An assessment of coping mechanisms and passage of leisure time the case of pensioned older people in gulele sub city

AN ASSESSMENT OF COPING MECHANISMS AND PASSAGE OF LEISURE TIME: THE CASE OF PENSIONED OLDER PEOPLE IN GULELE SUB-CITY By: Maaza Araya A Thesis Submitted to School of Social Work, Addis

AN ASSESSMENT OF COPING MECHANISMS AND PASSAGE OF LEISURE TIME:

THE CASE OF PENSIONED OLDER PEOPLE IN GULELE SUB-CITY

By: Maaza Araya

A Thesis Submitted to School of Social Work, Addis Ababa University Presented in Partial

Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master Social Work

Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa Ethiopia June, 2017

AN ASSESSMENT OF COPING MECHANISMS AND PASSAGE OF LEISURE TIME:

THE CASE OF PENSIONED OLDER PEOPLE IN GULELE SUB-CITY

By: Maaza Araya

Advisor: Messay G/Mariam (PhD)

A Thesis Submitted to School of Social Work, Addis Ababa University Presented in Partial

Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Social Work

Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa Ethiopia June, 2017

DECLARATION

This is to certify that the thesis prepared by Maaza Araya entitled: An assessment of coping mechanisms and passage of leisure time: the case of pensioned older people in Gulele sub- city submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work

complies with the regulation of the university and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality

Approved by examining board

Abstract

In Ethiopia little attempts are made to study about elderly Thus, this research is intended to explore the coping mechanisms and leisure time passage of pensioned elderly in Gulele-sub-city The study used exploratory qualitative case study design Research participants were selected via non-probability purposive sampling technique and data was collected through the use of an in-depth interview, FGD, observation and document review Data was analyzed by usingthematic analysis The study findings indicated that income from pension is unsatisfactory to live with as a result the elderly engaged in different post-retirement and income generating activities for their survival Moreover, informal support system has significant relevance for them Looking to their leisure time activity there are no such facilities in the study area where they feel forgotten as a result The study will have relevance for different stakeholders such as government to improve services provided for the elderly in relation to income, incentives and establishing leisure time facilities appropriate for the elderly

Key words, Elderly, Pensioned, coping, Leisure

Acknowledgement

I thank God for seeing me through this crucial phase of my life, which was both

demanding and interesting This study was only possible with the support and contributions of several individuals

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my thesis supervisor, Dr Messay

G/Mariam forhis valuable comments that heprovided me, his support, encouragement and

guidance I appreciate your courage and willingness to guide me through this study My gratitude also goes to Dr AshenafiHagos for his kindly support

My thesis also could not be true without the participation and support of the research

participants (Pensioned elderly persons) and government officials

I wish to thank my husband, Sami for being patient and supportive all through this study

I thank my Mom, Hariya and my sister, Rahwa (my life) for your prayers which have brought me this far Most especially, I thank my Dad who always is my teacher and gave me strength,

mentor, encouragement and support I would also want to thank my friends for being true friends (Temesgen Lencha, HundieTakele&MahletEndalku) and my sister in- law Fannafor their

support provided me in editing and emotionally

This thesis is dedicated to my two sons Hiyaw and Aaron who are my inspiration and support whenever I feel weak And, for the time taken from them I love you so much

Table of Contents

Contents

Pages Abstract i

Acknowledgement ii

Table of Contents iii

Acronym and abbreviation vii

Chapter one 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Background of the study 1

