Describe the emotional needs of elderly persons. Compare them to your own emotional needs. Are they alike or different? Why do the emotional needs of elderly persons sometimes go unmet?
What will be an ideal response?
Elderly persons have a need to love and to be loved. They need to have a sense of self-worth. Elderly persons must have a sense of achievement and recognition. They must also have a degree of economic security.
Your own emotional needs, as well as the emotional needs of all other people, are the same as those of elderly people. It is easier for people who are young and healthy to find ways to meet their emotional needs than it is for elderly people. Elderly people lose opportunities for social exchange and sexual expression. They also may be viewed by some as unimportant in today's society, so their self-image deteriorates as a result. Physical changes and illnesses also have an effect on the ability of elderly persons to meet their emotional needs.
Elderly people often suffer many losses as the result of death, health problems, appearance changes, and financial situation. This also affects their emotional needs and self-esteem. There are fewer opportunities for achievement and recognition for elderly individuals. Most elderly persons no longer work, so if they deplete their finances, they have no way to replenish them, and they may worry about how to pay bills or how to pay for their health care.
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