Nursing Caregivers' Social Support for Elderly People With Dementia or Alzheimer's

 

Social Support for elderly is one of the most effective means that ensure the total well-being and security of older people. These networks promote an improved interaction with daily environmental changes and events. They also allow senior citizens to interact and share their experiences with other elderly. It aims at developing better relationships and understanding between aged people and to build up their confidence and motivation in times of need. These networks have become an essential element of daily life for older people.

These people are usually facing various problems, and thus it is very important to provide them with the right kind of psychological well-being. With these social services, they can become self-reliant and start looking for ways to cope with their problems. Through these networks, people living with physical disabilities can get the help and assistance they need to move forward with their lives. This would give them the sense of independence and improve their self-esteem.

Social Support in Moorebank can play an important role in combating depression among the older generation. Elderly people often feel isolated due to several factors. One of them is the feeling that society has treated them as objects and not as people. Sometimes, people find it hard to cope up with the stress brought about by the changes and difficulties in everyday life.

These include unemployment, change in work/work schedules, change in residential area, change in care givers, and many others. The lack of acceptance from others adds to the mental stress, which worsens depression. Thus, these seven articles found on the Internet offer an integrated review on the subject. These articles provided cover each of the seven causes of depression and anxiety in elderly.

The integrated review provides a detailed analysis on how to deal with all seven causes of depression in elderly persons. It focuses on the types of support system that can be applied for these seven reasons. The first article refers to informal social support system. Informal social support involves the participation of family and friends in an effort to promote mental health and well-being. Some of these informal social support groups might include the neighborhood watch, churches, and the community organization.

The second article discusses the impact of stigma on the lives of elderly living in extreme environments. The stigma might cause low self-esteem and depression. This impact is caused by the fear of being abandoned by society when they no longer find it easy to survive in this new environment. The third article highlights how the fear of stigma can cause social isolation. The term itself may mean different things to different people. According to the integrated review, however, the fear of stigma is a common cause for depression in elderly persons.

The fourth article addresses the role played by psychological stress on the development of depression in elderly. Psychological stress results from the accumulation of psychological distress over time. The sources of psychological stress in most cases are unresolved conflicts within the family, long-term unemployment, and post-traumatic stress. The integrated review further suggests that psychological stress may result in the persistence of depressive symptoms and, in severe cases, may cause suicide attempts among elderly.

The fifth article addresses three important points regarding depression in elderly. First, it addresses significant differences between elderly who suffer from depression and those who do not. Second, it outlines significant differences between those who seek and receive psychological help and those who do not. Finally, it identifies factors that increase the likelihood that depressed elderly may resort to suicide attempts.

The sixth article addresses five key points concerning depression in elderly. First, it shows that the presence of social support is a critical factor in reducing the level of depression. Social support is a form of indirect psychological stress relief. This occurs when friends and family members show encouragement and assistance to the elderly in their time of need. Family members who are supportive are perceived as providing "invisible support" that reduces the loneliness of the elderly.

The seventh article addresses African American women. The authors point out that social support needs vary greatly between black and white elderly. For instance, many blacks have high rates of reported abuse at the hands of family members. However, whites appear to lack a similar problem. Because of these differences, it appears that the disparity in social support needs may be caused by the perception of race and ethnicity rather than any other socioeconomic classification.

Finally, the eighth article addresses perceived social support and mental health difficulties faced by elders with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The authors identify four criteria used to evaluate the mental health of elders. These four criteria include the ability to function in society; the ability to take advantage of community services; enjoyment of personal relationships and the ability to cope with stress and changes in life. By examining each of these four areas, the authors argue that there are distinct forms of mental health assistance available to the elderly.