1.3 Statement of the problem 3

1.4 Objective of the study 6

1.4.1 General objective 6

1.4.2 Specific objectives 6

1.5 Research questions 6

1.6 Scope of the study 7

1.7 Significance of the study 7

1.8 Operational definitions 8

Chapter two 9

2 Literature review 9

2.1 Introduction 9

2.2 Definition of elderly 9

2.3 Perceptions about old age 10

2.4 Types of pension plans 12

2.4.1 Pension in Ethiopia 13

2.4.1 1 Pension Rights in Ethiopia 13

2.5 Aging and income 13

2.6 Support systems of elderly persons 15

2.7Leisure time passage of elderly 16

2.8 Community engagement of older persons 17

2.9Post retirement jobs 18

2.10 Theories of aging 18

2.10.1 Disengagement theory 18

2.10.2 Continuity theory 19

2.10.3 Activity theory 20

2.11 National Policies related to elderly and pension 21

2.11.1 National Policies on elderly 21

2.11.1.1 National plan of action on older persons /1998-2007/ 21

2.11.2 National social protection policy of Ethiopia; 21

2.12 Chapter Summary 22

Chapter Three 23

3 Research methodology 23

3.1 Introduction 23

3.2 Research Design 23

3.3 Area of the Study 24

3.4 Eligibility criteria 24

3.5 Sample Size and Sampling 25

3.6 Method of Data Collection 26

3.6.1 Key Informant Interview 26

3.6.2 Focus Group Discussion 26

3.6.3 Observation 26

3.6.4 In-depth Interview 27

3.7 Data Analysis 27

3.8 Quality Assurance 28

3.9 Ethical Consideration 29

Chapter Four 30

4 Data Presentation 30

4.1 Brief description of research participants 32

4 2 Current Pensioned Allowance 37

4 3 Coping mechanisms 38

4 3 1Poultry 38

4.3 2 Vegetable 39

4.4 Post retirement jobs 39

4.4.1Engaging in formal jobs 40

4.4.2 Engaging in non-formal jobs 40

4.4.3 Barrier for retired persons not to work 40

4.5 Formal and informal supports 41

4.5.1 Supports emerged from various types of relationships 42

4.5.2 Community based organization „Idir” 44

4.6 Engagement of elderly persons 44

4.6.1 Community organization 45

4.6.1.1 Idir, Iqub and Mahber 45

4.6.1.2 Elderly forum 47

4.6.2 Consumer‟s cooperatives 47

4.6.3 Elderly associations 48

4.6.4 Other participations 49

4.6.4.1 Conflict resolution 49

4.6.4.2 Development activities 50

4.6.4.3 Arrangement of Marriage proposals 50

4.7 Leisure time activities of elderly 50

4.7.1 Where the retirees pass most of their day 50

4.7.1.1 Home 50

4.7.1.2 Church 51

4.7.1.3 Reading and movies 51

4.7.2 With whom they spend most of their time 51

4.7.3 Availability of leisure time facilities / activities 52

4.7.4 Leisure time activities and facilities preferred by elderly 53

4.7.5 The benefits of recreation centers or leisure time activities 54

4.8 Chapter Summary 54

Chapter five 56

5 Discussion 56

Chapter six 66

6 Conclusion and social work implication 66

6.1 Conclusion 66

6.2 Social work implication 67

6.2.1 Implication for Social work education 67

6.2.2 Implication for Social work Research 68

6.2.3 Implication for program and policies 68

6.2.4 Implication for Social Work Practice 69

References x

Annex

Acronym and abbreviation

AIDS: Acquired immuno deficiency syndrome

CSA: Central Statistics Authority

EEPNA: Ethiopian Elderly Pension National Association

FGD: Focus group discussion

HIV: Human Immuno Deficiency virus

ILO: International Labor Organization

MoLSA: Ministry of Labor and Social Security

NGO: Non-Governmental Organization

PSSA: Pension and Social Security Authority

SNNPR: Southern Nations & Nationalities peoples Region

UN: United Nations

WHO: World Health Organization

Chapter one 1.1 Introduction

The purpose of this research paper is to explore the coping mechanisms and passage of leisure time for the pensioned elderly in Gulele sub-city district 03, 04 and 05 It has six

chapters In this introductory chapter, the background of the study, the statement of the problem, the objectives of the study, the scope of the study, significance of the study and operational meanings in relation to the current study such as definitions of elderly, pensioned, retirees and leisure time are presented

1.2 Background of the study

The world population continues to grow older rapidly as fertility rates have fallen to very

low levels in most world regions and people tend to live longer When the global population reached 7 billion in 2012, 562 million (or 8.0 percent) were aged 65 and over In 2015, 3 years later, the older population rose by 55 million and the proportion of the older population reached 8.5 percent of the total population From 2025 to 2050, the older population is projected to almost double to 1.6 billion globally, whereas the total population will grow by just 3.4 percent over the same period (Wan He, Goodkind, & Kowal, 2016)

It is inevitable that the ageing population of Africa will continue to grow for a number of decades into the future The increasing number of ageing people in Africa is a demographic phenomenon linked to decreases in fertility and mortality and is not merely the consequence of economic development Projections suggest that the number of people over the age of 60 will increase from 64.5 million in 2015 to 103 million in 2030 to 205 million in 2050 These figures indicate that the growth rate of the elderly population will be exponential (Pillay & Maharaj

In Ethiopia, the 2007 Central Statistical Authority report shows that 3,565,161 (4.8 per cent) of the total Ethiopian population are 60 years and above Of these, about 532,093 (14.9 per cent) live in urban areas, whereas the rest 3,033,068(85.1 per cent) live in rural areas of the country (Help age, 2013).Aging is taking place alongside other broad social trends that will affect the lives of older people Economies are globalizing, people are more likely to live in cities, and technologies evolving rapidly Demographic and family changes mean there will be fewer older people with families to care for them (Global health & aging, 2011)

Population aging generates many challenges and sparks concerns about the pace of future economic growth, the operation and financial integrity of health care and pension systems, and the well-being of the elderly Population aging has implications for various types of pension systems Publicly funded pension systems face serious challenges, as the number of beneficiaries

will increase while the number of contributors will decline (Bloom, Boersch-Supan, McGee, &

Seike, 2011)

For most of the world‟s population, the right to income security in old age is unfulfilled,

and considerable inequalities persist Globally, 42.2 per cent of the working-age population is currently potentially covered by existing laws that provide for old age pension coverage through contributory or non-contributory schemes (including voluntary coverage) This population can therefore be expected to receive an old-age pension once reaching the prescribed age, if these laws are properly implemented and enforced In lower-income countries, usually only a very small proportion of those employed are wage and salary earners with formal employment

contracts, and are thus relatively easily covered by contributory pensions (ILO, 2014)

In response to limited coverage of the contributory pension system, some developing countries have adopted non-contributory “social” pension schemes to provide a basic income for

older persons The programs differ in the nature and extent of benefits provided as well as in eligibility criteria Social pension programs that provide wide coverage and relatively generous benefits can greatly reduce the risk of poverty in old age Even when benefit amounts leave some recipients below the poverty line, such pensions reduce the depth of poverty and can lead to improved health and nutrition for everyone in the recipient‟s household (UN, 2011)

