Social needs of older people: A systematic literature review (2024)

ten Bruggencate, A. A., Luijkx, K. G., & Sturm, J. (2018). Social needs of older people: A systematic literature review. , 38(9), 1745-1770. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X17000150

ten Bruggencate, A.A. ; Luijkx, K.G. ; Sturm, J. / Social needs of older people : A systematic literature review. In: . 2018 ; Vol. 38, No. 9. pp. 1745-1770.

@article{fc6e91f533a84a9183baaaafce3916ed,

title = "Social needs of older people: A systematic literature review",

abstract = "Social needs are important basic human needs. When social needs are not satisfied, this can lead to mental and physical health problems. With a growing population of older adults and the need for them to stay healthy and community-dwelling, satisfying social needs is important. The aim of this review is to give more insight into the social needs of older people and subsequently into the characteristics of effective interventions for satisfying older people's social needs. A systematic review of the existing literature on quantitative, qualitative and mixed empirical studies on the social needs of older people was conducted. The themes that emerged were diversity, proximity, meaning of the relationship and reciprocity. These themes offered several intervention implications. Participation in hobbies and in volunteer work and being connected were among the main findings. The social needs of older people are diverse. They focus on both the intimate and the peripheral members of their networks. When satisfying social needs, reciprocity is important. The feeling of connectedness to others and to a community or neighbourhood contributes to wellbeing as well as a feeling of independence. Staying active by doing volunteer work or participating in (leisure) social activities satisfies social needs. Therefore, interventions should focus especially on the connectedness, participation and independence of the older adult.",

keywords = "ADULTS, CONNECTEDNESS, FOLLOW-UP, HEALTH-STATUS, LATER LIFE, LONELINESS, MORTALITY, NETWORKS, PARTICIPATION, SUPPORT, Social Production Function Theory of Successful Aging, interventions, older adults, social convoy model, social needs, socio-emotional selectivity theory",

author = "{ten Bruggencate}, A.A. and K.G. Luijkx and J. Sturm",

year = "2018",

doi = "10.1017/S0144686X17000150",

language = "English",

volume = "38",

pages = "1745--1770",

journal = "Ageing & Society",

issn = "1469-1779",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press/UNEP",

number = "9",

}

ten Bruggencate, AA, Luijkx, KG & Sturm, J 2018, 'Social needs of older people: A systematic literature review', , vol. 38, no. 9, pp. 1745-1770. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X17000150

Social needs of older people: A systematic literature review. / ten Bruggencate, A.A.; Luijkx, K.G.; Sturm, J.
In: , Vol. 38, No. 9, 2018, p. 1745-1770.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Social needs of older people

T2 - A systematic literature review

AU - ten Bruggencate, A.A.

AU - Luijkx, K.G.

AU - Sturm, J.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Social needs are important basic human needs. When social needs are not satisfied, this can lead to mental and physical health problems. With a growing population of older adults and the need for them to stay healthy and community-dwelling, satisfying social needs is important. The aim of this review is to give more insight into the social needs of older people and subsequently into the characteristics of effective interventions for satisfying older people's social needs. A systematic review of the existing literature on quantitative, qualitative and mixed empirical studies on the social needs of older people was conducted. The themes that emerged were diversity, proximity, meaning of the relationship and reciprocity. These themes offered several intervention implications. Participation in hobbies and in volunteer work and being connected were among the main findings. The social needs of older people are diverse. They focus on both the intimate and the peripheral members of their networks. When satisfying social needs, reciprocity is important. The feeling of connectedness to others and to a community or neighbourhood contributes to wellbeing as well as a feeling of independence. Staying active by doing volunteer work or participating in (leisure) social activities satisfies social needs. Therefore, interventions should focus especially on the connectedness, participation and independence of the older adult.

AB - Social needs are important basic human needs. When social needs are not satisfied, this can lead to mental and physical health problems. With a growing population of older adults and the need for them to stay healthy and community-dwelling, satisfying social needs is important. The aim of this review is to give more insight into the social needs of older people and subsequently into the characteristics of effective interventions for satisfying older people's social needs. A systematic review of the existing literature on quantitative, qualitative and mixed empirical studies on the social needs of older people was conducted. The themes that emerged were diversity, proximity, meaning of the relationship and reciprocity. These themes offered several intervention implications. Participation in hobbies and in volunteer work and being connected were among the main findings. The social needs of older people are diverse. They focus on both the intimate and the peripheral members of their networks. When satisfying social needs, reciprocity is important. The feeling of connectedness to others and to a community or neighbourhood contributes to wellbeing as well as a feeling of independence. Staying active by doing volunteer work or participating in (leisure) social activities satisfies social needs. Therefore, interventions should focus especially on the connectedness, participation and independence of the older adult.

KW - ADULTS

KW - CONNECTEDNESS

KW - FOLLOW-UP

KW - HEALTH-STATUS

KW - LATER LIFE

KW - LONELINESS

KW - MORTALITY

KW - NETWORKS

KW - PARTICIPATION

KW - SUPPORT

KW - Social Production Function Theory of Successful Aging

KW - interventions

KW - older adults

KW - social convoy model

KW - social needs

KW - socio-emotional selectivity theory

U2 - 10.1017/S0144686X17000150

DO - 10.1017/S0144686X17000150

M3 - Review article

SN - 1469-1779

VL - 38

SP - 1745

EP - 1770

JO - Ageing & Society

JF - Ageing & Society

IS - 9

ER -

ten Bruggencate AA, Luijkx KG, Sturm J. Social needs of older people: A systematic literature review. . 2018;38(9):1745-1770. doi: 10.1017/S0144686X17000150