A Community Social Event Programme For A Group Of People Over The Age Of 65 Years

Activity theory of aging suggest that when elderly people interact with the community and include activities in their daily routine they are their happiest (Baird, 2011, p. 187). Ariel stated that “everyone need some form of release” (Lemmon, 1995).

The purpose of this report is to critically analyse key areas of practice with regard to the Healthy Living for Seniors Program (HLSP) from the perspective of a volunteer. Uniting Care Aging is a non-profit and non-government organisation; and a ministry of the Uniting Church that provides, government, church and client funded aged care services across Australia especially for Australians who are older and vulnerable. The program workers facilitate the group five days a week between 10am-3pm. The program’s field of practice is ‘Aging’ and its major function is to link the individual, group, family or community with needed resources. Welfare practitioners’ in this program empower people and promote social justice, safety, well-being,

For the purpose of this assignment my selected public health intervention will fundamentally focus on ‘promoting health’, the third dimension of Acheson’s description of public health. This attributes to aim at community, individual and population alike to reinforce people’s health and wellbeing (cited in Jones 2012, p.8). My chosen public health issue is the inactivity and social isolation that often arises for people living with a dementia diagnosis, therefore creating a monthly walking group followed by refreshments for what is often a marginalised group and their care partners will offer a sense of inclusion, value and meaning. My role as an assumed Community Development Worker (CDW) will see me coordinate the group and facilitate its initiation towards a self-sustaining group.

Relatively new to this research are the correlations found between living environments and improved health and well-being for the people who live there. Employment and business opportunities also arise to support and maintain services for this vastly growing cohort. Ideas are being put forth now to create urban communities for senior living that will embrace continued learning and service opportunities. Aging-In-Place models, where seniors remain at home and in the community in which they have always lived is argued in research entitled, Innovative Models of Aging in Place: Transforming our Communities for an Aging Population (Bookman). Membership in a community can build relationships and identify common interests and purpose, as well as integrated settings to help promote meaning in the “golden years”. Bookman states that this is a global phenomenon and that in 1950 only 8% of the world population was over 60. Less than 70 years later that has changed dramatically, with the largest increase occurring in the most developed nations. The many benefits are people who are not only living longer, but leading active and healthy lives into ones 80’s and 90’s. The wisdom, experience and skills of this older population are available to family, friends and the communities for many decades. On the other hand, there are also

Andrew Lehning, Andrew Scharlach, and Teresa Dal Santo discuss in their article, A web based approach for helping communities become more “Aging friendly”, that there are three characteristics to creating an aging friendly community and having a sense of purpose and self-worth are key components in this concept. By integrating seniors with children, we as a community are providing a need that the seniors are fulfilling which is thought to prolong the life of most in this proposed theory (Lehning,

Older adults are at a stage in life where they have to come to terms with their “inevitable decline” (Gladding, pg. 301). Older adults may suffer from “loneliness, fear and loss” (Gladding, pg. 302). They have been facing “chronic health problems that require increased attention” (Gladding, pg. 302). Many older people have difficulty transitioning to a “retirement lifestyle and long for their professional roles” (302). Many elderly also experience “limited socialization and interpersonal activities” (Gladding, pg. 303). Depression “affects 121 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability” (Pépin, Guérette, Lefebvre & Jacques, pg. 117).

Recommended and assisted in creating, social activities for patients in community-based programs to preserve active daily living.

One of the most important factors to keeping seniors healthy is exercise. A community exercise program would encourage exercise in this population. Initiating a senior community exercise program within a community would require a large amount interprofessional communication and collaboration. In addition, to have a successful community senior exercise program it would the involvement of several different disciplines. Important disciplines to have involved in this community exercise program would be a medical provider, nurses, therapist, and dietitian. Each of these disciplines has a different specialty that brings different knowledge to the table, which will help create a comprehensive exercise program. Similarly, the collaboration of each

121). Mrs Field lives alone and does not like strangers in her home, nor does she have a high level of social capital, creating additional barriers of care (College of Nursing & Health Sciences 2015). This complication may impact the delivery of care, if Mrs Field does not like strangers in her home, she may not like being visited by healthcare services such as social workers, OTs, nor like being supplied home-delivered meals. Applying the theory of Erikson’s developmental stages, Mrs Field is at the stage of integrity versus despair; this stage of development refers to an individual’s life and whether it was meaningful and what they were able to or were unable to accomplish in their life (Guerin & Guerin 2013a, pp. 55-6; 2013b, p. 39). In addition, this developmental theory shows that social context contributes to integrity versus despair, presenting the imperative role of the nurse to develop integrity rather than despair with Mrs Field through social interaction, communication and effective patient-centred planning (Guerin & Guerin 2013a, p. 56). Through the gathered information the nurse may start to plan Mrs Field’s care around her social isolation, however, an assumption of Mrs Field’s social isolation and lifestyle may impact the plan of care. The main consensus on social isolation in the elderly is that they are at risk of loneliness when isolated at home without much community interaction (Wethington & Pillemer 2014, p. 247). However, evidence shows that isolation and loneliness are subjective and unique to each individual (Aged and Community Services Australia 2015, pp. 5-6). While some elderly may become socially isolated, this can be a lifestyle preference and deliberate, therefore, planning social events in this case, would prove as a barrier to

Later adulthood is the time in life when changes in marriage, families, and peer relationships are affected the most by the loss of someone close to that person. “Most people 70 years of age or older are widowed, divorced, or single” (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p.619). Losing a spouse or close friend can create a sense of loneliness, which causes depression, anxiety and the emptiness feeling can become overwhelming. Depression also leads to psychological effects that will deteriorate a person’s health causing the chance for a terminal disease to become much higher. The weaker appearance of older adults causes family and remaining peers to step up in the role of making sure the person’s wellbeing is being met. (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). Living accommodations and healthcare needs

Participants were recruited through Australian senior centers and the newspaper. The requirements to participate being the individual is sixty

To conclude, this essay in overall reviewed two journal articles on the topic loneliness in older people. It examined the

This study investigated the difference between emotional and social loneliness using structural equation modeling, evaluated whether a two-dimensional or unidimensional conception of loneliness provides a better fit to the data. Second, the extent to which positive and negative social exchanges are associated with older adults’ loneliness was examined. Third, they also investigated whether the structure and social-exchange correlates of loneliness differ for currently married versus formerly married older

There are many reasons to why elderly persons can fall at risk of social isolation and loneliness. These factors can range anywhere from

I think it is important for us to address Social Engagement Theory. I think for an elder to be able to interact with a younger can contribute to a positive attitude about life, and create more room for growth and activity in elderhood. I think it is important to highlight the engagement theory with the younger generations. There may be generational age gaps but I wish more senior living centers