1.3 Statement of the problem

There are various studies concerning the elderly Among these, Powel& Khan (2013) conducted study about aging and globalization They concluded that changing the age structure

of societies has affected the labor force participation of societies; which is the rise of aged

population globally could threaten productivity and the ability to support aging population They also put the need for strong commitment of countries to utilize resources for the wellbeing of elderly by providing social pensions or restructuring workforce to accommodate older persons at workplace however, they did not indicate the mechanisms to do so

AbdSamad & Mansor (2013) in their study population aging and social protection they addressed that the old age group is getting bigger due to low population growth and increasing average life span

Kasiram & Holscher (2015) studied about the challenges and opportunities of the elderly They founded that the structural problems experienced by the elderly in S Africa are poverty, prevalence of HIV/AIDS, unemployment and crime abound Due to these structural problems the elderly are required to care for others such as grandchildren However, they indicated the need for further researches in order to generalize

Gutura (2013) studied the impact of old age grant His finding was that the old age grant plays vital role for households by contributing significantly to household expenditure

Likewise Morries (2014) in the study of elderly feminization poverty, analysis of

retirement benefit, health care benefit and elder care giving indicated that women collect less money in social security benefits, receive smaller pensions and accumulate small private savings which leaves them with fewer resources upon retirement The study only focuses on women

Dhemba (2013) in the study of social protection for the elderly: the issues, challenges and prospects in Zimbabwe, he indicated that among all other vulnerable groups anti-poverty

measures such as public assistance, pension, other benefits and social welfare programs are compromised by low coverage for the elderly And, he concluded that the need for the review of the old age pension act

Dahiya, Ashwanti, Shahida Praveen and Hari pal singu (2011) looked about the social factors affecting the elderly persons They concluded that old age has not been a problem

psycho-in India because of the support and respect for the elderly

On the other hand, regarding pension, Mudrazija, (2006) in the research entitled pension system reform theory and empirical study puts pension among the most important social security programs in the world And, that mature programs of pension contribute to increased equality and prevent the elderly from abject poverty Besides, the size of population receiving pension benefits relative to working age is increased and the need for pensioned reforms by countries is addressed

Tiwari ( 2010) also studied the relevance of old age pension in the lives of the

beneficiaries and stated the economic relevance of pension which is enabling and empowering from economic point of view and socially that it is the independent source of income

Klumb (1999), studied on the concept of daily activities and survival at old age where he found consumptive activities were related to survival in persons aged 70 and above

Letner&Leitner (2012), studied about leisure in letter life by giving emphasis to the provision of leisure services for elders who are moderately impaired or low functioning Their study was intended to provide useful information for leisure service providers

Similarly, Novak &Vute (2013), conducted study about leisure time activities for women over the age of 65with the aim of determining their preferred activities According to their finding women dedicate most of their time to gardening, watching T.V, reading and meeting with relatives and friends while their activities related to sport included hiking, walk, cycling and general exercise

Ayana (2012) in his study of who will take care of the elderly reciprocal relationships break down, his findings indicated that the reason behind the breakdown of reciprocal

relationship and how the elderly people survive under such circumstance

Getenet (2015) in his study of aging and retirement among Ethiopia elderly, adjustment challenges and policy implications draws in to conclusion that the retired elderly have difficulty

in adjusting retirement with reduced income and weakened social ties He also put implication for further studies on how the elderly could continue to live and to explore what coping

strategies retires have been using to cope the situation moreover, he proposed the importance of

Generally speaking in Ethiopia little attempts are made in the area of elderly persons, and particularly there are no researches that showed how the pensioned elderly have managed to live with scarce income and it is also hard to find studies that show where and how the pensioned elderly people pass their leisure time as the Amharic word of „Turetgana‟ which stereotypically meaning „true tegna‟ or enough time to sleep has implied

1.4 Objective of the study

1.4.1 General objective

The general objective of the study is to explore survival mechanisms and leisure time passage of pensioned elderly persons

1.4.2 Specific objectives

 To assess the economic condition of the pensioned elderly

 To explore means of survival for the pensioned elderly

 To examine various support systems

 To explore how they spent their leisure time

 To assess the efforts to engage pensioned elderly persons

1.5 Research questions

This study answered the following questions in order to address the research objectives

 What is the earning from pension schema?

 What are the formal and informal cares provided for them?

 In what ways do the elderly spend their leisure time?

 What are community based activities that pensioned elderly engage?

 What are the coping mechanisms of the pensioned older people at times of difficulties?

1.6 Scope of the study

The study is delimited to pensioners who live in Gulele sub city district 03, 04, 05 due to

shortage of time and resources As there are very limited studies conducted in Ethiopia

addressing concerns about the elderly this study only tried to assess the coping mechanisms of pensioners with low income and tried to explore how the pensioners spent their spare time

though other studies could also assess the significance of various types of pension schemes for the elderly from the countries context or concepts such as assessing available incentives for the elderly or others Moreover, the study focused on the perspective of the pensioners themselves

with only a glimpse assessment of the policy makers such as officials from social security

agency and EEPNA leaders

1.7 Significance of the study

As all of us will reach late life at a time under normal circumstance, it is every bodies business to think for the future and one of the ways is through pension thus, the study tried to answer the coping mechanisms of the pensioned elderly with the little income earned from

pension through efforts made on their own and informal supports provided for them

