Final answer:
Social support is a critical social factor affecting the health of nursing home patients, with strong social connections linked to better health outcomes and a 50% increased likelihood of survival. Studies further show that social support has impacts on health similar to quitting smoking and exceed those of obesity and physical inactivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
An important social factor related to a nursing home patient's health is social support. Studies demonstrate a significant impact of social relationships on health outcomes. For instance, a statistical review of multiple studies showed that individuals with stronger social relationships have a 50% greater likelihood of survival compared to those with weak or insufficient social relationships, indicating that the effects of social support on health are comparable to quitting smoking and exceed those of obesity and physical inactivity.
Another crucial study followed nearly 7,000 residents over 9 years and found that those lacking social and community ties had a higher mortality rate compared to those with more extensive social networks. This relationship persisted even after controlling for various health-related factors.
The health outcomes of nursing home patients are also related to the broader social changes and attitudes toward the elderly. With shifts from agrarian to industrial societies and then to more modernized economies, the role of the elderly in family and society has evolved, affecting their social status and, correspondingly, their health and well-being.