10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Rapid social transformation and migration in Nigeria have dramatically reshaped family structures and the level of care provided to older adults, raising salient questions about aging and support systems. This paper examines how family change and distance shape the actual caregiving process for older adults in selected local governments in Kwara State. In-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen older adults (60 years and older) in Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Ilorin East, and Asa Local Government Areas using a qualitative approach. The data were analyzed thematically and interpreted using a Spatial Relational Care Deficit Framework, which predicts the role of physical distance in hands-on elder care. The results indicate that the number of co-residential family arrangements has significantly declined, and adult children are moving to remote urban centers. Although financial remittances remain prevalent, participants noted that emotional presence, physical support, and companionship in daily routines are often lacking, leading to what they termed "Care at a Distance.” Without family support, older adults must rely on informal care, religious faith, and personal strength to manage care deficits. The paper argues that the aging problem in Nigeria is not only economic but also relational and geographical; hence, the need to re-examine the idea of caring for older adults without depending on family. It proposes community-based care systems and more robust local government interventions to respond to the growing gaps in care.