Additionally, the study looked how the elderly spent their spare time and their contributions to the community Addressing the above mentioned studies partially (as only the study covers limited area), it could contribute by being a baseline for other detailed studies moreover; the implication and recommendation of the study could also benefit policy makers as

an input for further actions

1.8 Operational definitions

Elderly: elderly people (aged) are taken as those who have attained a minimum age, generally

60 years,

Formal work: Activities the elderly are engaged in to generate income monthly

Informal work: Activities the elderly are engaged in to generate income on a daily bases

Leisure: Relaxation activities that engage someone during free time when they are in retirement

Pension: a fixed amount, other than wages and salaries, paid at regular intervals to a person in

consideration of past services

Retired: A person who has finished one's active working life and /or above the age of 60 or in some cases 55

Chapter two

2 Literature review 2.1 Introduction

This chapter presents a review of relevant literatures particularly definition of elderly in different context, the perceptions about elderly in society, activities performed by elderly and the leisure time facilities and activities provided for senior generations Relevant theories of aging are also discussed This chapter serves as the background for the other chapters as it provide with knowledge part and previously conducted studies The sources for the reviewed literatures were books, journal articles, policies and different thesis

2.2 Definition of elderly

There are many definitional, conceptual and methodological problems in discussing elderly people However, elderly people (aged) are taken as those who have attained a minimum age, generally 60 years, although some international data sets and commentaries may prefer to use 55 or 65 years Eboiyehi, (2015)

Most developed countries have generally accepted the chronological age of 65years as the definition of an „older person‟ WHO, (2009) Aging is recognized as a socially constructed concept, encompassing not only chronological years, but also biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and spiritual processes, as well as cultural ethnic and gender differences (Cohen, 2002) Age can be defined by the social roles one occupies, by a person‟s level of physical ability, by a subjective assessment of how old one feels, as well as their chronological years Barrett&

(Cantwell, 2007)

The term 'elderly' or older person has different meaning in different countries; it is mainly explained and is related to chronological age, functional age as well as retirement age According

to the UN definition older persons are those people whose age is 60 years and over The

definition has gained acceptance in Ethiopian context as it coincides with the country's official retirement age (MoLSA,2006)

2.3 Perceptions about old age

Age-related stereotypes are often based on beliefs held about the characteristics

associated with older people and ageing, and people‟s perceptions of the position older adults occupy in society (Lichtenstein, Pruski, Marshall, Blalock, Liu& Plaelke, 2005)

Along with the image of the aged towards themselves the aged have an image of the way the rest of society perceive them Aging is judged by different criterion indifferent societies and the way the aged are perceived or treated varies from society to society (Sijuwade, 2009)

As cited by (Moscovici, 1984, 1988) Löckenh off et al (2009,) social representations theory the views of old age held within a given culture are a form of shared cultural

representation They constitute systems of ideas, values, and customs related to old age that is treated by members of the society as if they were established reality Perceptions of old age are multidimensional in nature It encompasses both positive and negative characteristics (Hummert, 1990) and reflects a mix between accurate depictions of age-related changes and distorted views

of older people (Kite, Stockdale, Whitley, & Johnson, 2005)

Ageing focus on three perspectives, and these are negative: the topic itself is classified as really “not interesting”; secondly, ageing is considered as time to suffer for those considered as old and, thirdly, since older persons are thought to be people with “nothing tangible to do in life”

then what they do best is engage in witchcraft - at least from the African perspective and

especially for older women

However, while there are predominant negativity perceptions exists much to the

detriment and dignity of the aged, other different and quite interesting views are also prominent Some sections of society seem to express great interest in discussing and proposing possible solutions to problems aged per-sons are facing and also pilot to create awareness about issues on ageing to improve their livelihoods and coexistence in society However, such efforts are often hindered by lack of the means to do so (Mapoma & Masaiti,2012, pp 109)

In some cases young people describe senior citizens, elderly men, and elderly women as

„„sickly,‟‟ „„fragile, ‟marginalized,‟‟ „„not socially valued,‟‟ and „„dependent.‟‟ These images can

be related to the idea of loss of physical vitality „„fragile, dependent,‟‟ „sickly‟‟) and to the impression of a progressive relegation from society („„marginalized,‟‟ „„not socially valued‟‟).In respect to the „„healthy/sickly‟‟, although in general senior citizens, elderly men, and elderly women are perceived as sickly people, mostly elderly men are the worse addressed (Cathalifaud,

2008 pp 113)

In traditional African society, the aged are respected as they are perceived to be the mediators between this world and the next, the representatives of the ancestors and creators and the guardians of the cultural traditions This belief made people cater for them and hold them in high esteem Africans believe that old age was an ancestral blessings bestowed on those who live righteously It is thus culturally acceptable that the aged who are unable to defend for them must

be catered for by the young if they (the young ones) expect to grow old Thus, the ability of the aged persons to cope with changes in health, income, social activities depends to a very large extent on care and support they receive from the young family members

It was not amazing that children take care of their aged parents no matter what their perceptions and feelings towards the latter may be (Eboiyeh,2015)

In what we could call a “Pan-Ethiopian” culture, older people are most commonly seen as wise, worthy of carrying responsibility, resolvers of conflicts (peace makers), community

advisers, persons with great experience and authority (seasoned in specific expertise), and a lot

more positive traits What comes to mind when we hear the Amharic word „shimagile‟ (literally,

old man) is often a person who would resolve conflicts and make peace Accordingly, the

process of resolving conflicts through arbitration have come to be called „shimgilina‟ similar

difference is also given to older women (Help Age, 2013 pp 5-6)

