Social needs of older people: a systematic literature review

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 1745-1770 ◽  
Author(s):  
TINA TEN BRUGGENCATE ◽  
KATRIEN G. LUIJKX ◽  
JANIENKE STURM
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Volunteer Work ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTSocial needs are important basic human needs. When social needs are not satisfied, this can lead to mental and physical health problems. With a growing population of older adults and the need for them to stay healthy and community-dwelling, satisfying social needs is important. The aim of this review is to give more insight into the social needs of older people and subsequently into the characteristics of effective interventions for satisfying older people's social needs. A systematic review of the existing literature on quantitative, qualitative and mixed empirical studies on the social needs of older people was conducted. The themes that emerged were diversity, proximity, meaning of the relationship and reciprocity. These themes offered several intervention implications. Participation in hobbies and in volunteer work and being connected were among the main findings. 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. Staying active by doing volunteer work or participating in (leisure) social activities satisfies social needs. Therefore, interventions should focus especially on the connectedness, participation and independence of the older adult.

When your world gets smaller: how older people try to meet their social needs, including the role of social technology

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1826-1852 ◽  
Author(s):  
TINA TEN BRUGGENCATE ◽  
KATRIEN G. LUIJKX ◽  
JANIENKE STURM
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Older People ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Social Technology ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World

ABSTRACTSocial needs are important basic human needs. When social needs are not fulfilled, it can lead to mental and physical health problems. In an ageing society, meeting the social needs of older adults is important to sustain their wellbeing and quality of life. Social technology is used by younger people attempting to fulfil social needs. The aim of this study is to understand the social needs of older people and the role of social technology in fulfilling these needs. Using this information we will uncover opportunities for (technological) interventions. We conducted a qualitative explorative field study by interviewing 19 community-dwelling older adults. The participants were selected by professional care-givers with the help of a list of criteria for people at risk of social isolation or loneliness. Semi-structured interviews were held, using a topic list covering the following topics: social networks, social support, connectedness, neighbourhood, activities and hobbies, as well as use of and experiences with social technology. After thematic analysis, inductive codes were attached to quotations relevant to the research question. The results were described in four sections: (a) social needs and relationships; (b) the influence of life history and personality; (c) possibilities and barriers to meet social needs; and (d) use of and attitude towards social technology. The results indicate that the group of participants is heterogeneous and that their social needs and the way they try to meet these are diverse. The Social Production Functions Theory of Successful Aging (SPF-SA) was found to be a useful basis for interpreting and presenting the data. Social needs such as connectedness, autonomy, affection, behavioural confirmation and status are important for the wellbeing of older people. Although the need for affection is most easy to fulfil for older people, it looks like satisfaction of the need for behavioural confirmation and status are in some cases preferred, especially by the male participants. Resources such as relationships, activities, personal circumstances and social technology can help meet social needs. Where there is a lack of (physical) resources such as health problems, reduced mobility, death of network members, fear of rejection and gossip, and poor financial circumstances, meeting social needs can be more difficult for some older people. Social technology now plays a modest role in the lives of older people and in fulfilling their social needs. Because of its potential and its role in the lives of younger people, social technology can be seen as a promising resource in the satisfaction of social needs. However, since it is yet unknown how and to what extent the use of social network technologies, such as Facebook, can be beneficial for older people, more research in this area is needed. Based on our findings, we conclude that the world of older individuals is getting smaller. The loss of resources,e.g.the loss of one's health and mobility, may make it more difficult for an older person to connect with the world outside, which may result in a smaller social network. We therefore suggest that interventions to support older adults to meet their social needs may focus on two aspects: supporting and improving the world close by and bringing the world outside a little bit closer.

