The Impact of Social Support Services on Health: Lessons from The POINT on Increasing Access to Community Services and Social Support

摘要

Access to social support services is amajor determinant of health, particularlyas people age. A recent study examining therelationship between physical health andstress on adolescents, middle-age adults,and older adults concluded that althougha decline in physical health is suffered byall age groups under social stress, bodilyfunction deteriorates more quickly in olderadults with no social support, comparedto individuals of equal age who have socialsupport.1 The unique interplay of healthand social factors, particularly among theelderly, highlights the immediate need forimproved access to social support services.