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Long ago, in 1942, when Abraham
Maslow introduced his hierarchy of needs model, the bulk of today’s elderly
were just toddlers. Over the years
Maslow’s hierarchy model, which is based on graduating levels of human needs,
has been applied to a variety of economic and social situations. When applied to the needs of the elderly, it
shows five areas that contribute to quality of life for the aging rather than
the common health care focus of longevity of life. For many of today’s aging, gaining longevity
is not enough unless it is coupled with a high quality of life. Knowing what the hierarchy of needs is for
elders can help family and caregivers assist their elders in achieving the
highest level of satisfaction, self-esteem and self-actualization.
· Physiological
needs
– All people, no matter their age, start with the most basic of
requirements. Food, drink, shelter,
sleep and treatment of illness and injury are all fundamental to survival. When providing care for the elderly, this is
the area that most caregivers focus on.
Providing these basics, especially with the focus on health for the
frail and disabled, takes the bulk a caregiver’s time and energy. Although essential, meeting physiological
needs is more about survival and does not necessarily ensure quality of life
for the aged.
· Security
needs
– Once physical survival is safeguarded the next rung up the ladder is
security. This is an issue that many
adult children of aging parents worry about and often the source of conflict
between the generations. The elderly, especially those who feel vulnerable due
to injury or illness, desire a sense of security. Yet they will often react
with anger at being treated like a toddler, especially from their offspring. Sensitivity
is needed when discussing security concerns such as driving, maintaining the
house or even being alone at home. When
intervention is taken for safety sake, the aging can strongly react to the loss
of their independence. It is wise to
replace that loss through transportation services and in-home care.
· Social
needs –
Being connected socially is very important to all people, but for the elderly
it becomes a key quality of life concern.
Due to health issues or lack of ability to get out, the aging often find
their social opportunities shrinking and they spend more of their time
alone. The elderly need opportunities to
become involved socially with family, friends and the community. Attending functions at the local senior
centers, volunteering or connecting through social media can help the elderly feel
like a contributing member of society.
· Self-Esteem
needs
– The elderly, like all people, want to feel recognized and appreciated for
their ideas, abilities and talents. The
aging often lose their sense of worth when illness, disability or frailty
limits them. The loss of self worth is
devastating to an elder’s well being and can be linked to depression and
increased mortality. Caregivers need to
add to their loved one’s quality of life by working together on project that
boost self-esteem. Enjoying hobbies or
pursuing projects such as writing memoirs, or constructing a legacy album or
recording family stories can elevate self-esteem.
· Self-Actualization
needs –
According to Maslow the highest rung of the hierarchy is the need for
self-actualization. This status is reached by relatively few people and those
who do share some common traits. They
tend to concentrate on the reality of life rather than wishful thinking. They are problem solvers and not
complainers. They also have a viewpoint
that their life’s journey is just as important as their final destination. With
all the experience of life and maturity, the elderly should be prime candidates
to reach self-actualization. Yet the
process of aging often strips our elders of the higher levels of the self-actualization,
self-esteem and social connection, leaving today’s aging just hanging on to the
lower levels of survival.
Family and caregivers need to
be aware of the many needs the elderly and actively provide opportunities to
help their elders rise up each level of the hierarchy to the point where life
is truly cherished rather than just survived.
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Kate
McCarthy is Director of Operations for HomeAid Health Care which provides non-medical
home services for the elderly who wish to remain safe and independent at
home. HomeAid is a sister company to
family owned, Prairie Home Assisted Living in Menasha. Together the two companies provide
comprehensive care for the elderly in Appleton, Neenah and Menasha and throughout the Fox Valley.
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Sources: “The Handbook of Live-in Care” by Kathy N. Johnson, PhD, CMC, James H. Johnson, PhD & Lily Sarafan, MS. 2011, Home Care Assistance, Inc.
Great post! I remember studying Maslow's hierarchy of needs back in my communication class. Now I see it applied to the needs of the elderly and it totally makes sense :-) If we have seniors in our family or if we're working with the elderly, the explanations and tips here would really help a lot in the way we interact with them everyday. We can be more sensitive to their needs and eventually improve our relationship with them. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouraging words! I think people sometimes make the mistake of thinking that the elderly are pretty much done with the emotional and psychological changes everyone wrestles with throughout life. That assumption can lead to a bit of insensitivity in their relationships with them. Keeping in mind their needs and providing opportunities to help them meet these needs can really help add to the elderly's quality of life.
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