While in almost all Ethiopian communities older women play significant role as

traditional birth attendants and advisers on child-raising, there are many localities where older women take part in conflict resolution, too (Help Age,2013 pp 5-6)

2.4 Types of pension plans

Pension plan: a pension (or retirement income) plan (arrangement or scheme) is a legally binding contract having an explicit retirement objective (or - in order to satisfy tax related

conditions or contract provisions - the benefits cannot be paid at all or without a significant penalty unless the beneficiary is older than a legally defined retirement age (Yermo,2002 pp 3)

There are four types of pensions in Sub-Saharan Africa: (i) non-contributory pensions or transfers in old-age assistance which may be universal, pensions-tested or otherwise means-tested(Zero Pillar); (ii) mandatory contributory pension schemes (1st or 2nd pillar); (iii)

voluntary, regulated occupational or personal pension savings and insurance arrangements (3rd pillar); and (iv) other informal voluntary savings arrangements and household assets, savings or transfers to support the elderly (4th pillar) Under this typology, civil service pension schemes

are classified under occupational-pension schemes even though many such schemes in sub Saharan Africa are non-contributory Contributory schemes may be entirely pay-as-you-go with contributions financing benefits; partially funded with some reserve accumulations; or fully (pre) funded with funds set aside for all pension liabilities (Dorfman,2015)

2.4.1 Pension in Ethiopia

The prevailing type of security system in Ethiopia is the government sponsored Social Security system Formal social security system in Ethiopia dates back to the formulation of the Pension and Social Security Authority (PSSA) in 1963 (Pubic Service Pension, Proclamation N 209/1963) This decree covered only the military and civil service workers Only government employees were covered and large portion who were employed in the informal sector, the private sector or is self-employed excluded until the current decree (Kokobe,2015 pp 2-6)

2.4.1 1 Pension Rights in Ethiopia

Law provides for both full and early pension For full pension, a worker must have attained 60 years of age (same for women) with at least 120 months (10 years) of contributions Early pension is available for workers who have attained 55 years of age with at least 300

months (25 years) of contributions and 45 to 55 years of age (depending on rank), in military, with at least 10 years of service and contribution ( Pension Proclamation No 715/2011)

2.5 Aging and income

Older people are consistently among the poorest in all societies, and material security is therefore one of the greatest preoccupations of old age (Kalassa,2005 pp 7).The retirement benefit given to employees at retirement is inadequate in the face of the present market situation thus; Employees and retirees should be encouraged to invest in assets and financial instruments

so that at retirement they can earn additional income from these assets and financial instruments

to supplement their pension income at retirement (Iyortsuun & Akpusugh,2013)

Income varies across the older population in Ireland and from the factors that may

influence income the time since retirement is also important i.e., those most recently retired have the highest household incomes, partially because they are likely to have working spouses in the household but also because levels of savings and lump sum payments are depleted over time the rate of depletion stabilize roughly 10 years after retirement (Sullivan & Layte, 1999)

In Ethiopia data about old age is highly unavailable hence, there are no figures that document actual number of older persons living in poverty Nearly half a million people are entitled for pension benefit and meager income they receive is not sufficient to fulfill their basic necessities and their income level is below standard of living (Assefa & Frehiwot, 2003)

There is no universal old age pension in Ethiopia However, some older persons who had been in government services received a monthly pension for which the recipients shared the amount of pension they receive was insufficient for achieving a sustainable livelihood The amounts were too low to cover more than minimal household needs This reinforces the

conclusion that provision of pensions for older persons is only one aspect of ensuring sustainable livelihoods, the other being the implementation of appropriate, replicable and diversified

livelihoods schemes for older persons (Help Age, 2011)

Social class has a major impact on the lives of older people Social class is linked to income with those in lower social class being more likely to live in poverty and low income continues to affect a substantial proportion of older people; having an adequate income is a prerequisite for meeting our needs This means that we are able to afford such thing as nutritional

food, good housing, heating, mobility, leisure and recreational services This increases

independence, autonomy, choice and participation in the community (Crawford & Walker, 2004)

2.6 Support systems of elderly persons

Family help is common for older people particularly in time of illness and exchange of services Children and relatives visits are common among old people whether or not they live under a single roof Living together under a single roof with their Children and grandchildren is unusual in industrialized societies and are becoming less common in transitional societies as well Joint living is not the most important factor governing the relationship between old people and their grown children Rather, it is the emotional bond between parents and children that is of

primary importance (Shanes, 1979)

Family support can come from different kinds of relations including children,

grandchildren, siblings and other relatives Spouses also provide support to each other Family members may live with an older person in the same household (co-resident), in the same

community, or in another part of the country or of the world The nature of the support provided can also vary significantly and includes cash, goods, in-kind support or care It also varies in regularity (Help Age, 2016)

Elderly people are more likely to look first to spouses, next to adult children, then to other relatives and friends, and finally to formal services for support The last-mentioned

generally come into play solely when no informal network is available (Cantor, 1979)

Mboga (2014) on the study in Kenya about social support for retirees by government, the community or any other stake holders, the study found that it‟s indicated that there are no any form of support apart from the pensions received and consequently had not received any support

In a study conducted in parts of Ethiopia such as Amhara, Oromya & SNNP it is

indicated that the families are still believed to be the main source of care for older people Older people without family support end up begging in the streets or living in destitute condition around religious places Family members and relatives, community members, government institutions, and NGOs are the main sources of care and support The types of support include: food, shelter, clothe, cash, medication and the likes (Help age, 2013)

