Assessing the met and unmet needs among elderly people in Isfahan, Iran: A mixed method study

Background: Due to the remarkable increase of elderly population, it is required to assess the met and unmet needs among aged people to make proper aging policies.Objectives: This study intended to recognize met and unmet needs in a sample of older adults in Isfahan.Materials & Methods: In this mixed method study, we carried out 5 focus group discussions with 50 elderlies aged 60 years old and above. Then, a checklist-based survey was done regarding older peoples’ experience and perspectives about their needs in a randomly selected 350 elderlies from October to December 2016. Results: The highest educational level were diploma and above (49.6%). The most areas of unmet needs among elderlies dedicated to happiness (90%), help from state and charity institution (60.9%), places for entertainment (57.6%), extra income during aging period (52.6%), followed by providing recreational spaces (45.9%) and personal hygiene (42.6%), respectively. The area characterized by the highest percentage of meeting was access to general physician (86.2%) followed by relation with children and grandchildren (85%).Conclusion: Based on four category recognized in the current study, healthcare, emotional, cultural and supportive needs were prioritized as the most met needs by elderlies, respectively. Thus, it is suggested that policy makers will pay more attention to fulfill elderlies emotional and supportive needs as entry points of aging policy

کلیدواژه ها:

Elderly ، Need ، Aging