Original Article OLD AGE HOMES PERSPECTIVE: SOCIAL SUPPORT AND LIFE SATISFACTION INSIGHTS FROM THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Abstract

Problems relating to old age are on the rise in many countries. In order to get a wider view of the existing situation in Pakistan, this study explored the relationship between social support and its effects on satisfaction in life in the older population residing in old-age homes. Non-governmental organizations in Pakistan are increasing day by day in the fields of medical, social, financial, psychological, physical, public interests and all other factors to decrease maltreatment of the elderly. But in present days, the situation towards older adults has been changed by our society. They have made them miserable, so they move from their own homes to old age homes. The reason behind their homelessness is the attitude of family, friends, and other social contacts. The proposed study aims to identify the factors that can incredibly contribute to the process of aging. In the current study, a correlation between social support and life satisfaction was observed. Two scales, Satisfaction with Life developed by Ed., Diener (1985) and Multidimensional Scale for Perceived Social Support developed by Zimet et al. (1988), were used on 90 older adults for this purpose. Men and women were selected equally within the age range of 60 and above years. A sample was selected from three urban areas of Punjab Province (Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Sargodha). Findings from the study showed a significant correlation between life satisfaction and social support