It is unlikely that the family will lose its important role in the next years The role of the family need not consist only in the provision of care, but also in securing the required help and assistance Family policy thus should pay systematic attention to the adoption of comprehensive measures in support of families and careers (Prague, 2008)

While informal care may be free of charge to the public administration, it has its own

„hidden costs‟, Including detrimental health and psychological effects on carers, decrease in labour supply and deterioration of household finances (Jimenez Martin/Vilaplana,2008)

2.7Leisure time passage of elderly

Leisure activities are defined as preferred and enjoyable activities participated in during one‟s free time (Kleiber & Nimrod, 2009), and characterized as representing freedom and providing intrinsic satisfaction (Kelly, 1996) Individuals can recover from stress and restore social and physical resources (Pressman et al., 2009) through leisure activities

The older population is growing and leisure services for elders are expanding to meet increased demand (Leitner& Leitner, 2012)

For the elderly, participation in a variety of leisure time and sports and recreational activities is very important because such activities enable the maintenance of physical health, have a positive impact on mental health and have in all respects a positive impact on well-being

and thereby raise the quality of life It is very important for senior citizens to know that they are still important and that they can contribute to active life in the neighborhood or wider in the local community e.g in societies and clubs the following activities can be of interest dancing and music workshops, drama clubs, reading hours and animation of the stories read, handicrafts workshop, meetings of singers ,connections with kindergartens and schools in the activities in the form of intergenerational association, social sports activities (bowling, walks, social games,

etc ) (Novak &Vute, 2013)

Self-confidence also plays an important role as it is an indicator of psychological being and engagement in leisure time activities For many people, engagement in different activities means active spending of leisure time and a social life in which the primary criterion is welfare (Fox, 1992)

well-2.8 Community engagement of older persons

Older people are crucial to the cohesion of communities They often form the core of those people performing civic functions and putting themselves forward for low paid roles as local Councilors, Magistrates and similar functions, representing and serving their communities Many voluntary and community organizations rely on older people for their volunteer workforce

as younger people work to support themselves and their families In addition, evidence

increasingly demonstrates the crucial role older people play in less formal roles in communities and families, establishing social initiatives and performing informal care for grandchildren and other family members (AGE, 2004)

For some older people retirement is the trigger that inspires them to volunteer for the first time (Smith & Gay, 2005)

Religion is among important engagement to the oldest old compared to the aged 50-64, and is also more important to women than to men Women and oldest adults also derive more comfort and strength from religion than men or younger adults (Timonen, Kamiya &Maty 2011)

2.9Post retirement jobs

Post retirement employment has been most prevalent among individuals who initially retired in their 50's and were well positioned to reinter the work force They were in good health had post-secondary educational credentials and valuable skills and experience often gained from prior employment in professional and managerial occupations While financial consideration were the motivation for some the intrinsic aspects of work were important for others And, Individuals in fair or poor health were far less likely to return to work than those whose health was excellent (Schellenberg, Turcotte & Bali Ram, 2005)

In order to adjust to retirement permanency of job, job characteristics, marital status, place of work (governmental or private work) moreover, preparation for retirement items

(discussing retirement plans with others, read or heard about retirement, planning for financial status, and planning for leisure time) have significance whereas no significant difference was found between duration since retirement and the of retirement adjustment scale (Raefa & Alam, 2006) At an individual level, re-employment after retirement may lead to greater financial stability and security (Hiscott, 2013)

2.10 Theories of aging

2.10.1 Disengagement theory

Disengagement theory was developed and described during studies undertaken by Cumming and Henry (1961) The central hypothesis of disengagement theory is that there is a

mutual, inevitable act of withdrawal between the older person and society Cumming & Henry, (1961) The withdrawal from society can be both from a social perspective (e.g., interaction) but also from a psychological perspective (e.g., decreased interest and motivation) The process of withdrawal can be initiated either by the individuals themselves or by society, and the

disengagement process is necessary to bring about a balance between the individual and society Disengagement theory is intended to apply to all aging people in all societies even though the actual process may vary between cultures (Nilsson, 2006)

Society has fewer expectations of older people with respect to those roles that they do continue to occupy Finally, older people actively disengage from most of society, and this is the appropriate way of coping with external and internal pressures The external pressures include a reduced need by others for the skills and abilities the older person possesses, and the internal pressures include deteriorating physical health and a decreasing level of concern about other people Disengagement occurs more because of external factors (e.g retirement) than because older people want to disengage themselves from society (Eysenck, 2004)

2.10.2 Continuity theory

Under continuity theory, individuals maintain the types of activities they do as they age Atchley, (1989) This theory was motivated by the observation that many people demonstrate remarkable consistency in time use and interpersonal relationships over their life course Continuity theory postulates that as social roles change with age, individuals seek to maintain continuity in their lives by doing the things they've always done and engaging in social interaction with the people they've known the longest (i.e., lifelong friends and family Members) The ways, in which people spend time with others, net of differences in life course factors

associated with role differences between the young and old like marital and employment statuses, are expected to be similar across age-groups (Marcum, 2011)

There is a continuity pattern of the activities currently performed by the elderly with what they had done when they were younger According to the Continuity Theory of Ageing, individuals do not really change as they age, but becoming more of what they have always been Leisure participation in old age is often a continuation of previous participation

