Effects of relocation on the elderly.
Although relocation is often indicated as a necessary therapeutic intervention, the stress of relocation on elderly persons can prove detrimental to their life satisfaction and longevity. If a move is involuntary or involves extreme change--for example, a move from a private home to an institution--the loss of environment control and predictability can pose a threat to the person's well-being. Yet there are cases in which the outcome is good--for example, a voluntary move from one private home to another. The physician can use a patient's individual characteristics to help predict the probable outcome of relocation.
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology