Energizing the Elderly through Remittances: Opportunities for Active Ageing in Cameroon

The phenomenon of remittances increasingly remains a potential life wire for countless households and especially for the elderly parents in many developing countries including Cameroon. With the numerous challenges experienced by the elderly men and women among which are lack of resources, poor health and the lack of appropriate policies in the domain of care, they strategically depend on remittances from relatives and friends to sustain a living. The remittances are put into various uses: consumption, home construction and repairs, children’s education, investment, social contributions and the impact is enormous. Remittances therefore serve as an energizer which provides opportunities for active ageing. This study examines the uses and effects of remittances among the elderly men and women in Cameroon Typical ethnographic methods are adopted with interviews, focus group discussion and life histories as the major tools. The results show that remittances are paramount in the daily lives of older persons. It contributes to wellbeing, provides cultural capital and prolongs ability.