Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Case Management Practices has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with quality of life of the elderly. This growing interest reflects the recognition that case management practices does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Ogun State.

Ogun State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on case management practices, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with quality of life of the elderly, particularly within Ogun State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about case management practices without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect quality of life of the elderly. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Case Management Practices on quality of life of the elderly in Ogun State.
2. To assess the extent to which case management practices influences quality of life of the elderly within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with case management practices in relation to quality of life of the elderly.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing case management practices in order to improve quality of life of the elderly.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of case management practices on quality of life of the elderly in Ogun State?
2. To what extent does case management practices influence quality of life of the elderly within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with case management practices in relation to quality of life of the elderly?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize case management practices in order to improve quality of life of the elderly?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around quality of life of the elderly. For managers and practitioners within Ogun State, the study provides practical insight into how case management practices can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on social work by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Case Management Practices and its relationship with quality of life of the elderly within the context of Ogun State. It reflects a BSc-level scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.