Maslow`s Hierarchy of Needs

Jan-Feb 2013 Vol 9 Issue 4
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
All humans have needs which must be met in order for
them to achieve comfort and a feeling of well-being.
There are different ways of looking at human needs and
below is one of the better known:
Basic physical needs:
People will do whatever is necessary to meet their basic
physical needs (food, drink, oxygen, sleep, warmth).
These needs rank as the most important. Most people
are fortunate enough to be able to take basic physical
needs for granted, but all human beings, if they are
deprived, will go to great lengths to satisfy basic needs.
For example, if a person is starving, his or her overriding
priority is to find food. All other higher-level needs fade
when compared to basic needs like food, warmth, and
shelter.
Safety and security needs:
These are the needs (stability, predictability, freedom
from anxiety and chaos) which people will try to satisfy
once they have met the basic needs. When people have
sufficient food, some heat and a shelter, then they will
look to feel safe and secure. Safety and security mean
different things to different people, but most people will
look for safety from physical danger first. Freedom from
fear is something important to everyone. Individuals will
try to achieve safety and see it as a higher priority than
establishing relationships.
Safety and security also include the need to live in a stable
society. Humans need to be free from anxiety (as well as
fear) and will attempt to achieve this by regulating the
environment in which they live.
Love and emotional needs:
Human beings need to reach out and form relationships with
other human beings. They need to love and to be loved in
return; they need to express affection and caring for others
and to feel cared for and nurtured in return. This need is
more than having a close relationship which we would
define as love. It is about contact with others – friends,
colleagues, neighbors – and the opportunity to cooperate
and work alongside others. Most individuals dislike feeling
like an outsider or not being accepted by a group. Failure to
make relationships is likely to make people feel very badly
about themselves. The need to form relationships with other
human beings only becomes important after the basic needs
and safety and security needs have been achieved.
Copyright 2012 (Imagery not for reprint without expressed written consent from LAS Inc.)
Self-esteem needs:
Self-esteem is the way people feel about themselves. It is
important that people feel they make a valuable contribution,
whether it is to society as a whole or within a smaller area such
as the local community, workplace, or their own family. Feeling
good about yourself has a great deal to do with your
experiences throughout life and the kind of confidence you
were given growing up. All human beings need to feel valued
and that they are making a meaningful contribution within
society.
Self-actualization needs:
This is about every human being’s need to reach his or her
maximum potential. This might be through setting out to
achieve new goals, meeting new challenges or developing
existing talents. Maslow suggests that if our other needs have
not been met (from the basic up to self-esteem), then selfactualization can never be met. People will attempt selffulfillment and reach their full potential only after they have
achieved the needs lower down the hierarchy.
If care recipients are left confused, dirty and malnourished,
they will never be able to develop lasting relationships or meet
their higher needs as they continue to age. This is especially
important in our quest to provide quality care.
Alzheimer’s Disease – The Facts
A major cause of mental deterioration among the over sixtyfive population is Alzheimer’s disease. More than 50 percent of
the nursing home residents in this country have a diagnosis of
Alzheimer’s; yet most of the victims of this disease are cared
for at home. These seniors are cared for by family members or
private duty caregivers from agencies such as Visiting Angels.
This disease is chronic, progressive, and ultimately will force
the Alzheimer’s patient to be totally dependent on others for
their care.
In order to better help those families suffering from
Alzheimer’s disease, here is a brief description of the stages of
Alzheimer’s disease:
Stage I: At this beginning stage, many people are able
to cover up their memory loss, decreased speech, and
even their emotional agitation, depression, or apathy.
During this stage, many sense something is changing
and rather than be embarrassed, they simply withdraw
from family activities. Family members may not
recognize the pattern of this deterioration, may not
admit to it, or may feel all older people are forgetful
and withdrawn. Family members may label the person
careless or disinterested. This condition, however, gets
progressively worse.
Stage II: During this period extending over many years,
the person’s memory progressively worsens. He may
stop speaking, begin wandering, and repeat
movements in a meaningless way. At this time the
person becomes less involved in his care, and less and
less a contributing member of his family. He may put
all types of things in his mouth, his appetite may
increase, and his activity may be in the form of
continually pacing small areas.
Stage III: This is the terminal stage. It is a time when
the family must provide continual supervision. His
appetite may decrease, and he may need to be coaxed
to eat and drink. The person may become
unresponsive. At this point, the family will often seek
institutional housing for the individual.
Some suggestions for caring for an Alzheimer’s patient:
Be alert for the safety of the individual.
Provide a quiet, unstressed environment.
Maintain the personal hygiene.
Maintain a toileting routine.
Offer small, nutritious meals.
Monitor sleep habits.
Be supportive.
Be alert to family tension.
Do not be judgmental.
Be alert to your feelings.
Do not be afraid to suggest to family that the care recipient may
need institutional care – it is quite difficult for anyone providing
care to adequately help an Alzheimer’s victim due to the
progressive nature of the disease.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
(Serves 6 | Hands-On Time: 05m | Total Time: 50m)
Ingredients
Emergency Procedures
6 medium sweet potatoes, unpeeled
Be Prepared Before An Accident Happens!
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Be alert to changes in health behavior. If the care recipient
appears to become weaker, more confused or ill, contact the
next of kin or the designated medical emergency contact person.
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
We are not a medical organization. We do not provide
medical services or administer medications.
Identify potential safety hazards in the home. Be alert for
loose wires, slippery carpets, cluttered stairways, and
other potential hazards.
Post emergency phone numbers near the phone. Have
emergency phone numbers close at hand. Bring a list of
emergency numbers with you when you go outings. The
numbers should include: fire, rescue, poison control,
doctors, next of kin, neighbors, other designated persons,
and Visiting Angels.
Write down your observations of changes in health
behavior or methods to improve the care recipient’s
health status. A list of observations may be useful to the
next of kin, doctors, or Visiting Angels.
In case of an emergency (contact in this order):
Directions
1. Call 911!
2. Contact the next of kin or neighbor designated to
assist in an emergency.
3. Call Visiting Angels at (your local number).
Be aware of any standing DNR orders (Do Not Resuscitate), as
these must be given to any medical personnel who attend a 911
call.
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Heat oven to 400° F. Pierce each sweet potato several
times with the tines of a fork. Place the sweet potatoes
on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Bake until
tender, about 45 minutes. Make a slit in the top of each
sweet potato. Top with 1 tablespoon of butter and
season with the salt and pepper.
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