Week 5 Flashcards
social healthy aging (WHO)
a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
what should social healthy aging include?
- adequate and well-functioning social relationships
- adequate social support
- little or no social strain
- some social participation
- social inclusion in ones society
- strong and well-functioning social networks
- sexuality as one may desire
key dimensions of social well-being
- presence and quality of social relationships
- social networks
- social participation
- social isolation
- sexuality
- social support
- social strain
- social environment
social ecological model
- policy
- community
- institutional
- interpersonal
- individual
social ecological model - individual and interpersonal factors (micro)
- immediate family, friends and community significantly shape aging and health
- supportive social connections
- need for belonging and reciprocity with others
- family context experiences during early years of ones life has significant influence on later-life experiences and health
what is loneliness influenced by?
- social network size
- social interaction frequency
- number of relationships
social ecological model - institutional and community (meso)
- neighbourhood and built environments, healthcare and educational organizations exert influence on older adults health experiences
- physical environment (housing, transport, access to healthy food, exercise opportunities) also effect
how are institutional and community factors improved?
- collaborative leadership
- cooperation across sectors
- age-friendly communities
- top-down approaches
social ecological model - policy, cultural, structural factors (macro)
- cultural health beliefs, policies and environmental characteristics of a region have profound influence over aging experience and health
- political factors shape socioeconomic determinants of health and can reduce health disparities
- decisions people make, capacity to cope with progression of disease, and effects of medical interventions are all influences by societal cultural values and norms
social ties in later life
older adults tend to have fewer social partners than younger adults
the socioemotional selectivity theory
older adults prioritize emotional fulfillment over expanding social networks
- explains progression of social networks while aging
what does the socioeconomic selectivity theory entail?
- proportion of emotional material recalled increases with age (older adults have greater emotional response)
- older adults have fewer social partners cause they want to spend time with people they care about most
- doesn’t mean anti-social - just don’t have time to waste and are more risk-adverse
the disengagement theory
disengagement or mutual withdrawal between the ageing person and society in anticipation of death
- decrease activity levels and interact less frequently
- society frees older adults from employment and family’s responsibilities at the same time
social issues of aging and psychological health
- social isolation
- social support
- social connection
social connection
- key pillar of of lifestyle medicine and essential for human health
- decreases depressive symptoms, PTSD, and improves overall mental health
- counseling on social connection can add both years to life and enhance well-being
strong social support
improves physical health outcomes (BMI, blood sugar, cancer survival, cardiovascular health)
retirement and aging
shown to be positively and negatively associated with mental health
- very complex
involuntary retirement
overall increases the possibility of loneliness, isolation and mental disorders
prevalence of psychiatric illness with retirement
43% of early retirements among working individual s
naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs)
unplanned communities that have high proportion of older residents, and may be critical to finding housing solutions for aging Canadians
NORC buildings
- apartments
- condos
- co-ops with 30% or more older adults (65+)
family and friends social roles
- multiple social roles = self-efficacy and life satisfactions
- social worth = improved overall health and survival
- strong social roles = reduced rates of death, social isolation and loneliness
family and friends and aging
older adults with strong ties to family and friends are more likely to retain independence, sense of meaning and purpose in life, and effective physical and psychological functioning longer
what effect does fulfilling multiple social roles have?
linked to higher life satisfaction and feelings of self-efficacy
(worker, spouse, caregiver, grandparent, etc.)
