrics related International field placements forSocial Work Students. The need to provide field practicum opportunities to social work
students to observe and understudy best practices in other parts of the world is becameparamount.
Prior to now Babcock University Students and their families have been responsible for100% of the cost of international student exchanges since 2014 which included fieldplacements in agencies which has included but not limited to, geriatric care in the UnitedStates based on an existing MOU with the Savannah State University in SavannahGeorgia and a Hospice Agency in South Africa. However the recent recession in thecountry and the astronomically increased USD value to the Nigerian Naira jeopardized thefinancial ability of students and their families to self-sponsor the exchange program while
they maintain enrolment at the University. The IASSW grant provided a subsidy thatensured the continuity of the exchange program.
3. Description of the process of implementation
Upon the award of the grant, the participating Universities was informed. Six Students whohad elected to go for the pre-existing international exchange program at the Savanah State
University were asked to select their placements of interested without being told about thegrant. Two students indicated their interest in geriatric field placement. One of the students
unfortunately was not granted an American Visa and was replaced by another student who
had been granted a visa. The students then officially applied to the department for thegrant stating the reasons for their interest in gerontology Social Work. The departmentthen approved their application. The names of the student were submitted to theSavannah State University Field Faculty for possible matches with gerontology social workplacement. The students travelled to the United States in January 2018 to resume at theSavannah State University for the spring semester. The students were also enrolled in aclass on Social Work Practice with the Aged, taught by Savannah State University.
By February 2018, the students were matched with 2 agencies. The Economic Opportunity
Authority (EOA) and Community Care Home.
3.1 Overview of the Placement Supervision
1. Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA)
EOA is situated at 618 West Anderson Street, Savannah, GA 31415. EOA was created in1964 and had 54 years of service in the state of Georgia, educating, advocating and providing
outstanding programs for the elderly in Savannah.
2EOA provides financial and social services to the older adults, financial in terms of stipend formeals and subsidies for gas and home bills and social services in terms of interaction withchildren for self-fulfilment. They also plan and sponsor conference attendance for them toenhance their intellect and wellbeing.
2. Community Care Home
Community Care Home is a private non-profit agency and is situated in 5208 Abercon Street,
Savannah GA. It is a live-in-home for the elderly from 60years and above. The care homeprovides Health services and social services but mostly health care services because
individual in the care home already have money and retirement benefits so they pay for careand health services for baths, meals and other assistance rendered in the care home.

3.2 Participants
The two student participants were Sharon James-Ogunji and Tomiwa Arogundade. Dr Rita
Ezeokoli from Babcock University and Dr Felicia Toogle from Savannah State University
provided field supervision. Dr Julie Drolet from University of Calgary and Dr Uzo Anucha fromYork University, were consultants on the project. Dr Augusta Olaore, the chair from Babcock
University collaborated with Dr Roenia Deloach the MSW Coordinator at Savannah State
University were the liaisons for the Participating Universities.

3.3 Project Outcome
Both Tomiwa and Sharon were able to advocate for the use of an electronic device to monitor
falling for senior citizens at the Economic Opportunity Authority.
As a result of the international field placement funded by the IASSW grant, the students
conducted research projects in the area of Elderly care. The projects reflected how their
exposure to services to Senior citizens in the United States of America can be beneficial toelderly care in Nigeria.
Sharon’s topic was A Comparative Assessment of Geriatric Support Services in Oyo State,
Nigeria and Savannah, Georgia USA. The goal of the study was to comparatively assess thegeriatric support services available in Nigeria and USA using Oyo State and SavannahGeorgia as case study. The study objectives were to:1.
Comparatively assess the financial support services available for the elderly in Oyo
State, Nigeria and Savannah Georgia, USA.
2.
Compare the extent of social support services provided for the elderly in Oyo State,
Nigeria and Savannah Georgia, USA.
3.
Compare the level of exposure of the elderly to information access so as to enhancetheir intellectual capacity in Oyo State, Nigeria and Savannah Georgia, USA.
4.
Comparatively assess the availability transport services for the elderly in Oyo State,
Nigeria and Savannah Georgia, USA.
Her study showed significant disparity between the governmental financial support, social
support, access to information and availability of transport services to Senior citizens in Oyo
State Nigeria and Savannah, Georgia. She concluded that Nigeria as a nation grapples with3

