Relationship Between Social Support and Coping in Patients Undergoing OutpatientSurgery

摘要

By the year 2020, it is expected the senior population, 65 and older, willconstitute 15.5% of the total U.S. population, or 45 million people (Doty, Korfin, Weiner, 1985). Within this group, those 85 and older are the fastest growing population segment with improved medical care and technology largely responsible for their increased longevity (Feldstein, 1993). A natural outcome of this longevity is the need to manage both acute and chronic illnesses for this patient population and the costs associated with their care.