Human-Animal Bonding INTRODUCTION This research provides an o

SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY WHICH MAY

A deterioration in social integration characterizes a significant proportion of the elderly population. Effects of such deterioration are often manifested in both physiological and psychological problems. In many instances, however, the physiological problems either disappear or are ameliorated when the psychological problems are treated successfully (Kaplan, & Sadock, 1985). Research has demonstrated that the therapeutic use of pets is often beneficial in treating psychological problems in the elderly (Hendy, 1987).

Social integration refers to the "actual empirical study of the integration of older people into society in its many forms, and the ameliorative strategies designed to enhance or facilitate social integration" (Unruh, 1983, p. 22). It is said that "the integration of individuals into their society results from forces which place them within the system and 1

2govern their participation and patterned associations with others" (Rossow, 1967, p. 9). Social values, group memberships, and social roles are "conceived as the axes providing the ties that structure social interaction, place the person in society, and order relations with others. In effect, actors are i

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rsons will opt to live in singlefamily dwellings, whether or not they live alone. Thus, the potential for a deterioration of social integration, and, in turn, the development of significant psychological problems among the elderly is high. 4 As noted earlier in this discussion, problems which develop may be both physiological and psychological in character. The most common physiological development is sensory deprivation, including hearing loss, which may lead to panic, delusions, and other aberrant mental behavior (Kaplan, & Sadock, 1985). While loss of hearing may occur as a consequence of the aging process, it may also occur as a product of psychological disorders (Altschuler, 1971). In the analysis of problems associated with hearing loss in older adults, therefore, it is necessary to establish cause and effect relationships, because hearing deficits resulting from psychological disorders ordinarily disappear, upon correction of the disorder (Kaplan, & Sadock, 1985). A loss of hearing experienced by older adults tends to cause these individuals to be cutoff from their surroundings and personal contacts of a lifetime. This sense of being cutoff often leads to depression. The older adult faced with a loss of
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Kaplan Sadock, American Demographics, Wilson Netting, American Demographics, CONCLUSION Humanpet, Wallace Naderman, January February, Netting Wilson, HUMANPET BONDING, , social integration, kaplan sadock 1985, sadock 1985, kaplan sadock, unruh 1983, american demographics, humanpet bonding, demographics 1987, american demographics 1987, nursing home, elderly individuals, elderly person, unruh 1983 22, journal applied gerontology, 1985 loss hearing,
Approximate Word count = 1629
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)