Silver futures: meeting the needs of older adults through the triad of elder care in Ghana

Purpose Navigating elder care in Ghana involves balancing traditional extended family duties with emerging modern realities such as the increasing relevance of private institutional options and professional counselling. This study aims to critically examine older adults’ perceptions of the care choices available to them and to understand how these options are valued, accepted or resisted within their lived experiences and cultural contexts. Design/methodology/approach The study used a descriptive qualitative approach and semi-structured interviews to investigate the nuanced perceptions of care choices of older Ghanaian adults [n = 69] in southern Ghana. NVivo software version 14 supported thematic analysis of the data. Findings Five principal themes emerged from the data: perception of good care for older adults; the primacy of family care and ageing in place; cultural ambivalence and stigma around institutional care; and openness to and perceived value of counselling; and hybrid or integrated care model. Financial preparedness is a key determinant of genuine care choice among older adults in Ghana. Public investment in model regional care homes and targeted efforts to shift cultural attitudes toward institutional care is recommended. Originality/value Contribution to African gerontology, social policy formulation and public health planning.