scholarly journals Nutritional Status and Risk Factors for Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older People: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Pérez-Ros ◽  
Rafael Vila-Candel ◽  
Lourdes López-Hernández ◽  
Francisco Miguel Martínez-Arnau
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Community Dwelling Older People ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: This study aims to assess the relationship that frailty has with nutritional status and functional risk factors in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study in community-dwelling older people, independent for walking and without impaired cognition. Frailty was assessed by Fried criteria. Nutritional status was analyzed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), biochemical markers (albumin, total proteins, cholesterol, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin); and anthropometric parameters (body mass index [BMI], body fat percentage, handgrip, and perimeters). A comprehensive geriatric assessment analyzed other risk factors: functionality, cognition, falls, comorbidity, polypharmacy, physical activity, and quality of life (QoL). Results: We included 564 elderly people with a mean age of 76.05 (standard deviation 3.97) years; 63.1% (n = 356) were women, and 83.9% (n = 473) were prefrail, and frail. The sample presented high functionality and a nutritional status with a predominance of overweight and obesity. Factors associated with frailty (R2 = 0.43) were age over 75 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76, 6.21; p < 0.001), female gender (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.24, 4.52; p = 0.009), anemia (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.19, 5.02; p = 0.015), falls (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.12, 3.25; p = 0.016) and the fear of falling (OR 4.01: 95% CI 1.76, 9.16; p = 0.001). Performing more than 3 weekly hours of physical activity was found to be a protective factor (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.15, 0.35; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The relationship between frailty and malnutrition in functionally independent community-dwelling older people is unclear. More studies are needed to know what nutritional markers are related to frailty, cognition, and functionality in order to discriminate the risk factors for community-dwelling older people at risk of malnutrition and dependency.

scholarly journals 13 Effects of Benzodiazepines on Orthostatic Blood Pressure in Older People

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Giulia Rivasi ◽  
Rose Anne Kenny ◽  
Andrea Ungar ◽  
Roman Romero-Ortuno
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Older People ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Orthostatic Blood Pressure ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Older people taking benzodiazepines (BDZs) have higher risk of falling, which is mainly attributed to unfavorable drug-related effects on cognition and psychomotor functioning. BDZs may also have hypotensive effects, but evidence concerning the relationship between BDZs and orthostatic blood pressure (BP) behaviour in older people is scarce. We investigated the effects of BDZs on BP response to an orthostatic active stand test. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of data from an outpatient research clinic in an Irish university hospital, where people aged 60 or older underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment between August 2007 and May 2009. Non-invasive beat-to-beat orthostatic BP was measured during active stand, with systolic BP assessed at each 10-second interval. Information on regular BDZs use was collected. Factors independently associated with orthostatic systolic BP were investigated using multiple linear regression. Results Of 624 community-dwelling people who underwent a clinic assessment, orthostatic active stand data was collected in 541. Information on regular BDZs use was available in 538 people. Of 538 participants, mean age was 72.7±7.2, 67.7% were female and 33 (6.1%) reported regular use of BDZs. History of falls (p=0.027) and fear of falling (p<0.001) were more prevalent in this subgroup. During active stand, participants on BDZs showed a significantly greater systolic BP drop 10 seconds after the posture change (“immediate” BP drop). No significant differences were detected in orthostatic systolic BP in the latter phases of the active stand. After adjusting for possible confounders, BDZs use was independently associated with a mean immediate systolic BP drop of 12 mmHg after standing. Conclusion BDZs may confer higher risk of an immediate systolic BP drop after standing in older people, which may contribute to their known falls risk. BDZ should be avoided in older people at risk of falling.

scholarly journals Pain in older people with frailty

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Brown ◽  
John Young ◽  
Andrew Clegg ◽  
Anne Heaven
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Older People ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prospective Data ◽  
Community Dwelling Older People ◽  
The Relationship

SummaryIn this review we identified cohort and cross-sectional studies that assessed pain in community-dwelling older people (>65 years) reliably characterized as frail. Secondly, we considered biologically plausible mechanisms that may alter pain perception, or contribute to, or exacerbate pain in an older person with frailty. Thirdly, we considered specific implications of pain management for this group of people. From the limited data from the seven included studies, it would appear that the presence of pain is higher in older people with frailty compared with people characterized as pre-frail or not frail. Thus older people reporting pain are more likely to be frail. However, a lack of prospective data precludes inferences about the direction of the relationship: that is whether pain or frailty is the antecedent. Further research is needed to understand the direction of the relationship, and to identify appropriate pain management strategies for older people with frailty.

