Maslow argued that safety and survival remain our
primaryandfoundationalgoalsinlife,notleastwhenour
options andcapacities become limited.Iftrue,thefact
thatpublicpolicyandconcernaboutoldagehomesfocus
on health and safety is just a recognition and
manifestation of those goals. They are assumed to be
everyone’s first priorities.
Reality is more complex, though. People readily
demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice their safety and
survivalfor thesake ofsomething beyond themselves,
suchasfamily,country,orjustice.Andthisisregardless
of age.
What’smore,ourdrivingmotivationsinlife,insteadof
remainingconstant,changehugelyovertimeandinways
thatdon’tquitefitMaslow’sclassichierarchy.Inyoung
adulthood, people seek a life of growth and
self-fulfillment,just asMaslowsuggested. Growingup
involves opening outward. We search out new
experiences, wider social connections, and ways of
puttingourstampontheworld.Whenpeoplereachthe
latterhalfofadulthood,however,theirprioritieschange
markedly.Mostreducetheamountoftimeandeffortthey
spendpursuing achievementand socialnetworks.They
narrowin.Giventhechoice,youngpeopleprefermeeting
new people to spending time with, say, a sibling; old
people prefertheopposite. Studies find thatas people
grow older they interact with fewer people and
concentrate more on spending time with family and
establishedfriends.Theyfocusonbeingratherthandoing
and on the present more than the future.