Social Interaction with Older Adults

Social support of older adults plays a vital role in their well-being mentally and physically. Social support is helpful for people of all ages, but especially important to older adults. The over all health - psychological, behavioral, and social can be influenced by social support. When older adults receive social support it is linked to the reduction in symptoms of disease, mental illness, and mortality. In addition social support decrease the probability of the older adult being institutionalized or becoming depressed.

According an article on the Centers for Disease Control Website
"Social support includes real or perceived resources provided by others that enable a person to feel cared for, valued, and part of a network of communication and mutual obligation." It is critical to older adults who rely on family, friends, or organization to assist them with daily activities, provide companionship, and care for their well-being. Social support can be provided by different adults. Older adults that are married, are less likely to need social support. Families and friends play an important role of providing social support to older adults.

Research has shown that visits with friends or relatives, having close friends for emotional support, and the perception of help being available if sick or disabled were associated with better health related quality of life and better mental health. The implementation of effective prevention programs for older adults and the encouragement of interventions by agencies on aging can help improve health-related quality of life among older adults who have little social support. Social support can promote health by providing persons with positive experiences, socially rewarding roles, or improved ability to cope with stressful events. Support is critical for older adults who are have an increased risk for disability associate with chronic disease or social isolation after the loss of a partner.

My Opinion:

I believe that social interaction is extremely important for older adults. Growing up my grandmother worked at a nursing home, and I would occasionally go visit her. Even at a young age I was able to tell the difference in the patients that had regular visits with family and the patients that did not. Even though nursing homes provide a form of social interaction to patients, not all patients choose to participate. I also saw a difference in those patients that choose not to attend the social programs.

What do you think?

Sources:

Santrock, J. W. (2008). Life-Span Development (12 ed.). New York City: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.

Social Support and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults --- Missouri, 2000. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved July 18, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5417a4.htm