PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS
OF VARIOUS GROUPS IN
HEALTH AND SICKNESS
INFANCY:- THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFANT IS ALL ROUND PHYSICAL,
MENTAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL. IT INCLUDE NEED FOR SECURITY, LOVE, AFFECTION,
WARMTH, COMFORT, ACCEPTANCE, NOURISHMENT, UNDERSTANDING AND PHYSICAL
CONTACT, THE INFANTS NEEDS TO BE CUDDLED AND FONDLED FREQUENTLY AND
RECOGNISED CONSISTENTLY
THE USE OF FORCE AND VIOLENCE SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN DEALING WITH
CHILD. DURING CARE USE SENSORY SOOTHING MEASURES. FOR
EXAMPLES :- STROKING THE SKIN, TALKING SOFTLY, GIVING PACIFIER,
CUDDLING AND HUGGING THE CHILD, THE CHILD SHOULD BE GIVEN LOVE
AFFECTION, AND CARE. ACCURATE OBSERVATION OF THE INFANT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AS THE INFANT CANNOT COMMUNICATE IT’S NEED
THROUGH SPEECH. CRY IS THE INFANTS MAIN METHOD OF COMMUNICATION.
RESTLESSNESS MOVEMENTS OF BODY PARTS ARE ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH
THE INFANTS COMMUNICATES IT’S NEED.
CHILDHOOD:- IT INCLUDES LOVE, RECOGNITION, SECURITY, ACCEPTANCE
ENCOURAGEMENT, PROTECTION, DISCIPLINE, NUTRITION ETC.
OLDER CHILDREN , ONCE THEY HAVE RECOVERED FROM AN ACUTE PHASE OF
ILLNESS, ENJOY THE COMPANIONSHIP IN THE WARD. DURING ILLNESS, A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REGRESSION MAY OCCUR. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHILD
BEHAVES IN A MANNER MORE APPROPRIATE TO A YOUNGER AGE. THE NURSE
NEEDS TO RECOGNISE AND HELP THE CHILD TO RETURN TO A MORE MATURE
BEHAVIOR. CHILD SHOULD NOT BE PENALISED OR INSULTED FOR WETTING THE
BED OR RESTORING TO BABY TALK.
• DURING LATER CHILDHOOD:- IT INCLUDES LIVE, AFFECTION,
SECURITY, BELONGING NEEDS, UNDERSTANDING, ATTENTION
AND PHYSICAL CARE, NEEDS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXERCISE
HIS/HER MUSCLES TO REFINE HIS MOTOR COORDINATION.
HE/SHE ALSO NEEDS PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT, DISCIPLINE,
PROVISIONS FOR SELF EXPRESSION, GUIDANCE, AND
DIRECTION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED.
• ADOLESCENT:- IT INCLUDES NEED FOR STATUS,
INDEPENDENCE, SATISFYING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE.
ADOLESCENTS HAS A RAPIDLY CHANGING BODY AND IS
EXTREMELY SELF – CONSCIOUS OF THIS, IT IS HELPFUL TO
PROVIDE AS MUCH AS PRIVACY AS POSSIBLE WHEN CARE IS
GIVEN. ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS REGARDING FEARS,
OPTIONS, AND ALTERNATIVES.
• ACCEPT REGRESSION TO MORE CHILDISH
METHODS OF COPING. ADOLESCENTS MAY WEEP
OR BECOME VERY EMOTIONALLY UPSET WHEN
FACING INJECTION OR UNPLEASANT TREATMENT,
THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN EXTRA EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT AND LOVING CARE WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
• MIDDLE ADULTHOOD:- WHEN A MIDDLE AGED ADULT IS ADMITTED IN HOSPITAL HE /SHE
NEEDS TO FEEL SECURE. EXPLAIN HOSPITAL PROCEDURES AND POLICIES EARLY.
• ANXIETIES APART FROM ILLNESS ARE EXPERIENCED ON ACCOUNT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF
RESPONSIBILITIES FACED BY PERSON. THESE INCLUDE PERSONAL ANXITIES ABOUT OTHER
FAMILY MEMBER, RESPONSIBILITIES AT HOME. POSSIBLE LOSS OF JOB ETC. THE NURSE
NEED TO GUIDE FAMILY MEMBERS TO HELP THE PATIENT IN EACH OFF THESE AREAS.
OBSERVATION OF EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IS NECESSARY TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS
OF PHYSICAL DECLINE. THE NURSE SHOULD RECOGNISE SIGNS OF AN INABILITY TO DEAL
WITH STRESS AT HOME, AT WORK, OR IN THE HOSPITAL, THESE SIGNS ARE AGITATED BY
BODY LANGUAGE, INCREASED LEVELS OF VITAL SIGNS, INSOMIA, IRRITABILITY OR
DEPRESSION
LATE ADULTHOOD
• IT INCLUDE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT OF SELFIMAGE, NEED FOR NORMAL ROLES AND
RELATIONSHIPS, NEED FOR LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS, NEED FOR LOVE AND RELATEDNESS,
NEED TO IMPROVE SENSE OF HOPEFULNESS, AND NEED FOR ACCOMPMISHMENTS OF
TASKS. A SPECIAL EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO MAKE ELDERLY PERSON FEEL
RESPECTED, VALUED AS AN INDIVIDUAL. INSECURITIES AND APPREHENSIONS SHOULD BE
RELIEVED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BY GIVING CAREFUL EXPLANATIONS TO THE PATIENTS,
AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THE OLDER ADULTS ALSO NEEDS CLOSE OBSERVATION ON
BEHAVIORS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, LACK OF INTEREST IN OTHERS OR ENVIRONMENTS,
WITHDRAWING FROM OTHERS, SLEEPING POORLY, EXPRESSING DESPAIR OR SADNESS. ALL
THESE REFLECT AN INABILITY TO COPE WITH CHANGING LIFE SITUATION. PHYSICAL
PROTECTION FROM HARM AND INJURY SHOULD BE PROVIDED.