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Educare

Educare

MAYO 2004 N° 5 Volumen 2

New social demands linked to the population?s ageing

Section: LEARNING TO TEACH

Authors

Inmaculada López Martín

Position

Diplomada en Enfermería. Estudiante de 1er Ciclo Superior de Doble Titulación Humanidades y Título Superior de Enfermería.

Contact address

Departamento de Enfermería. Facultad de CC de la Salud. Universidad Europea de Madrid. Villaviciosa de Odón. 28670 Madrid.

Contact email: inmaculada.lopez@efm.cisa.uem.es

Abstract

This articles approaches old people´s needs through the analysis of various connotations of the term “need” and the relationships between the concepts of lack, demand, aspirations and wishes.  Needs are arise and are determined by specific ways of life, meaning they are social needs.  These are expressed in the form of demands on the part of the elderly population, demands which are interpreted by institutions and by experts in Geriatrics.

Is it society itself which creates old people’s social demands, or are these demands generated by the ageing process?  The elderly population is one of the social groups most vulnerable to the manipulation of their needs by institutions.  The population’s progressive ageing is uncovering gaps in the healthcare system, especially in the social spectrum.

 

Keywords:

social demands; old people’s needs; population ageing; perceived diseasehealth-disease perception

Versión en Español

Título:

Nuevas demandas sociales ligadas al envejecimiento de la población