Cox 1

Samantha Cox
Mrs. Haskins
DE English 103, P.2
2 May 2017
Proposed Plan: Monthly Event Encouraging Senior
Community Involvement
Alternative: Doing Nothing to Help Seniors

Introduction
For many generations, the aging population has been deprived of valuable social resources.
Due to a lack of interaction, they have become more isolated and disconnected from society.
However, supporting a monthly event that encourages older adults to actively participate in the
Surprise community would improve their quality of life. It would allow seniors to improve
their overall health status and decrease their dependency on health-care services currently
offered to them. As people provide opportunities to engage seniors in Surprise, they not only
create healthier lives for older adults now, but establish a long-lasting program to benefit them
in the future.

Regardless of which
plan is implemented, the
elderly population will
increase over time. In
addition, this means
more older adults would
suffer from social
isolation or cognitive
decline (if nothing is
done to help them). The
proposed idea would not
only help this generation
of older adults, but
revolutionize their
quality of life and health
services into the future.

Worse physical and

mental health in older
adults is associated with
large periods of social
isolation. Not helping
the elderly would only
increase the severity of
this problem. This
proposed plan would
 Cox 2

allow older adults in the

Surprise community to
socialize with members
of all age groups, which
would combat the social
isolation issue.
**However, the plan
needs to differentiate
between social
disconnectedness and
perceived isolation. To
reduce isolation in older
adults, it is important to
take these factors into
consideration
(appropriate resources
can be provided).

Most older adults feel

isolated due to a lack of
social resources (family
is far away, no longer
driving etc.). Failing to
engage the elderly into
the Surprise community
would leave them
disconnected or
dependent on others.
This proposed plan
encourages the entire
community to interact
with the elderly,
providing them with
ample social resources.

One-fifth of the aged

population is affected by
depression, which can
be attributed to
 Cox 3

perceived isolation and

a lack of social
resources. Deciding not
to help the elderly
would lead to higher
rates of depression, and
bigger issues, such as
suicide. The proposed
idea emphasizes the
importance of
socialization, which
could help older adults
feel more connected
with other individuals
and the entire Surprise
community.

The number of older

adults who suffer from
dementia will increase
in the future. Allowing
the elderly to remain
inactive in community
events encourages the
spread of cognitive
decline in this
population. The
proposed idea stimulates
the elderly, which could
keep their minds active
and prevent dementia.
**It should be noted
that not all types of
dementia are
preventable, such as
types caused by genetic
disorders.
 Cox 4

Older adults are likely

to experience abuse in
the current health
systems (nursing
homes) provided to
them. Choosing to do
nothing would rely on
these services to treat
the elderly better
without any correction,
which would not reduce
the number of people
who are abused. The
proposed plan
encourages the elderly
to engage with members
of the community
willing to interact with
them, which prevents
most unfriendly
interactions (abuse).

Social interaction is
critical for seniors to
improve their quality of
life. Deciding not to
help the elderly would
deprive them of
valuable social
resources. The proposed
idea allows older adults
to improve their overall
health status, sharpen
their memory, and
create a happier life for
themselves through
increased community
engagement and
socialization.
 Cox 5

Increased physical
activity is linked to
better mental health.
Failing to promote
physical activity within
the community can
cause seniors to
experience high levels
of psychological
distress. The proposed
plan protects against
mental health problems
and decreases
depression in older
adults by giving them an
opportunity to be an
active participant in the
Surprise community.
 Cox 6

Volunteering improves
the overall health and
quality of life for
seniors. Not providing
the opportunity for
seniors to volunteer
discourages them from
becoming active
members of the Surprise
community. The
proposed idea promotes
older adults to
volunteer, which allows
them to experience a
higher rate of life
satisfaction and a sense
of accomplishment
within their community.
**It should be noted
that all ages can benefit
from volunteer work,
especially if they
volunteer with the
elderly.
 Cox 7

Conclusion
A monthly event designed to engage seniors in the Surprise community would improve their
overall quality of life. If implemented, it would allow older adults to experience a higher rate
of life satisfaction and happiness, improving their mental and emotional health status. In
addition, this plan would reduce perceived isolation in older adults by encouraging them to
actively volunteer in the community. Failing to offer any alternatives for this generation of
seniors deprives them of valuable social resources, leaving them disconnected and more
dependent on the questionable health-care services offered to them. If people allow seniors to
become active participants in the Surprise community, it not only promotes a healthier lifestyle
for older adults, but revolutionizes their future role in society.

PROPOSED IDEA SIMILARITIES ALTERNATIVE

- Potential to revolutionize - Elderly population is bound - Increases severity of social

the health services the elderly
receive in the future.
- Encourages older adults to
socialize with people in all
age groups.
- Improves seniors overall
health status, sharpens their
memory, and creates a
happier life for themselves.
- Actively combats mental
illness, such as depression,
and cognitive decline.
- Promotes older adults to
volunteer, which allows them
to experience a higher rate of
life satisfaction.
to increase over time.
- Any population of older
adults will contain people
who suffer from dementia and
depression.
- Some degree of social
isolation may be present.
- Benefits are offered for
older adults (although one
solution would make a larger
impact on the lives of the
elderly).
isolation issue by
discouraging community
involvement (volunteering)
among older adults.
- May deprive the elderly of
valuable social resources.
- Leaves seniors with a sense
of dependency and
disconnectedness.
- Relies heavily on the
improvement of current
health systems provided to
the elderly (not guided).
- Potentially increases levels
of psychological distress
experienced by seniors.
 Cox 8

Works Cited

Cornwell, Erin York, and Linda J. Waite. Predicted Probabilities of Very Good or Excellent

Mental Health, According to Levels of Social Disconnectedness and Perceived Isolation.

Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 2009,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2756979/.

Cornwell, Erin York, and Linda J. Waite. Predicted Probabilities of Very Good or Excellent

Physical Health, According to Levels of Social Disconnectedness and Perceived

Isolation. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 2009,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2756979/.

Depression in Older Adults. THAGroup, 9 Jan. 2014,

http://www.thagroup.org/depression-older-adults/.

Gershon, Livia. Lets Go Volunteer. CreditDonkey, 24 Nov. 2014,

http://www.creditdonkey.com/volunteer.html.

Hager, Mark. Elder Abuse. Age in Place, 3 June 2014,

http://ageinplace.com/elder-abuse-2/elder-abuse-statistics-silent-epidemic-infographic/.

Malone, Kelsey. Why Do I Feel Isolated? Golden Heart Senior Care, 13 Aug. 2014,

http://www.goldenheartchicago.com/social-isolation-amongst-seniors/.

Population Aged 85 and Over: 1900 to 2050. National Center on Elder Abuse, n.d.,

https://ncea.acl.gov/whatwedo/research/statistics.html.

Street, Gillian, and Ray James. Physical Activity and Mental Health. Department of Sport and
 Cox 9

Recreation, n.d.,

https://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/support-and-advice/research-and-policies/organised-recreatio

nal-activity-and-mental-health.

The Importance of Social Interaction for Senior Health. CapTel, 17 Nov. 2015,

http://www.captel.com/news/health-wellness/the-importance-of-social-interaction-for-ov

erall-health/.

The Striking Statistics About Dementia. Longevity Reporter, 8 Oct. 2015,

http://longevityreporter.org/blog/2015/10/7/our-aging-world-the-striking-statistics-of-de

mentia.