Needs of Senior Citizens

Introduction 

The United States has invested heavily in the welfare of its senior citizens. The establishment of facilities that have been designed for the care of the elderly is one of the measures that the nation has undertaken to provide its elderly citizens with comfort. However, the nation still lags behind as there are thousands of senior citizens who feel abandoned. These citizens wallow in poverty and solitude (Semuels, 2015). There is a role that communities can play to ensure that senior citizens enjoy the comforts of family. Many communities have risen up to this mandate and have responded to the plight of the elderly. There are a number of centers that have been established and are supported by communities for the care of senior citizens (Senior Center Facts” n.d). The issue of the needs of senior citizens in the United States is the main focus of this paper. The paper applies a number of theories in its exploration of the desires and demands of senior citizens as it offers recommendations to a community on how it can develop a community center for the care of the elderly. 

Developmental pathways

As individuals grow, they develop pathways and mechanisms for addressing certain life realities. This is also true for senior citizens. Old age is characterized by a wide range of hazards that place the health and the lives of the elderly at risk (Haber, 2013). For this reason, as people age, they need to develop mechanisms for tackling these hazards. These hazards are made worse by the fact that the elderly lack the stamina to stave off the hazards. For instance, it is common for senior citizens to report falls (WHO, 2007). These falls can be blamed on the fact that the elderly have lost the stamina and agility to navigate their environments. It is important to ensure that as one ages, they have mastered the techniques needed to stay safe in their own homes and in the external environment.

In the discussion above, it has been mentioned that hazards are among the issues that the elderly face. These hazards can be tackled when the risks within the environment in which the elderly stay are eliminated. For example, the homes of the elderly could be customized to accommodate the condition of the elderly. This can be done by taking away any objects that could expose the elderly to the risk of falls (WHO, 2007). Support from the members of the families of the elderly is another factor that plays an important role in the mitigation of risks. Usually, senior citizens are too frail to live independently. They require support for such simple tasks as preparing food and moving around. Family members need to be present at all times to ensure that their elderly member is not exposed to risks (Boeck, Fleming & Kemshall, 2006). The support from the family and the elimination of risks which could pose a threat to the wellbeing of a senior citizen are key elements of the developmental pathway. It has been demonstrated that social capital plays an important role in building the resilience of the elderly and shielding them from the wide range of risks that are encountered in old age (Boeck, Fleming & Kemshall, 2006). 

Bereavement and ill health are among the numerous issues that senior citizens grapple with. These individuals have witnessed the death of their friends and families. These deaths leave them in grief and unless measures are taken to offer comfort, the grief could adversely affect the physical, emotional and spiritual health of a senior citizen (Monk, Pfoff & Zarotney, 2013). Senior citizens also encounter health challenges. These challenges include such medical conditions as stroke and heart disease. Arthritis is another problem that is commonly reported by the elderly. Osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s are other diseases that mostly affect senior citizens (“Common Age Related”, n.d). Alzheimer’s disease is especially damaging as it robs the elderly of their ability to function independently. This disease impairs their cognitive function and as a result the capacities of such faculties as memory decline. The physical health of the elderly bears the brunt of these conditions. These conditions also drain their emotional and spiritual energies. The situation is worse for elderly citizens who feel abandoned by their families and communities. 

It is true that the physical conditions that the elderly grapple with lower the quality of their lives. The impacts of these conditions underscore the need for the elderly to develop resilience. Social capital has already been identified as among the resources that allow the elderly to tackle risks and develop resilience (Boeck, Fleming & Kemshall, 2006). In addition to social capital, healthy lifestyles also help the elderly to become more resilient. By adopting such healthy lifestyles as regular physical activity, the elderly are able to build the stamina needed to tackle the risks that they face. It has been shown that the vulnerabilities that the elderly face in old age are closely linked to their childhood experiences (Zaidi, 2014). To ensure that they are resilient, it is important to provide individuals with positive experiences that shield them from the vulnerabilities that are encountered in old age. 

Adults’ developmental needs across the lifespan

The needs of adults evolve as they develop. The development phase for adults is divided into three stages. Early adulthood is the first stage. At this stage, adults are confronted with two possible realities: intimacy versus isolation (“Human Development” n.d). They can choose to either embrace others to form relationships or remain isolated. The main developmental need at this stage is intimacy and company. When these needs are not met, the adult suffers isolation. Isolation can result in a wide range of health challenges such as depression. 

The early adulthood phase soon gives way to the middle adulthood stage. At this stage, one has probably become a parent. The main focus of the adults who are at this stage is to ensure that their next generations are sufficiently provided for (“Human Development” n.d). Generativity and stagnation are the elements that characterize the middle adulthood stage. Generativity essentially refers to the ability to provide for the next generation. Those who are unable to provide or make any meaningful progress in their lives feel like their lives have stagnated (“Human Development” n.d). The primary need for those in middle adulthood is some sense of purpose and the ability to provide for others. A sense of uselessness and depression can result when this need is not met. 

The third and final stage of adulthood is old age. Ego integrity and despair are the two main realities that define this stage of the adult lifespan. It is common for those at this stage to reflect on their lives and determine if their lives have had any meaning (“Human Development” n.d). A sense of fulfillment develops in those who believe that they have made an impact. On the other hand, despair is suffered by the elderly adults who think that they could have made more of their lives (“Human Development” n.d). The main need at this stage is the desire for fulfillment and purpose. In addition to this need, old adults also require constant support from their families and other members of their social circle. They also need medical support to stay healthy. Old adulthood is undoubtedly the most challenging phase of the adult lifespan. The challenges are worse for those who lack social support and feel that their life has been without meaning. Despair and depression may set in if such individuals are not provided with support. 

