“Dear Lord, I miss that woman...if she were still alive, I wouldn’t be here...I didn’t stand a chance against the kids. The first time I took a fall, they had it sewn up as quick as you can say Cracker Jack” (Gruen 108). In her novel, Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen explores how nursing homes can have a negative psychological effect on the elderly causing them increased mental health problems. The psychology of nursing home patients has not been widely studied due to poor funding and lack of motivation to find a solution to elderly mental illness, however the studies that have been done have found that a drastic number of patients suffer from depression and anxiety. Anytime a person goes through a major change in their life a great deal
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Transfering to a nursing home can be even more stressful for an elderly person because it means they have often lost there mobility and sometimes have recently lost a loved one that was their primary caregiver. Many elderly patient feel they lose their dignity and the ability to make their own decision once they enter an assisted care facility (Snowdon 112). Others have reported lowered self esteem and a decrease in the amount of social interaction after entering a nursing home (Drageset 872). These feelings often times lead to mild or even severe cases of depression and anxiety. 80-91% of nursing home patients have some type of psychiatric disorder. 80% of those patients suffer from dementia while 30-50% of nursing home residents suffer from depression (Snowdon 109). After being in a nursing home facility for over 6 months the number of patients with depression and anxiety doubles (Drageset 872). Often times nurses lack the knowledge to recognize patient symptoms of these disorders which results in a lack of treatment and psychiatric …show more content…
This number is drastically lower than the number of elderly people living in nursing homes that have depression. Part of the cause of nursing home depression is that many residents feel as if they have no one to talk to about their problems and concerns. They often feel lonely and begin to ruminate on their self worth due to a lack of hobbies and meaningful relationships which ultimately leads to depression (Gan 1). Studies have shown that social interaction can help to reduce depression like symptoms in elderly residents. Weiss’ developed a social support theory that consisted of six different types of social interactions that could potentially help lessen these negative feelings nursing home residents were experiencing (Dragesey 873). The six different types of social interactions consist of emotional relationships, connections where there is a common interest shared, a nurturing relationships, dependable relationships, connections where one's self worth can be restored, and a relationship where guidance can be received (Dragesey 873). Emotional, nurturing, and dependable relationships can be helpful in allowing the elderly resident to have someone other than doctors and nurses to talk that they trust. They can tell them about their struggles and problems they are facing that they are to scared to talk to a nurse about. These types can be beneficial to
Transfering to a nursing home can be even more stressful for an elderly person because it means they have often lost there mobility and sometimes have recently lost a loved one that was their primary caregiver. Many elderly patient feel they lose their dignity and the ability to make their own decision once they enter an assisted care facility (Snowdon 112). Others have reported lowered self esteem and a decrease in the amount of social interaction after entering a nursing home (Drageset 872). These feelings often times lead to mild or even severe cases of depression and anxiety. 80-91% of nursing home patients have some type of psychiatric disorder. 80% of those patients suffer from dementia while 30-50% of nursing home residents suffer from depression (Snowdon 109). After being in a nursing home facility for over 6 months the number of patients with depression and anxiety doubles (Drageset 872). Often times nurses lack the knowledge to recognize patient symptoms of these disorders which results in a lack of treatment and psychiatric …show more content…
This number is drastically lower than the number of elderly people living in nursing homes that have depression. Part of the cause of nursing home depression is that many residents feel as if they have no one to talk to about their problems and concerns. They often feel lonely and begin to ruminate on their self worth due to a lack of hobbies and meaningful relationships which ultimately leads to depression (Gan 1). Studies have shown that social interaction can help to reduce depression like symptoms in elderly residents. Weiss’ developed a social support theory that consisted of six different types of social interactions that could potentially help lessen these negative feelings nursing home residents were experiencing (Dragesey 873). The six different types of social interactions consist of emotional relationships, connections where there is a common interest shared, a nurturing relationships, dependable relationships, connections where one's self worth can be restored, and a relationship where guidance can be received (Dragesey 873). Emotional, nurturing, and dependable relationships can be helpful in allowing the elderly resident to have someone other than doctors and nurses to talk that they trust. They can tell them about their struggles and problems they are facing that they are to scared to talk to a nurse about. These types can be beneficial to