This continuous pattern of participation does not only involve leisure activities, but also other domains of life (Minhat, Rahmah& Khadijah, 2013)

2.10.3 Activity theory

The activity theory of ageing would encourage the aged to develop their involvement in sports and to view them as having considerably more physiological and other capacities than they had perhaps ever imagined Watts, (1992)

This theory was first described by Havighurst &Albrecht (1953) and then further used and developed by others Lemon, Bengtson, &Peterson, (1972) In this theory, successful aging is described as an individual having a sense of well-being in later years The basic assumption in this theory is that activity in general, and interpersonal activity in particular, is important for successful aging Activity is defined as any regularized or patterned action or pursuit which is regarded as beyond routine physical or personal maintenance

Often, three types of activities are described: (a) informal activities like social interaction; (b) formal activities like social participation in voluntary organizations; and finally, (c) solitary activities like watching television, reading, or hobbies of a solitary nature (Nilsson, 2006) Activity theory predicts that older people will do different activities than younger people, with more time budgeted for leisure (Marcum, 2011)

Older people become somewhat disengaged from society, not because they choose to, but because that is the way that they are treated by society For example, many workers are forced to retire against their wishes because they have reached the age of 60 or 65, or for some other reason It is assumed within activity theory that the best strategy for older people to adopt is to remain as active as they can

This involves hanging on to as many of the activities they were involved in during middle age for as long as possible of particular importance is the need to keep involved in numerous different roles within society, trying to replace any roles that have disappeared with new ones In other words, they need to maintain their “role count” This can be done by starting new hobbies, joining clubs (e.g a theatre club), or babysitting their grandchildren (Eysenck,2004)

2.11 National Policies related to elderly and pension

2.11.1 National Policies on elderly

2.11.1.1 National plan of action on older persons /1998-2007/

2.11.1.2Goal of the plan of action (in relation to elderly)

Expand and strengthen services for the elderly based on community participation

Encourage the elderly to make use of their rich experience in bridging about

development

2.11.2 National social protection policy of Ethiopia;

MoLSA coordinates the National Plan of Action for Older Persons, which aims to

mainstream the cross cutting issues of older persons in sect oral plans Based on this, efforts have been made to coordinate the concerned actors to contribute to the wellbeing of older persons in

their respective sectors However, since the action plan was not budgeted, satisfactory services were not delivered to address the cross cutting issues and needs of older persons

2.12 Chapter Summary

The number of aged population is increasing globally, till recently the trend was a

phenomenon of developed countries however, these days the increase of population aging is become the issue of less developed countries as well due to the advancement of technology, improvement of life styles which led to the enhancement of life expectancy

There are different coping mechanisms of elderly persons such as support from families, communities, pension etc In Ethiopia not all elderly persons are entitled to pension (mandatory contributory) except for those who were engaged in the formal sector and till the proclamation of 715/2011 only those engaged in the public sector

In these chapter theories such as the disengagement, continuity and activity are used respectively to explain how the elderly can disengage from the society through retirement, and can continue to do the activities which they used to perform activities which they used to

accomplish in the young and middle age or how they can engage in different types of activities such as leisure time activities which could help them to engage actively

The study has also raised varying definitions of concepts which define elderly and

perceptions about them Some look the elderly as burdens for society but others especially developing countries such as Ethiopia look them as prestigious and that they have wisdom to pass to the next generation Therefore, this leads to relay on constructivist research paradigm which see reality as subjective and best fitted to the qualitative research inquiry

Chapter Three

3 Research methodology 3.1 Introduction

In this chapter the research methodology, the geographical area where the study was conducted, the study design, the population and sample size are described The instrument used

to collect the data, including methods implemented to maintain validity and reliability of the instrument are also discussed

3.2 Research Design

This research is designed to use a qualitative research method Qualitative design is preferred, because of its ability to represent the views and perspectives of the participants in a

study Capturing their perspectives may be a major purpose of a qualitative study Thus, the

events and ideas emerging from qualitative research can represent the meanings given to real-life events by the people who live them, not the values, preconceptions, or meanings held by

researchers (Yin, 2011)

An exploratory case study was followed to review on how the pensioned elderly manage

to survive with the amount received from pension and on how they spent their spare time

Exploratory type of case study is used to explore those situations in which the intervention being evaluated has no clear, single set of outcomes (Yin, 2003)

The case study is a research strategy which focuses on understanding a phenomenon within its natural setting In the case study, attention is paid to contextual conditions, regarded as highly relevant to the phenomenon being investigated, whereas an experiment typically

deliberately separates the phenomenon from its context and focuses on a number of variables

penetration into the core of the matter The corresponding disadvantage is that it is often difficult

to generalize on the basis of one single case and to draw general conclusions (Jong & Voordt, 2002) Due to shortage of time, this study employed cross- sectional case study Most research studies are cross-sectional, mainly because of the pressure of time and resources (Gray,2008)

3.3 Area of the Study

The study is conducted in Gulele Sub-city administration district 03, 04 and 05

According to Addis Ababa city council website, Gulele Sub-city administration area covers total

of 30.18sq km with a total population of 284,865 people among, 137,690 male and 147,175 female and it has a Population density of 9,438.9 per sq m

