PROBLEM STATEMENT
Traditional family structure, where multiple generations live together or maintain close knit relationships, have transformed due to factors like urbanisation, globalisation and changes in societal norms. In more contemporary family structures, there might be increased geographical mobility, smaller family sizes and different expectations regarding caregiving responsibility.
Elderly individuals may experience feelings of neglect if the evolving family structure and societal changes result in reduced social connections, family support or attention as are often concomitant with life in a retirement home, according to the National Library of Medicine. This can lead to a sense of isolation and impact their overall well-being. Understanding these societal shifts is crucial for developing support systems and services that address the changing needs of elderly individuals in nursing homes. Furthermore, the absence of mental stimulation and engaging activities in elderly homes can be a concern, potentially impacting the mental well-being of the residents as seen by an article written by Maddox, F. in 2023 and the National Institute of Aging. It’s essential for care facilities to prioritise activities and social interaction to promote mental engagement and overall quality of life for the residents.
Doreen’s Retirement Villas is a small home with nine residents aged 70 – 102 years old. A pressing issue arises as we recognise the absence of meaningful companionship and mental stimulation. The residents showed signs of social isolation and low mood due to the absence of engaging or stimulating activities and the lack of frequent visits by family members. The complexity of their health conditions further exacerbates their challenges. Many residents are navigating various stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia while one male resident copes with scoliosis and two female residents face blindness. Additionally, several residents manage conditions such as diabetes, prediabetes, hypothyroidism and other medical conditions. By focusing on mental stimulation and fostering togetherness, we believe that this initiative strives to redefine the concept of elderly care, promote being active regardless of age and create a sense of purpose.
RATIONALE
The issue of social isolation among the elderly, coupled with the generational gap between the youth and the elderly, presents a complex challenge that demands much attention. It is a common phenomenon in society that the elderly feel a sense of social isolation because the wider population and even family members are engrossed in their own matters and often overlook the contributions of senior citizens. A study entitled “The Elderly in Trinidad: Health, Social and Economic Status and Issues of Loneliness” published by the West Indian Medical Journal provided results from a survey involving eight hundred and forty-five elderly persons between the ages of 65-102 years, that inquired about their social, economic and health status. Of the population surveyed, thirty-three percent reported feelings of loneliness. The study highlighted that based on the responses, the feeling of loneliness developed because the relatives of the elderly were “quite occupied with their own affairs.”Additionally, there is a generational gap between the elderly and youth in society. According to an article titled “The Adoption of a Serious Game to Foster Interaction between the Elderly and the Youth,” this gap has been created due to negative intergenerational perceptions between the young and old.
We, the ‘Silver Smiles’ team have decided to undertake a six week project at Doreen’s Retirement Villas to provide our companionship to the elderly, create opportunities for enjoyment and reduce feelings of social isolation among this population. Following our visit to Doreen’s Retirement Villas, a sense of concern and empathy enveloped us as we observed an undeniable air of solitude among the inhabitants. The staff at the elderly home emphasised that the residents experience a lack of social activity and often sit around watching television for almost the entire day. Moreover, some residents explained that they enjoy activities such as yoga and painting but are unable to enjoy these activities while residing at the home. Findings by BMC Public Health find strong relations between social isolation in older persons and reduced everyday physical activity and a greater sedentary lifestyle. Thus during the six weeks, activities such as playing board games, engaging in yoga, performing vital health checks, gardening, painting and engaging in a technology literacy session will be carried out with the residents of the home to satisfy the needs of this community.
Playing board games will enhance social connections between the elderly residents and volunteers by encouraging teamwork and healthy competition. A literature review published by Sage Journals substantiates the aforementioned as it revealed that board game play fosters sociability, communication and teamwork among players. Cultivating the seniors’ participation in yoga will aid in improving relaxation, creating a sense of well-being and improving social relationships as per an article from the International Journal of Yoga that discussed the therapeutic effects of yoga. The inclusion of assisting in vital health checks and medical report reading not only seeks to assist the staff but will also aid in helping some residents to maintain control over their chronic conditions while fostering one on one conversations between volunteers and residents. Exposure to nature by gardening activities seeks to relieve stress and regulate emotion which an article by the National Library of Medicine says “enhances psychological well-being” in the elderly. In addition, painting will provide a sense of accomplishment for one resident Ruth, who particularly conveyed that she loved painting. It will also increase the mental stimulation of the residents. Furthermore, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers states in a publication that “seniors can leverage social media, video calling, and other technologies to connect with loved ones and reduce these feelings of loneliness, which could be detrimental to their health.” Consequently, we have decided to engage our elderly community in a technology workshop to facilitate the enhancement of social connectivity.
Moreover, according to the article titled “Impact of Social Isolation on Behavioural Health in Elderly” by the National Library of Medicine, a Pubmed Journal, “social isolation in the ageing population has been shown to have profound negative effects on the longevity of physical and mental health.” Thus, if the volunteers are successful in providing companionship and reducing the residents’ feelings of loneliness through the activities planned, residents will even concur the added benefit of increased physical and mental health.
Finally, for this project to be a success, our group will need resources such as seeds, mini shovels, plant pots and other gardening tools for a mini kitchen garden. In addition, for the activities to promote learning, engagement and excitement, the other resources necessary for the completion of this project include board games, technological devices, paint, paintbrushes and art canvases.