Theory of gains and losses

The theory of gains and losses (also referred to as the prospect theory) helps to shed light on the experiences of senior citizens. This theory offers insights on how individuals make decisions. It holds that when one is presented with two choices with one choice representing a gain and the other representing a loss, the individual is likely to opt for the former (Yechiam, 2015). Essentially, this theory argues that individuals tend to avoid losses and prefer gains. This theory is relevant to the experiences of senior citizens as it underscores the need for these citizens to remain positive. It is true that their lives are riddled with challenges that range from health problems to feelings of despair. These challenges can only be overcome when the senior citizens maintain a positive perspective. Research indicates that the mindset plays an important role in determining the state of one’s health. A gloomy and negative attitude is likely to present negative health outcomes. On the other hand, positivity has been linked to better outcomes (English & Carstensen, 2015) Therefore, while the elderly should recognize the challenges that they face, they should not allow these challenges to kill their spirit. They should set their sights on the positive elements of old age. 

Cultural needs

There are various cultural needs that senior citizens desire to have met (“Aging and Cultural” 2011). Language is one of the aspects of culture that define the needs of senior citizens. It is important to develop programs that respond to the different languages of senior citizens. For example, care givers can speak in languages that the elderly understand (“Aging and Cultural” 2011). Another cultural need that should be met concerns spiritual health. The US is a multicultural nation that serves as a home for individuals from different spiritual backgrounds. Those who provide care to the senior citizens should ensure that the cultural needs of the different religious groups are met. For example, Christians may be provided with sessions where they study the Bible. This will go a long way in enhancing the health of the elderly. In an earlier discussion, it was mentioned that the elderly need to build resilience to tackle the challenges that they face. Religious services have been shown to help them build the resilience. It appears that faith in God offers elderly citizens hope and the strength to combat the issues that they deal with. 

Contextual factors

When developing programs for senior citizens, it is important to consider contextual factors. These factors include the situations of the families of these citizens and the conditions in which they live. The situation of the family plays an important role in determining the capacity of the family to provide care. Taking care of the elderly can be a costly endeavor. This is why poor families are usually unable to properly care for their elderly members (Bookman & Kimbrel, 2011). They are unable to afford the medical costs and the costs of the other facilities that senior citizens require. Many poor families have been forced to abandon their elderly members who are then compelled to fend for themselves. Another issue that concerns family situation is the availability of the members. There are certain families where the members are simply too busy to provide care. These families are forced to place their elderly members in care homes (Smith, 2013). In situations where the family is unable to meet the cost of the care provided in homes for the elderly, the families are forced to abandon their elderly members. The living conditions are the other factor that needs to be considered. Many senior citizens live in squalid and appalling conditions (Cawthorne, 2008). This is the result of the failure by communities and the government to adequately invest in providing senior citizens with the best possible care. It is important to examine the conditions to ensure that any hazards are eliminated and that the senior citizens enjoy comfort. 

Development of the community center 

The community desires to construct a center that will be used to provide care to its senior citizens. As it does this, there are a number of issues that must be considered. It is important to consider the developmental pathways examined in an earlier discussion. It is especially vital to ensure that the risks that threaten the wellbeing of the senior citizens are done away with. Furthermore, the community must implement measures to boost the resilience of the senior citizens. These measures include providing constant support and love. Resilience can also be boosted by shielding the senior citizens from negative experiences such as illness. 

Apart from considering the development pathways, the community also needs to be guided by insights regarding the development of adults. They need to note the needs that the senior citizens would like met. For instance, since the elderly have medical needs that require attention, the community could meet this need by ensuring that quality medical care is provided. The community center should be equipped with facilities and personnel which ensure that the senior citizens receive medical care as and when they require it. The theory of gains and losses explored earlier could also guide the establishment of the community center. As mentioned earlier, this theory holds that individuals tend to avoid risk. The parties responsible for setting up the community center should ensure that all risks are identified and eliminated. Additionally, they should provide the senior citizens with positive experiences. This will play an important role in assuring the senior citizens that they are loved and that they are not a burden. 

The cultural needs and the contextual factors must also be integrated into the development of the community center. As mentioned above, the elderly have unique cultural needs that require attention. These needs include providing instruction in a language understood by all and offering religious services. The community center should bring on board professionals who are culturally competent and able to communicate in a language understood by all senior citizens. The center should also engage the services of religious leaders whose primary mandate will be to attend to the religious needs of the elderly. 

In conclusion, senior citizens have been neglected for far too long. In many communities, they are regarded as a burden who do not contribute in any way to the productivity of the community. This attitude has seen senior citizens suffer in isolation. It is time that communities saw the need to offer care to and embrace senior citizens. They should understand that these individuals require social support to combat the risks that they face and to build resilience. There is also need for communities to understand the demands and desires of the senior citizens. This will allow them to ensure that all the needs are met. The community intends to establish a center for senior citizens. This community will do well if it integrates the insights that have been shared above in the programs that they will develop for the senior citizens. There is need for other communities to borrow from this community and respond to the plight of the elderly. 

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