Basic Human Needs

Without you (and the other members of the healthcare team), your clients probably can’t meet their basic human needs.  This may be a temporary situation—or it may last for the rest of their lives.  During your daily work with sick and/or aging people, you may notice a number of unmet needs, including:

Physical Needs

• Some seniors (and most sick people) need help with basic everyday activities, such as bathing, grooming and dressing.  Losing the ability to perform their own personal care can make your clients feel like children again.  This can be difficult for many people to accept.
• People who are ill tend to focus on their bodies and may seem to “obsess” about aches and pains or bodily functions.  It’s important to understand that this is a normal reaction.  They are dealing with a threat to their physical well-being!

Safety Needs

• To stay safe, many people who need daily help must move in with family members or become residents at nursing facilities.  This means losing their homes along with their independence.  It may take some time for them to feel secure in their new environment.
• When dealing with a health crisis, people may worry that they won’t be able to afford the care that they need.  They may also have fears about the future; it’s scary to be sick and to wonder if and when you will ever get well.

Social Needs

• Spending time in a hospital or nursing facility can lead to social separation—from family, friends and a local place of worship.  People in this situation may suffer from loneliness.
• People who are ill and/or aging may worry about being a burden on their loved ones or about being forgotten.

Esteem Needs

• Illness can have a major impact on someone’s self-esteem.  For example, people recovering from an amputation may have a negative body image.  Or people who must suddenly use a walker or wheelchair may feel badly about themselves.
• Sick or aging people may feel as if they have no control over their own lives.  They may become depressed and uninterested in doing anything for themselves.

Self-Actualization Needs

• Sometimes, a health crisis forces people to focus on the important things in their lives—and may lead to spiritual and/or personal growth.  However, for many people, the idea of seeking creative fulfillment is put on the back burner during times of illness.  The other four levels of need take priority.