Research Paper on:
Social Deprivation of the Elderly Living with Chronic Illness

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
The inward focus that chronic illness encourages can serve to greatly deprive the chronically ill elderly of the social interaction that could be so beneficial for them and  increase their quality of life. Logistically, it can be difficult for those chronically ill elderly being cared for at home to avoid social deprivation. Social interaction among those  being cared for in a nursing home or other skilled nursing facility would appear to be easier to accomplish, simply because of the concentration within those settings of individuals of  similar age. Over-dependence on pain-killing drugs can hinder social interaction even when there are other seniors present, however. These individuals may also  feel that they have little in common with other residents, however, and still not gain the benefits of opportunity for greater social interaction. Reminiscence therapy is seen as a  tool for increasing the sense of well being for the individual, along with providing a common ground for increased social interaction among residents. Introduction and Problem Statement  Social deprivation is a real and recognized problem among many of our oldest citizens. As aging bodies slow and others lives become busier and more  involved, the elderly can be put aside. Whether living at home or in a skilled nursing facility (SNF), the lives of the elderly with chronic illness far too easily  can become a series of maintenance and routine care activities that exclude any meaningful social interaction. When pain-killing drugs enter the mix, the  chronically ill elderly can lose another dimension of social contact with others. Effective pain management and encouragement to reminisce about the past with those who share a common ground