GERO2000 Introduction To Gerontology

Introduction

In modern society, sending the elderly to senior housing is something that has become a norm. Also known as old age homes or retirement homes, senior housing has become a way of life. Yet, there have been multiple sociocultural as well as economic impacts that have impacted the trends regarding senior housing.  

Discussion

By social capital, it is most notably understood as the resources that individuals have available to them. It is this social capital that allows older individuals to remain productive and independent. With the decline of civic engagement and voluntarism, there can be been a considerable loss of social capital which can negatively impact senior housing.

With the impact of baby boomers (those who are born between 1946- 1964), a surge of “life plan” or “age in place” communities have risen with this generation needing senior housing. Such communities offer the benefit to such individuals to stay in their homes and apartments which they are accustomed to even as their needs and demands change over time. (Pollack & Von dem Knesebeck, 2004).

Although with the lack of economic funding and social capital, places like assisted living homes that are isolated facilities are unable to hire skilled nurses. In such cases, it is crucial to place an elderly loved one in an environment where they will be able to get the care and support they need. Having a facility that is well funded through the partnership of communities would ensure the flow of social capital.

Currently, with the option for assisted living that young adults have, it is crucial to evaluate their pros and cons. The strengths of assisted living homes in currently times entail taking care of the elderly, from eating, dressing and bathing becoming hassle-free. Similarly, there would no longer remain the need to manage and maintain a home which the elderly being able to adapt to any sudden change is experienced (Celso, Ebener & Burkhead, 2003). At the same time assisted living facilities to cost significantly less than nursing homes. The downside to it comes in the form of the risk of not having nurses or staff that can manage a serious medical condition. Also, assisted living home can often turn out to be cost-prohibitive and some of the elderly can have difficulty in adjusting to a more group-oriented setting with certain policies in place.

Due to the loss of social capital due to the decline of social trust, there is a possibility that the social communities that offer voluntariness are on the decline which in turn is adding to the loss of social capital. In this respect, senior housing facilities like assisted living homes and planned care developments can aid in the distributing of capital for the increasing elderly population (Greenfield, et al., 2015).

Conclusion

This issue lies in the fact that senior homes such as assisted living facilities still remain widely financially inaccessible to the majority of US citizens.  As such, an alternative solution would then result in depending on the investment in communities that are more focused on the building and delivery of social capital (Cannuscio, Block & Kawachi, 2003).

Reference List

Cannuscio, C., Block, J., & Kawachi, I. (2003). Social capital and successful aging: The role of senior housing. Annals of internal medicine, 139(5_Part_2), 395-399.

Celso, B. G., Ebener, D. J., & Burkhead, E. J. (2003). Humor coping, health status, and life satisfaction among older adults residing in assisted living facilities. Aging & mental health, 7(6), 438-445.

Greenfield, E. A., Oberlink, M., Scharlach, A. E., Neal, M. B., & Stafford, P. B. (2015). Age-friendly community initiatives: Conceptual issues and key questions. The Gerontologist, 55(2), 191-198.

Pollack, C. E., & Von dem Knesebeck, O. (2004). Social capital and health among the aged: comparisons between the United States and Germany. Health & place, 10(4), 383-391.

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