REVIEWING THE SUBJECTIVE WELLBEING OF ELDERLY

Arts, Social sciences & Humanities

While research has addressed the spiritual needs of patients with chronic and life-jeopardizing diseases, there is limited knowledge about the wellbeing and social needs of the elderly living in private residential institutions. The purpose of this study is to examine whether social needs, social support, emotional support, or spiritual support enhance the beneficial effects of personal wellbeing among the elderly. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Nurul Saadah Institution in Terengganu, Malaysia. Questionnaires were obtained from 73 elderly aged 50 - 89 years. A majority of the participants reported feeling isolated at their homes rather than in the institution. Emotional and social supports are of minimal significance, while spiritual support is of maximum significance to the elderly population’s wellbeing. Furthermore, elderly who maintain frequent contact with their relatives or friends are more optimistic than those who do not maintain such contact. Social networks are significantly correlated with the elderly's wellbeing in this study.

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