On Social Aging: A Descriptive Study on the Perceived Changes and Coping Mechanisms among Institutionalized Elders

Abstract

Aging emerged as a vital area of concern at the present times. In urbanized cities, there is a growing number of institutions for the aged. The number of elderly placed under institutional care continues to increase. In this light, this study attempted to describe the phenomenon of social aging among institutionalized elderly. Specifically, it aimed to describe the institutional living conditions of the elderly; identify perceived changes in their social roles, personal interactions, and social status; determine the factors that affect the perceived changes; and determine the elder’s coping strategies and probe into their adjustment mechanisms. This study used a descriptive type of research design and utilized descriptive statistics, using the frequency tables and graphs. The study was conducted in Luwalhati ng Maynila, an institution for the aged located in Marikina City. The main respondents included the elderly in the institution with ages sixty and above, both male and female. The results of this study were obtained through in-depth interviews with ten selected elderly respondents and four caregivers/staff. The research used three sets of structured interview guides to allow continuous flow of communication between the researcher and respondents. The results obtained in this study conveyed that institutional elderly experience “block treatment,” rigidity of routine, and institutional constraints in their daily living. Results also revealed that the elderly experience a higher degree of role loss because of institutional and physical constraints. Their social interaction was narrowed down to three kinds of interactions: resident-resident, resident-staff, and resident-visitors interaction. Thus, institutional confinement further strengthened the lack of communication between the elderly and the mainstream society. On the other hand, the elderly’s social status declined because of their limited access to society’s valued “power resources” such as money and other material possessions. Although their access to these resources decreased, respondents claimed that they still maintain a relatively high level of self-esteem and self- worth.