Staying Socially Active Is Good For The Aging: Study

Elderly people who participated in social activities were less likely to experience a decline in their ability to perform daily functions, a study shows.

AsianScientist (Dec. 1, 2016) – Researchers in Japan have found that participation in social activities could improve an elderly person’s ability to function. Their study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The ability to perform the simple activities of daily living—dressing, bathing, toileting, preparing simple meals, and doing light housekeeping, for example—is crucial to an elderly person’s independence and quality of life. When elderly people begin having trouble managing these activities by themselves, their risks for falls, hospitalization, and even death can increase.

The research team from Nara Medical University studied over 2,700 men and 3,500 women between the ages of 65 and 96. During the study’s three follow-up periods, nearly 14 percent of the men and nine percent of the women began having problems handling their daily activities.

People who experienced a decline in their ability to perform daily activities tended to be older and more likely to use medications; describe their health status as poor; experience depression; and have trouble with memory or making decisions, compared to those who maintained their ability to function well. These people also were less likely to participate in hobby clubs or volunteer groups versus those who could still perform simple activities of daily living.

The researchers also discovered that women who participated in social activities such as hobby or senior citizen clubs and volunteer groups were less likely to experience a decline in their ability to perform daily functions. Men who participated in hobby clubs were able to maintain their ability to function. The researchers suggested four reasons for the link between social activities and maintaining the ability to perform one’s daily activities:

  1. The elderly person is engaging in life—using public transportation or managing money, for example.
  2. Social activities can provide support and networking.
  3. Participating in social activities may help relieve the loneliness from losing a spouse.
  4. Such activities allows the elderly to have a meaningful role in society, giving them a sense of value and belonging.

The researchers suggested that healthcare professionals should be aware of the elderly’s social activity participation, or lack of it, to help lessen the likelihood of functional decline.


The article can be found at: Tomioka et al. (2016) Association between Social Participation and a 3-year Change in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living among Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults.

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Source: American Geriatrics Society; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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