Title : A qualitative study on family health needs of community-dwelling functionally disabled elderly based on ERG theory
Abstract:
As the primary living environment for disabled elderly individuals, families play a crucial role in disease prevention and maintaining their health. However, studies have shown that disabled elderly people and their family members often encounter numerous physical, psychological, and social adaptation issues when adjusting to the changes brought about by disability, which significantly affects the overall health of the family. Guided by the ERG theory of needs, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 pairs of disabled elderly individuals and their primary caregivers in communities under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province from December 2024 to February 2025 using purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was applied to organize and analyze the interview data. The deductive analysis revealed that the family health needs of disabled elderly in the community can be summarized into three themes: survival needs (daily living needs, economic support needs, and environmental modification needs), relatedness needs (family communication needs, social resource connection needs, and social participation needs), and growth and development needs (autonomy and dignity maintenance needs, family development needs, and information and technology support needs).The results indicate that the health needs of families with disabled elderly in the community exhibit specificity and diversity. Community health service providers and social workers can develop and implement effective strategies based on the varying levels of family needs, thereby improving the health status of families with disabled elderly and enhancing their overall quality of life.