There were 12,612 retirees in the sub city which obtained from payment list of pensioners

in the social security agency According to the manager of the agency social security agency use different means to pay pension for the retiree in Addis Ababa, that is postal service, commercial nominees, Hibret bank and Addis saving and credit association While two methods are feasible

in the sub-city (postal and Addis saving and credit association) and 12,612 people receive the service from both types in the sub- city, (10,485 postal & 2,127 Addis saving and credit

association) However, this number is aggregate data of service users of two groups who can be pensioned themselves or persons who have pension rights of their spouses or children From these figure there are 3,678 pensioners in the study area who receive their own pension or who are target of the study

3.4 Eligibility criteria

Most developed world countries have accepted the chronological age of 65 years as a definition of 'elderly' or older person (WHO:2002) Elderly refer to a person who is 60+ years old In this study not all elderly were included except pensioners who were public sector

employers Because, until the recently ratified Pension Proclamation No 715/2011 only civil servants hired by the government were in the pension scheme

Thus, both sexes of pensioned elderly residing in Gulele sub-city district 03,04 & 05 who are in the pension scheme took part of the study whereas elderly who were unwilling to respond

or unable due to health problems not pensioned, or reside outside the study area did not take part

in the study

3.5 Sample Size and Sampling

To study thoroughly it is recommended to take small number of participants to apply

qualitative method Accordingly, ten participants with different backgrounds were selected till

data saturation/redundancy was reached, Data saturation is reached when there is enough

information to replicate the study (O‟Reilly & Parker,2012) Moreover, the study relied on

purposive sampling which is also referred as judgmental sampling or expert sampling The main

objective of purposive sampling is to produce a sample that can be considered „„representative‟‟

of the population (Battaglia & Michael,2011)

For the purpose of the study, the researcher chose Gulele Sub City among other 9 Sub Cities in Addis Ababa Subjects who met the sample criteria were identified by the researcher at the Gulele Sub City as the researcher reside in the sub city and would help the researcher gain a better understanding about the study area Specifically, the researcher chose to study district 03,

04 & 05 in Gulele sub city as the researcher knew lot of pensioned men and women who live in the area

3.6 Method of Data Collection

Both primary and secondary sources of data were employed in the study The primary sources of data were collected through in-depth interview, key informant interview, focus group discussions (FGDs) and observation Whereas, the secondary sources of data were collected through reviewing relevant books, journals, articles and related theses

3.6.1 Key Informant Interview

The researcher has conducted key informant interview with the head of Ethiopian Elders Pension National Association of the elderly / EEPNA/ and social security agency The key informants also served as gatekeeper to select participants purposively for the study

3.6.2 Focus Group Discussion

For this study, two focus group discussions were held with heterogeneous groups

composed of six to eight pensioned elderly and who are member of associations called

consumers cooperatives „Shemachoch‟ and pensioners who voluntarily participate in community

organizations such as Iqub, Idir or others

3.6.4 In-depth Interview

In-depth interviewing is a qualitative research technique that involves conducting

intensive individual interviews with a small number of respondents to explore their perspectives

on a particular idea, program, or situation (Boyce& Neale,2006) Accordingly, the researcher

used in-depth interview and included guided semi- structure open-ended questions among eight

to ten participants which allowed subjects to elaborate to questions in their own words and provide more detail

Interviews were included because it gave participants an opportunity to discuss ideas Besides, participants were more comfortable with face-to-face conversations as they encountered age related difficulties such as eye problem or unable to write etc

Throughout the interview Amharic language was used as a means of communication which later on the researcher translated in to English language And the interview took place in the district during their pay days in a place where they collect their monthly pensions Each interview lasted for about minimum of forty five minutes During the interview sessions the researcher used tape recorders and took notes with the consent of the participants Each interview were taped, later on transcribed and translated in to English language by the researcher

3.7 Data Analysis

This study relies on thematic analysis for which the researcher used coding by reading and re-reading the data obtained carefully and listening to recorded conversations repeatedly Different colures which helped the researcher to mark ideas in the row data were used by using soft copies Thereafter similar kinds of information‟s were grouped together in thematic

categories Then, the researcher tries to relate different ideas and themes to one another One can

assign abbreviated codes of a few letters, words or symbols and place them next to the themes and ideas found This will help to organize data into categories (Taylor-Powell & Renner,2003)

The coded data/ text were categorized and sub categorized into predetermined themes Undetermined categories also came out afterwards and lastly the coherent categories were

organized to be summarized and bring meaning to the data Thematic Analysis allows the

researcher to determine precisely the relationships between concepts and compare them with the replicated data By using, thematic analysis there is the possibility to link the various concepts and opinions of the learners and compare these with the data that has been gathered in different situation at different times during the project (Ibrahim,2012)

3.8 Quality Assurance

The study used various techniques such as interview, observation, FGDs to increase the validity of data The mixing of data types known as data triangulation is often thought to help in validating claims (Olsen, 2004) So not only does the use of multiple methods assist in data triangulation, it helps to balance out any of the potential weaknesses in each data collection method (Gray, 2008)

The researcher acknowledged the professional use of self which is to be honest for him/ her about any biases This process assumes that it is possible to fully know oneself and one's presuppositions, which some would argue impossible (Morrow, 2005)

Although, the researcher had prior information about some of the pensioners struggle financially due to low- income and was aware of some elderly who spend their spare time in liquor houses, the researcher put this information aside in order to avoid any kind of bias

Moreover, the researcher proceeded only based on the data obtained from participants and relied

on participants' perspectives on how they see things by themselves