Africa is rapidly ageing. By 2050, the continent’s population aged 60 years and older will grow substantially, yet ageing and its mental health consequences remain stubbornly marginalised in policy and research. While loneliness among older adults is widely recognised as a public health concern globally, the specific experiences of older men, such as fathers, husbands, and unpartnered men, are seldom addressed in African discourse. This silence is increasingly costly, both socially and psychologically. Research from communities across Africa suggests that nearly half of older adults experience loneliness, particularly when living alone or without robust social support networks. In one Ethiopian district study in 2025, 48.7% of older adults reported loneliness, with poor social support and living alone strongly associated with increased risk.
In the African ethos, older parents traditionally enjoyed care through extended families. Yet this cultural script is fraying under the pressure of urbanisation, economic migration, and shifting family structures. In many households, sons and daughters prioritise maternal care over paternal care, often citing childhood experiences of warmth and closeness to mothers, and sometimes lingering ambivalence or conflict with fathers. This preference is reinforced when older men display emotional distance or unresolved family tensions rooted in rigid patriarchal norms and poor emotional socialisation. These patterns are not mere anecdotes; they reflect a broader social shift in caregiving dynamics that leaves many older men without intimate support in later life. The emotional impact of this neglect is real. Loneliness is more than feeling alone. According to Hajek et al study in 2025, it predicts depression, cognitive decline, and lower desired age at death, especially among men who are less inclined to express emotional need or seek help. Also, male socialisation in many African contexts emphasises stoicism and self-reliance, discouraging men from articulating psychological distress. This compounds loneliness, as men often lack the culturally sanctioned spaces, such as women’s social gatherings or church support networks, that facilitate emotional sharing.
Widowerhood, divorce, and lifelong bachelorhood further intensify men’s vulnerability. Men who never married or who have lost spouses often find themselves without daily companionship and caregiving routines that women more often cultivate. Unlike women, who frequently maintain broader friendship networks, older men’s social circles tend to shrink after retirement or the death of a partner, leaving them at risk of profound social isolation. These patterns are visible in public health data. African studies indicate that living alone increases the odds of loneliness more than two-and-a-half times compared to living with others. Loneliness is also associated with chronic health conditions, sensory impairments, and poor self-rated health, all factors that exact a heavier psychological toll on men who internalise adversity. Men’s reluctance to seek mental health support interacts with pervasive stigma around masculinity and emotional vulnerability, which further discourages help-seeking behaviour.
Beyond individual experience, loneliness among older men has societal implications. Research in community-dwelling older adults in Ghana links social isolation in older adults with increased healthcare utilisation, greater risk of depression, and poorer physical function. In Africa, neglecting the psychosocial needs of older men threatens community wellbeing and undermines intergenerational solidarity. Yet loneliness and mental health among older men rarely make it onto the policy agenda. Many African countries lack comprehensive ageing policies that integrate mental health. Calls for national ageing strategies that incorporate mental health screening, primary care integration, and community support systems are increasing, but action lags behind need. Part of the challenge is cultural. Loneliness is often dismissed as a private matter rather than a public health priority. Communities may normalise male withdrawal in later life, attributing it to age rather than recognising its psychological impact. Family members may assume that older men are strong enough to cope alone, while overlooking signs of depression and emotional pain.
Confronting loneliness among older men in Africa requires a shift in both social norms and policy frameworks. Families must be encouraged to recognise the emotional needs of ageing fathers and husbands by investing in daily contact and meaningful engagement, not just physical care. Community spaces, from religious centres to hobby groups, should be mobilised to include and support older men, while challenging the stereotype that emotional life diminishes in later years. Healthcare systems must also adapt. Primary care providers should screen older adults, especially men, for loneliness and depression, while linking them with support services rather than referring them solely for physical ailments. Tailored interventions that reduce stigma and accommodate masculine norms of help-seeking, such as peer support networks or activity-based groups, can create alternative pathways to social connection. On a policy level, African governments must recognise that healthy ageing is not simply about managing chronic diseases, but ensuring social inclusion and emotional wellbeing for all genders. Loneliness weighs on public health and personal dignity alike; ignoring it undermines the very fabric of familial and communal life that Africans traditionally value.
In an era of demographic change and social flux, acknowledging and addressing the silent epidemic of loneliness among older men is not just humane, it is essential for resilient societies. The care our fathers and uncles receive in later life reflects the values we hold as communities. Let us ensure those values include emotional support, connection, and dignity for every ageing man.
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