Well-being Of Elderly People Research Articles

Religion among Disabled and Nondisabled Persons II: Attendance at Religious Services as a Predictor of the Course of Disability

Does religious involvement influence changes in physical health? We perform a longitudinal analysis of the effect of religious participation on functioning over a 12-year follow-up period, in a large, prospective, representative sample of elderly persons from New Haven, Connecticut, a religiously diverse community. To examine the possibility that disability or changes in disability may be affecting religious involvement, we perform a second longitudinal analysis of changes in religious practices. Finally, we ask whether psychosocial correlates explain the effect of religious involvement on disability. Findings are (a) that attendance at services is a strong predictor of better functioning, even when intermediate changes in functioning are included, (b) that health practices, social ties, and indicators of well-being reduce, but do not eliminate these effects, and (c) that disability has minimal effects on subsequent attendance. The findings illustrate the short- and long-term importance of religious participation to the health and well-being of elderly people, and suggest a particular significance for religious participation in the lives of disabled elders.

Housing for elderly people

Despite the growing recognition of the importance of housing for the health and well-being of elderly people there has been less research on the topic than on health or personal social services. Moreover, until recently, what research there was tended to concentrate on specialized, rather than mainstream, forms of housing. This review looks at research on the meaning of home; the kind of housing elderly people live in; tenure; specialized and nonspecialized housing; some issues to do with an assessment of needs; and at links between services. The very important related topic of moving in old age is not covered because this was the focus of a recent review in this journal. However, it is relevant to note that research shows that many people move into specialized housing against their will and wish that they could have remained at home. This review also excludes consideration of other related topics such as household composition, affordability, the contribution of technology such as alarms and ‘smart’ houses, and problems of specific groups, such as those who are homeless.

Informal care in social context: A social psychological analysis of participation, impact and intervention in care of the elderly

Abstract Concern about the provision and effects of care to elderly people by unpaid family, relatives and friends has arisen in the contexts of changing demographic structures of populations and, in Britain at least, explicit policy by Government which seeks to promote familial responsibility for the financial, physical and emotional needs of elderly populations. The present review examines the extent and nature of informal care to elderly people, assesses the evidence to support sociological models of care work participation and the extent to which such models are reflected in beliefs concerning care of elderly people and intentions to cease direct provision of care. Studies of the psychological impacts of care work and of interventions to modify carer wellbeing are critically reviewed. It is suggested that future psychological research should focus on modeling the modifiable psychological processes which explain variance in care work participation, impact and uptake of services, and on the impacts of changing social policy on social perception and wellbeing of elderly people.

Emotions, coping, and psychological well-being in elderly people with arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis, the most destructive and crippling of all forms of arthritis, poses a number of stressful demands on individuals. In a sample of elderly women (N = 59) and men (N = 19) with rheumatoid arthritis, the relationship between social economic status, severity of impairment, sex, stress emotions, type of coping strategy, and psychological well-being was explored. Path analysis results indicated that higher social economic status was directly related to greater use of confrontive types of coping strategies. Severity of impairment had a direct, negative influence on psychological well-being, but sex was not an important factor. Optimistic coping strategies were used most often and emotive coping strategies the least.

A Study of Well-being of Elderly People in Three Communities in Zimbabwe

The purpose of this research was to assess the well-being of elderly people in three different community types in Zimbabwe. Well-being was defined as general health, health resource access, nutrition, habits, and physical function. Major health problems, hygiene, nutrition and access to health care did vary between communities, but there was a low level of physical dependency throughout. The findings suggest that once a critical decline in fitness occurs, elderly people may rapidly die as a result of diminished medical and physical support. These findings are relevant to future plans for elderly care services in Zimbabwe.

Motivation in the elderly: A theoretical framework and some promising findings.

Despite a widespread concern with the well-being of elderly people, very little is known about the motivation behind everyday behaviours in old age. In this paper a theoretical framework that has been found useful in research on young adults is suggested as a promising direction for research on the psychology of motivation in the elderly. This framework (Deci & Ryan, 1985a) posits the existence of four types of motivation (intrinsic, self-determined extrinsic, nonself-determined extrinsic, and amotivation) which are assumed to have a number of consequences for adaptation and well-being. After presenting the theory, we review findings from an ongoing research program that has found that the four types of motivation can be reliably measured and are related to other important aspects of the lives of elderly people in a theoretically meaningful manner. Suggestions are made for further research and for potential applications.

Adjustment to Aging and Relationships with Offspring

Structured interviews were conducted with 83 older people to determine the role of adult offspring in adjustment to aging. Satisfaction with the length of visits with offspring was significantly related to elderly people's well-being and so was having multiple friendships. Implications were drawn about how these two social networks—family and friends—can be used as support systems for married and widowed elderly persons.