Social issues influence an older person’s risk and experience of illness as well as a health care practitioner’s ability to deliver timely and appropriate care.
A social history helps members of the interdisciplinary team evaluate care needs and social supports. It should include questions about the following:
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Family and marital or companion status
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Living arrangements
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Social network (number and quality of routine social contacts)
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Work history
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Education
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Typical daily activities (eg, how meals are prepared, what activities add meaning to life, where problems may be occurring)
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Need for, availability, and ability of caregivers (to help plan and/or provide care)
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History of trauma, losses, and coping strengths
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History of substance use and legal issues
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Patients’ own caregiving responsibilities (which may make patients reluctant to report their own symptoms lest their symptoms or any resulting interventions interfere with caregiving)
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Worries or stressors in daily life
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Environmental concerns regarding home, neighborhood, transportation, or access to goods and services
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Financial status
