# Extending Healthy Ageing Narratives in Sub-Saharan Africa: Expert Viewpoint

## TL;DR

This paper highlights the growing challenge of aging populations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the urgent need for better support systems.

## Contribution

The paper provides a novel expert viewpoint on aging in Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the need for age-friendly environments.

## Key findings

- SSA's older population is expected to triple by 2050, stressing existing caregiving systems.
- Informal caregiving is under strain due to urbanization and changing social dynamics.
- Proactive policies are needed to create sustainable age-friendly environments in SSA.

## Abstract

The nexus of rapid demographic transition and underdeveloped geriatric infrastructure poses a critical, yet understudied challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). As global life expectancies rise, SSA’s older population is projected to triple by 2050, intensifying the need for sustainable age-friendly environments (AFEs) and robust healthy ageing interventions. Informal or family caregiving structures, while vital, are under strain from rapid urbanisation and shifting social dynamics, creating a compelling gap between need and provision. This expert viewpoint draws on the authors’ professional and scholarly experience regarding population ageing, AFEs, and healthy ageing to provide a comprehensive outlook on these issues in SSA. Selective literature searches were conducted in Google Scholar, Scopus and PubMed using targeted keywords and MESH terms, including “ageing in Africa”, “ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa”, “healthy ageing in Africa”, “healthy ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa”, “population ageing in Africa”, “population ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa”, “age-friendly environment in Africa”, and “age-friendly environment in Sub-Saharan Africa.” The authors argue that rapid population ageing in SSA is outpacing existing informal care arrangements, necessitating a strategic shift towards the development of age-friendly environments and more coordinated healthy ageing interventions to bridge the widening gap between demographic change and geriatric support systems. This paper underscores the necessity of proactive, evidence-based policy implementation to secure the well-being of SSA’s burgeoning older population.