The paper examines the changes in family structure and care provision for the elderly in
Nigeria. Essentially, the family structure is changing from extended nature to nuclear structure,
with impact on the well-being of the older persons now and into the future. This paper, therefore
examine the impact of Changes in family structures on care of the older persons.
Data were gathered using questionnaire and multi-stage sampling technique was used to select
250 respondents. Simple percentages, cross tabulations and chi-square hypothesis were used to
analyze the data.
The results revealed that the changes in family structure are evident and occured over time and
that the quality of care the elderly received has diminished. The change in family structure also
influence the patterns of care giving or support to aging parents, in addition the formal
institution of care as substitute was disapproved by majority of the respondents.
The study, therefore, recommends that government should initiate policies to reduce the effect
of changes in family structure and advises the family on the primacy of their care giving or
support function.