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play key role in motivate the social engagement
among older persons
One of the example is figure head (community
leader) from the community to certain extend may
have influence in encouraging social engagement by
initiation of community activities. Support from
support from community health care worker was
viewed by nurses as important measure to the older
community as most of them had deterioration in
health status with immobility due to vision and
muscle wasting.
The nurses also found social media such as
whatsApp and face book has created opportunity to
promote social engagement among the older
community, the keep connecting via chat group and
with family members.
The nurses’ understanding on patterns of social
engagement among older people from different
social economic status would shape the influence of
cultural values that would guide the behaviours.
There were few unique culture and religion
influence surface from the focus group. As family
structure reforms as most of the children are
working away from their parents’ home, older
people may need to migrate to a difference town to
stay with their children or remain at home town.
Migration may cause isolation to older people, as
the social connectivity may be less when compare to
rural area.
Two Malaysian studies had revealed that social
changes may have negative impact on cultural
values and the need for social engagement(Ong, et
al., 2009 and Tey, at al., 2015). The nurses from this
study felt religious would allow the older people to
socialise with the community when they are
engaging with religious activities. In some
community the older people socialisation cultures
were having fun time melepak (meeting and chatting
with friends at the restaurant or coffee shop).
Female older persons like to have “window
shopping” or have fun doing marketing with their
neighbourhood friends. The community folks were
fond of doing activities together (gotong –royong),
the older people were willing to help each other for
activities like organising event or celebration.
Many studies has highlighted that sense of
autonomy is essential older person to having cope
with changes in later life stages(Wahl, et al., 2012,
Greenfield, 2015 and Powell, 1985). In this study,
the nurses explained that some female older people
with low education seemed to be less autonomous
to take charge and to initiate activities or engaging
with society. The low level of autonomy in them
has make them more acceptance top down
instruction Lacking of autonomy to take charge
could be a cue of colonial influence (Hirschman,
1986, Shamsul, 2001)
The implication of lacking of autonomy has far
more implication than just older person’s care. It
imply for more caring society to nurture generation
with more autonomy and prepare a more
autonomous older persons in future. Autonomy
comes with empowerment and acquisition of
knowledge. Perhaps the health care provider will be
able to foster empowerment to the older people in
particularly in motivation social engagement and
maintaining health.
Personality of older people may influence the
their willingness to engage with society and more
tolerance, for example older people who are more
positive thinker, who are keep going and happy go
lucky were those older people who are active in
community. Unlike older people especially older
female were passive and permissive had better
tolerance as described by the nurses that remaining
silent or avoiding conflict were coping mechanism
for older people to live harmony within the multi
generation differences .
5 CONCLUSIONS
The nurses from this study had identified many
factors affecting the level of engagement among
older people. The implication of this study has
enlightened the community as whole the macro and
micro systems of a society are interrelated.
16,23
Promoting a considerate cultures in all levels of
society is fundamental to create friendly and
conducive environments for all people especially for
older people. It is also crucial to inculcate sense of
responsibility among community members to safe
guard the amities and facilities. Appropriate and
relevant intervention and monitoring shall be
implemented to ensure the older people are able to
cope with their later life and maintain a good quality
of life and engaging with society.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work is supported under Grand challenge PISA
[GC002C-14HTM].
REFERENCES
Depp, & Jeste, 2006. Definitions and predictors of
successful aging: A comprehensive review of larger
quantitative studies. American Journal of Geriatric
Psychiatry, 14, 6-20.
Nurses’ Perception of Factors that Affect Social Engagement among Older person in the Community
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