the dilemma of eroding family support for the elderly and the inadequacy of out of homeservices. She therefore recommended the following:
1. Policy makers should expedite action on the policy implementation to cater for the care ofelderly people in the country.
2. It may be necessary for government of the country to consider establishing neighbourhood
adult day care centres where elderly persons can meet each other during the day which ismanaged by trained and qualified social workers and other health care professionals.
3. There should be suitable transportation services for the elderly to facilitate access to shops,
attend church services, keep appointments with doctors and dentists, visit friends, andmaintain contact with the family. This is important for those who can no longer drive or use
public transportation.
4.There should be framework for supportive and protective care that comprises those services
provided to frail, ill, or disabled older people to support them and their caretakers maintaining
their capacity to live in the community.
5. There is need for social workers to update their knowledge about quality care for the older
adults as they work with the elders, their families, and the caseworkers for the frail anddisabled elderly in the community. They should provide services to institutionalized agedpersons.
6. There should be specialized certification programme for care-givers and social worker in
old people’s homes, hospitals and other government agencies with specific focus on healthand social care for the elderly in the country and West-Africa Sub region.
7. The Federal Government of Nigeria should expedient actions towards the passage of social
work bill for social workers in the country to improve quality of care of the elderly. This will
enable a well-structured monitoring evaluation exercise to address some sharp practices
among NGOs, social workers and care-givers in the country.
Tomiwa’s topic was the “Impact of Post-Retirement Anxiety on the Psychosocial Wellbeing ofPensioners in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria”. The study
examined how post retirement anxiety impacted the psychological wellbeing of retired seniorcitizens in the section of a city in Nigeria. Tomiwa utilized the backdrop of his International
field placement in the United States as a reference point for his study.
The results from his study showed that lateness in paying of pensions and gratuity, the inabilityof pensioners to meet up with their financial needs, feeling of loneliness and loss of prestige
as a result of retirement significantly impacted the psychosocial well-being of pensioners in
Ibadan North Local government. This factors were anxiety producing in the pensioners.
He concluded by recommending that pensioners should be educated about the realities ofpost retirement life before they retire. While the government is to be enjoined throughadvocacy to be prompt in disbursing retirement benefits, retirees should also be exposed toinvestment opportunities that may boost their post retirement financial capacities.
4.
Direct Outcome of Project and Next Steps
As a result of the international field education, both the student participants and thesupervising faculty were exposed to the disparity between the services available to the elderlyin the United States compared to Nigeria. They were motivated to conduct researches in thoseareas of deficit such as social support, transportation and alleviation of post retirement anxiety.
Both students obtained A and B scores on their projects. The faculty has indicated an interest
4

to engage in further exploratory research and has applied for a Fulbright Scholarship to that
effect. There is also a proposal to set up a model senior citizen’s assisted living facility thatcan be replicated in different parts of the country.
5.
Conclusion
The IASSW International Field Education grant funded an experience for both student andfaculty that became an eye opener to the possibilities that are available to improve the qualityof care for Senior Citizens in Nigeria. The two students and faculty who were funded by thegrant were able to travel to the United States of America and participated in a gerontology fieldplacement as part of their exchange program. Both Students completed their final year
research project as a follow up to the field placement.
Sincere gratitude goes to the IASSW team for approving the proposal and granting the funds.

5Appendix 1PicturesEOA Executive Director and Babcock University Faculty

EOA RSVP Supervisors, Babcock Faculty and interns

6

EOA RSVP Supervisors, interns, Babcock Faculty and Executive Director

EOA Staff, Babcock Faculty and Gerontology interns

7

James-Ogunji, Sharon and Arogundade, Tomiwa presenting their proposed electronic device
to monitor elderly falling to EOAJames-Ogunji, Sharon presenting the electronic device

8Community Care HomeDr Ezeokoli; James-Ogunji, Sharon and Director of Community Care HomeDr Ezeokoli; James-Ogunji, Sharon and Director of Community Care Home9