Social support is defined by the University of Manitoba (2010) as “having friends and others, including family, to turn to in times of need or crisis to give you a broader vision and a positive self-image. Social support improves quality of life and provides protection against adverse life events. Several articles regarding the benefits of social support on physical well-being, emotional well-being, and cognitive deterioration were reviewed. We wanted to discover the correlations between social support for older people and its effects on health. We will summarize the researched articles, discuss our objectives, and describe our implementation plan. The benefits for physical health, emotional health, and cognitive health have all been studied. “With respect to the health of older adults, qualitative support (satisfaction with the level of support) has also been found to be a better predictor of positive outcomes than quantitative support” (Antonucci, 1985). Most of the studies we found were qualitative studies, but some contained quantitative information. Studies have shown conflicting information regarding social support and its effects on cognitive deterioration. The study by Choi and Wodarksi (1996) did not find a significant benefit for cognitive function and showed that it does not stop the process of deterioration. Another article by Yeh and Liu (2003) suggests that single elders have lower cognitive function than married elders, suggesting that social support from a spouse improves cognitive function. “A longitudinal study by Bassuk and colleagues (1999) found that older adults who had no social ties were at increased risk of cognitive decline, compared to those who had five or six social ties” (Yeh 2003). ..... middle of paper......, Ando, ​​​​F., Shimokata, H. (2008). Socialsupport as a moderator in a fall prevention program for older adults. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 34(5), 19-24.Social support. (September 1, 2010). Retrieved from http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/social-supportWhite, AM, Philogene, SG, Fine, L., & Sinha, S. (2009). Social support and self-reported health status of older adults in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 99(10), 1872-1877. Winnigham, R G., Pike, N. L. (2007). A cognitive intervention to improve social support networks of institutionalized older adults and reduce loneliness. Journal of Aging and Mental Health, 11(6), 716-721. Yeh, S.J. and Liu, J. (2003). Influence of social support on cognitive function in older adults. BioMed Central, 3(9). Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/3/9