Assessing the Needs of Elderly People: A Case Study of Joan

Running head- HEALTHCARE
Human growth and Development
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HEALTHCARE
Introduction- Old age has often been recognised as a sensitive phase where all elderly
people require comfort and care, in order to lead a healthy life, without any anxiety or worries.
Absence of awareness on the altering behavioural patterns, among the elderly people residing at
home results in abuse by kin and close relative (Cacioppo and Cacioppo 2014). Time and again it
has been proved that childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age are the central stages in the
life of an individual (Bjorklund and Causey 2017). All the phases are distinguished by their
unique troubles and issues. With the passage of each level there is deterioration in the physical as
well as mental stability of a person. According to Saxon, Etten and Perkins (2014) with a
progress in age, several medical issues are often found to arise, particularly diabetes, blood
pressure, arthritis, heart failure, kidney infections, and joint pain. Negligence towards the elderly
by the young generation, while longing for love, affection, and care also some of the factors that
are commonly encountered by older adults.
Understanding the concerns and needs of the elderly people helps in ensuring their good
health, thereby enhancing their overall well being. Lending them an emotional support also
keeps them in a jovial mode, which is often considered as the ideal prerequisite for a living a
healthy life (Kachouie et al. 2014). Hence, elderly care refers to the fulfilment of specialized
requirements and needs that are unique only to senior citizens, and encompasses several term
such as, adult day care, long-term care, assisted living, residential care, and hospice care. Caring
for the elderly also emphasizes on meeting the personal and social requirements of the people,
who require aid with their daily activities, but have the desire to age with dignity. This
assignment will elaborate on the needs of Joan, followed by illustration of the actions and
interpersonal skills required to meet them.

2HEALTHCARE
Assessments of needs- Needs are defined as preferences and demands of people that are
imperative for conducting necessary physiological functions, for survival of an individual.
Furthermore, aging is also associated with alterations in the dynamic, environmental, biological,
behavioural, social, and psychological processes (Gaszynska et al. 2014). An analysis of the case
scenario suggests that Joan is in immediate need of assisted living facilities, where she would get
the much desired medical help as well as assistance in conducting her activities of daily living.
Presence of accessible and affordable housing is one major need, due to the fact that she has
fallen behind paying all the bills. Alcohol consumption has also taken a toll on her physical
health, since she recently reports dizziness and pain in the chest. Therefore, her immediate
physical needs encompass conduction of a comprehensive assessment of her health, in order to
identify any possible cardiovascular complications. Withdrawal from the community and staying
away from her sons and daughter has also created a huge impact on her mental health, which in
turn have triggered the onset of suicidal ideation (Verma and Huttune 2015). In the words of
Taylor (2014) clinical depression among the elderly people makes them lose interest in the
activities that they once used to enjoy. The same has been noticed in the case of Joan, where she
is finding it difficult to struggle with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, which in turn is
creating a huge impact on her life, sleep, work interests, relationships, and hobbies. She must be
referred for a consultation service to a mental health counsellor, where she will obtain assistance
in order to eliminate or prevent sadness, despair, lack of motivation, and reduce alcohol
consumption.
Aging in individuals can be explained by ‘Hayflick limit’ concept, which elaborates on
the fact that normal human cells replicate and divide up till 40-60 times, before it cannot divide
anymore, and breaks down by apoptosis or programmed cell death (Bengtson and Settersten

3HEALTHCARE
2016). Owing to the fact that the human cells lose their capability to replicate infinitely, none of
the cells are immortal, and they gradually begin to lose their capabilities, thereby leading to the
onset of different illnesses. In other words, lifespan has been identified central for the intrinsic
biological processes that lead to aging, as they help in ensuring the survival of an individual till a
certain time, following which biological aging results in eventual death. According to Schaie the
different stages pattern encompass cognitive development in adults are namely acquisition,
young adult, achieving, responsible, executive and reorganizational stages. Reorganizational
stage is associated with life towards the end of it, during which the activities are directed towards
a planned resource utilisation for the remaining life period (Demetriou, Shayer and Efklides
2016). This phase commonly comprises of making housing arrangements, changing residence,
place execution of advanced medical directives, planning financial arrangements for resource
protection during final years, or meeting the needs and requirements of the family members.
Hence, it can be stated that Joan is currently living in the reorganizational stage of her life.
There is mounting evidence for the fact that with aging, all individuals develop degrees
of decline in their cognitive capacities that typically include forgetfulness, reduced problem-
solving capabilities, and decreased ability in maintaining focus, which when unchecked, result in
serious mental conditions such as, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and dementia (Morris et al.
2015). Presence of depressive symptoms in Joan can be explained by the ‘Triarchic Theory of
Intelligence’ that defines intelligence in the form of mental activity, which is targeted towards
purposive adaptation for selecting and shaping real world environment, in relation to an
individual’s life (Kaufman 2018). According to the theory, there are three different components
that govern mental intelligence namely, componential, experiential, and practical. The theory
focuses on the fact that making changes within oneself, for adjusting in a better way to the