Residential care for the destitute elderly: A comparative study of two institutions in Zimbabwe.

This study evaluates the facilities provided by two black residential care facilities for the elderly in Zimbabwe. One home was structured on a model of residential care developed by the colonial government while the other was an experimental co-operative run by the residents. The aim was to discover how the forms of care provided by the two homes influenced the quality of life experienced by the residents. Data were collected through personal observation and lengthy interviews with residents. Interest centered on the particular characteristics of the institutions that most affected overall satisfaction with the homes. It is argued that despite the greater economic resources controlled by the traditional residential care facility, the social environment created by the co-operative led to a more fulfilling life for the elderly.