The social needs of older people are diverse. They
focus on both the intimate and the peripheral members of their networks
. When satisfying social needs, reciprocity is important. The feeling of connectedness to others and to a community or neighbourhood contributes to wellbeing as well as a feeling of independence.
What are the needs of an elderly person?
Senior citizens may need
proper medication
to remain healthy. This begins with adequate medical care, such as doctor’s visits, dental care, foot care, eye care, physical therapy and psychiatric therapy, if needed.
Social and emotional experiences change with age. Social partners that
are meaningful and important are preserved
, more peripheral social ties are discarded, and anger and distress are experienced less frequently. Positive affect remains highly stable, only decreasing in some studies among the oldest old.
Studies have proven that
regular social interaction leads to happier and more fulfilled lives
which, in turn, means better long-term mental health for senior citizens. … By contrast, social isolation typically leads to being less physically active, an onset of depression and a myriad of other mental and physical issues.
No matter our age, we all have social needs.
Feeling connected to other people and to a community
contributes to the health and well-being of older adults. Volunteering or participating in social activities appears to be the key to address the needs for proximity, meaningful relationships and reciprocity.
How do you meet emotional needs of the elderly?
- Make Them Feel Safer. Seniors sometimes develop a fear of falling or having a medical emergency when nobody is around to help. …
- Look for Signs of Depression. …
- Focus on Quality Time. …
- Create a Sense of Purpose. …
- Respect Privacy.
The social needs in Maslow’s hierarchy include such things as
love, acceptance, and belonging
. At this level, the need for emotional relationships drives human behavior. Some of the things that satisfy this need include: Friendships.
What are the spiritual needs of the elderly?
The interventions initiated to meet patients’ spiritual needs included
respect for privacy
; helping patients to connect; helping patients to complete unfinished business; listening to patients’ concerns; comforting and reassuring; using personal religious beliefs to assist patients and observation of religious beliefs …
What are the psychological needs of the elderly?
- Personal Connections. The elderly have a basic need to remain connected to family members, friends, and like-minded seniors. …
- Community. …
- Purpose. …
- Expression of Thoughts & Feelings.
What issues are the elderly faced with in the community?
- Ageism and a lost sense of purpose. …
- Financial insecurity. …
- Difficulty with everyday tasks and mobility. …
- Finding the right care provision. …
- Access to healthcare services. …
- End of life preparations.
How does society view the elderly?
In societies today the elderly is seen
as less valuable
since their individualism, self-reliance, and independence would have been altered. … Some elderly are perceived in a positive light from time to time because they are actively involved in the community, loyal, sociable, and warm.
What are the problems faced by the elderly in our society?
Arthritis, hypertension, hearing impairment, defective vision, diabetes and varicose veins
are among the usual diseases faced by elders. These chronic diseases tend to occur more in women and tend to increase with age. Use of Tobacco and alcoholism are more among Dalits, Tribals and among urban slum dwellers.
Better mental health
– it can lighten your mood and make you feel happier. Lower your risk of dementia – social interaction is good for your brain health. Promotes a sense of safety, belonging and security. Allows you to confide in others and let them confide in you.
Results indicated that
better subjective health, younger age, and greater satisfaction with social support
were all significant predictors of more positive attitudes to aging, while frequency of social support was not. Model of the self accounted for some variation in satisfaction with social support.
As humans, social interaction is
essential to every aspect of our health
. Research shows that having a strong network of support or strong community bonds fosters both emotional and physical health and is an important component of adult life.
If an elderly person has to move away from friends, community, their home, or other familiar aspects of their life in order to enter a nursing home, they may experience
isolation, depression, or loneliness
. Increased dependency can also put older adults at risk of elder abuse.
