Impact of Changing Family Dynamics on Senior Citizens: Challenges and Coping Strategies

Abstract

Families' dynamics are always changing as a result of social events like migration, urbanization, and a decrease in traditional values. Senior individuals are greatly impacted by these developments, which offer chances for adaptation as well as challenges. This abstract examines how senior individuals are affected by shifting family dynamics, emphasizing the difficulties they encounter and the coping mechanisms they use. Because their families are smaller, more dispersed globally, and have different structures, older adults frequently receive less assistance from their families. Feelings of loneliness and isolation, as well as a weakened support system, may result from this break from traditional family connections. Alterations to family roles and obligations can often leave seniors feeling unappreciated or left out. These changes have created many problems for the elderly. Elderly people who may live alone or have little family contact frequently struggle with loneliness and social isolation (Mason, 1992). Stress and associated health problems are exacerbated for elders and relatives when financial difficulties and the responsibility of providing care fall on fewer family members. Seniors adjusting to new responsibilities and demands within the family may also have an impact on their emotional health (Vats & Vats, 2022).