Impact of the Pension on Access to Health and Selected Food Stuffs for Pensioners of the Manonyane Community in Roma, Lesotho as Measured between 2004 and 2006

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of pension money on access to health and selected foodstuffs on the elderly population residing at the Manonyane area in Roma, Lesotho. A descriptive design was used. A sample of 215 pensioners was drawn from 830 registered pensioners in Manonyane. Respondents were aged 70-years and above, as 70 is the age when they begin to receive pension. A survey questionnaire developed by the investigators for this study was piloted and administered in the field by trained field workers. The findings of this study showed that pensioners used a large percentage of pension money on seeking health for themselves and their families, in addition to the purchase of food and alcohol.