Mistreatment, resilience, and well-being among older caregivers of children affected by HIV in rural Northern Namibia

This study examined associations among mistreatment, resilience, and well-being among older adults caring for children affected by HIV in rural Northern Namibia. Older caregivers in HIV-affected communities may experience substantial caregiving demands alongside poverty, limited formal supports, stigma, vulnerability to mistreatment, and varying levels of resilience, all of which may be relevant to their well-being. Face-to-face survey interviews were conducted with 100 older caregivers in the Omusati region. Although the average mistreatment score was below the screening threshold for abuse, some participants reported mistreatment experiences, and mean resilience was low relative to other comparison groups. Higher mistreatment was significantly associated with lower caregiver well-being, whereas higher resilience was significantly associated with greater well-being. These findings underscore the importance of developing culturally responsive approaches to assessing caregiver mistreatment and psychosocial needs, linking caregivers to health and social services, and coordinating family- and community-based supports that address resilience-related resources and the well-being of older caregivers in HIV-affected communities. The findings have implications for social workers and other health and human service professionals who support the psychosocial, health, and overall well-being of older caregivers and the populations they serve.