Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Case Management Practices has emerged as a critical factor shaping quality of life of the elderly across organizations operating in and around Enugu State. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how case management practices relates to quality of life of the elderly has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Within the context of Enugu State, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of case management practices on quality of life of the elderly, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While case management practices is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on quality of life of the elderly within Enugu State remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to case management practices are helping or hindering quality of life of the elderly — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Case Management Practices on quality of life of the elderly in Enugu 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 Enugu 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 Enugu 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 Enugu State. It reflects a MSc-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.