WELL-BEING OF THE AGED IN UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH: EXAMINATION OF SOCIO-CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENT AS INDICATORS OF BLESSING OR BURDEN.

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of perceived quality of life among the elderly congregations of the United Evangelical Church in Calabar, Nigeria. Framed within the societal dichotomy of old age as either a blessing or a burden, the research employs qualitative methods, including oral interviews and textual analysis, to examine how socio-cultural participation, religious engagement, subjective well-being, and health status intersect. Findings reveal a critical dissonance between the church's doctrinal tenets of care and the lived experiences of its aged members, who frequently face social exclusion and a diminished sense of relevance. The analysis demonstrates that sustained religious involvement and robust social ties are positively correlated with higher self-rated well-being and life satisfaction. In contrast, health deterioration and social isolation reinforce perceptions of burden and dependency. The study concludes that the blessing narrative is contingent upon active socio-spiritual integration. It underscores the imperative for faith communities to translate theological values into structured practices that actively foster dignity, purpose, and community participation among the elderly, thereby challenging the conditions that frame ageing as a burden.