Advances in Early Communication and Language Intervention

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 298-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann P. Kaiser ◽  
Megan Y. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Spoken Language ◽  
Language Intervention ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Early Communication ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Language Interventions ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Made In

Learning to communicate using speech and language is a primary developmental task for young children. Delays in the acquisition of language are one of the earliest indicators of developmental deficits that may affect academic and social outcomes for individuals across the life span. In the period since the passage of PL 99-457, significant progress in research related to language intervention has been made in five areas: (a) the social, symbolic, and prelinguistic foundations to spoken language; (b) parent-implemented language interventions; (c) the language foundations for literacy; (d) the relationship between language and social behavior; and (e) the use of augmented and alternative modes of communication. Although there are indications of important advances in the knowledge base of early identification as well as comprehensive and continuous intervention, preparing professionals to provide effective interventions in natural environments continues to be a challenge for the field.

scholarly journals Desempenho social e financeiro de pequenas e médias empresas: modelo conceitual de causa e efeito

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-70
Author(s):  
Jose Elenilson Cruz ◽  
Rafael Barreiros Porto
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Corporate Social Performance ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Research Propositions ◽  
Object Of Study ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Corporate social performance can be understood as a way to measure the efficiency of interactions between companies and their main stakeholders. This evaluation has led to some steps forward in research and management implications. One of its main issues, which is the study of the relationship between social and financial performance, focuses on traditional joint-stock companies. This fact reveals a gap concerning the object of study in the literature of the area. The importance of investigating small and medium companies (SMCs) lies in their social and economic relevance and also in new evidences these studies may provide. After the theoretical discussion, this study presents a conceptual model composed of research propositions to be tested by future empirical studies that wish to answer the following question: in small and medium companies there are relations of cause and effect between social and financial performance? The test of the proposals suggested can reveal, among other results, the categories of social performance of SMCs most affected by a higher financial performance, as established by the premises of theoretical slack-resources; if the impact of these categories on the financial performance is qualified by way of management, confirming assumptions of the theory good management, or if there are no significant differences between the social performance of SMEs with higher financial performance and SMEs with low financial performance, revealing the existence of non-financial factors also influence social performance.

scholarly journals Reduced strength, poor balance and concern about falls mediate the relationship between knee pain and fall risk in older people

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron J Hicks ◽  
Pazit Levinger ◽  
Jasmine C Menant ◽  
Stephen R Lord ◽  
Perminder S Sachdev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Knee Pain ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Pain Group ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Aims Pain is an independent risk factor for falling. One in two older community-dwelling people with musculoskeletal pain fall each year. This study examined physical, psychological and medical factors as potential mediators to explain the relationship between knee pain and falls.Methods Three hundred and thirty-three community-dwelling people aged 70+ years (52% women) participated in this cohort study with a 1-year follow-up for falls. Participants completed questionnaires (medical history, general health and concern about falls) and underwent physical performance tests. Participants were classified into ‘pain’ and ‘no pain’ groups based on self-reported knee pain. Poisson Regression models were computed to determine the Relative Risk (RR) of having multiple falls and potential mediators for increased fall risk.Results One hundred and eighteen (35.5%) participants were categorised as having knee pain. This group took more medications and had more medical conditions (P <0.01) compared to the no pain group. The pain group had poorer balance, physical function and strength and reported increased concern about falls. Sixty one participants (19.5%) reported ≥ 2 falls, with the pain group twice as likely to experience multiple falls over the 12 month follow up (RR = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27 – 3.13). Concern about falls, knee extension torque and postural sway with eyes closed were identified as significant and independent mediators of fall risk, and when combined explained 23% of the relationship between knee pain and falls.Conclusion This study has identified several medical, medication, psychological, sensorimotor, balance and mobility factors to be associated with knee pain, and found the presence of knee pain doubles the risk of multiple falls in older community living people. Alleviating knee pain, as well as addressing associated risk factors may assist in preventing falls in older people with knee pain.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Human Development, Tourism and Economic Growth: Evidence From Malaysia

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Yan-Teng Tan ◽  
Pei-Tha Gan ◽  
Mohd Yahya Mohd Hussin ◽  
Norimah Ramli
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Remarkable Feature ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors ◽  
The Relationship

A remarkable feature of empirical studies is that not many research works investigate the relation between human development and tourism. Although gross domestic product may replace human development to measure economy progress and human well-being in relation to tourism, however, this definition, is narrow, limits to economic side, and ignores the social and cultural factors. To overcome this shortcoming, this study examines the relationship between human development, tourism and economic growth in Malaysia. By using different cointegration approaches, the results indicate that tourism is positively related to human development in the long run. The finding suggests that the known relationship may serve as a guide to policy makers to achieve better development of social and cultural in order to promote the growth.

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